An actor known best from his years on the popular ’80s TV show Diff’rent Strokes, and for his short four-foot-eight-inch stature but larger-than-life personality, Gary Coleman has passed away at the age of 42.

Coleman suffered a brain hemorrhage earlier this week, and was admitted to a hospital near Santaquin, Utah where the actor lived. A day later he slipped out of consciousness and was placed on life support before it was decided that no chance for recovery.

Coleman started out with some smaller roles on popular shows like The Jeffersons and Good Times, but it was Diff’rent Strokes where he left his mark on the world, appearing in 184 episodes as Arnold Jackson from 1978 to 1986. It was Coleman on that show that made pop culture history by delivering the iconic line “Watchoo talkin’ ’bout, Willis?”

After that, Coleman’s career basically consisted of cameo appearances on many different shows and movies everything else. The actor would always be typecast for his TV role, but even in this he was able to continue making people laugh over the years.

At one point, Coleman ended up getting a job as a mall security guard and even running for Governor of California, but it was his resurgence as none other than Gary Coleman where his fame stayed strong later in his career. The actor made a ton of appearances as himself on reality shows like The Surreal Life, popular shows like Nitro Circus, and news shows like Entertainment Tonight.

Gary Coleman
1968 –2010

[Source: LA Times]