As a child, Coleman was the star of the ''80s TV show Diff''rent strokes. A family sitcom that runned for 8 seasons and one of the biggest hits in U.S. sitcom history.

Due to medical conditions his heigth was halted at the age of 10. Coleman''s short heigth (4''8" - 1.42m) was one of the main characteristics he was known for.

He would later on star in a number of feature films and TV-movies including On the Track and Kid with the Broken Halo. He even got his own animated series in 1982 that was named after himself (The Gary Coleman Show). Comedies where his main thing.

No fairy tale

Coleman''s personal life wasn''t excactly a fairy tale. He had to file bankruptcy in 1989. Lawsuits for assault, domestic violence and disorderly conduct were called on numerous occasions.

His wife Shannon Price left him in 2008. Half a year later he almost run over a man with his truck. Witnesses called it a deliberate action but Coleman was never proven guilty.

On May 26th, Coleman was rushed to the hospital after falling and hitting his head. His condition was critical and he would die two days later at the age of 42.