Gary Coleman was born February 8, 1968 in Zion, Illinois. An instinctive comic performer and extremely quick study, When that series ended production following star Beatrice Arthur's decision to leave the show in the spring 1978, Tandem Productions producer Norman Lear was keen to find a suitable sitcom for Bain to star in. child, including appearances for KFC, Arco and Dole bananas. More recently, he is trying to get on with his life and start over. web site. In 1979, while visiting his father in California during his school's Christmas vacation, Shavar was discovered by top children's agent Evelyn Shultz. . I now am 36 (updated), single (updated: he was engaged to be married in the spring of 2001), and an attorney She was afflicted with osteogenesis imperfecta, a disease in which a person's Where There's Smoke. "Diff'rent Strokes" Football Father (TV Episode 1980) Shavar Ross as Dudley Johnson. Due to Plato's pregnancy and publicized substance abuse issues, she had been dropped from the regular cast at the end of the previous season. Watson on July 20th, 1968 in South Laguna, California. Melanie was kind enough to send me a few e-mails in 1999 and provided some updated With his distinctive square jaw, bushy mustache, and toothy smile, Tari was ubiquitous on 1970s and '80s TV, appearing on everything from "Starsky and Hutch" to "Happy Days." He appeared on Love Boat: The Next Wave on UPN on It's a steamy As they leave the living room each reveal their guess as to who was the "Meathook Murderer", all guessing their counterparts. today. Although he was awarded over $1 million in the decision, he filed for bankruptcy in 1999. She turned plenty of heads with her scintillating run, which lasted from 1978 to 1986. In January of 1997, he was arrested after allegedly ramming a friends Medical investigators ruled the death a suicide, as per AP. Mary Ann Mobley, who was the second Mrs. Drummond, was born February 17, 1939 In March 1996, he founded the company "Interplay Pictures" I had "The first thing I ever tried was pot, and Dana made that first time possible," Bridges writes. [12] Carter was introduced midway into the sixth season (in the episode "Drummond's Lady"); after she abruptly left for California, Drummond and the family took off after her, in the two-part story "Hooray for Hollywood", a storyline that also introduced Sam, Maggie's son from her previous marriage. seemingly effortless way with comedy won her lots of fans during the show's prime time [31] Since Charlotte Rae's death in 2018 at the age of 92, Bridges is the only living member of the original cast. She appeared in the 1994 movie Serial Mom Diagnosed with bone cancer the previous year, Charlotte Rae died August 5, 2018, at the age of 92. On May 7, 1999, Plato gave what would be her final interview to infamous radio shock jock Howard Stern. (Dixie as well as everyone else called her Mother Gina, pronounced Jinna.) They also have a daugther named Bo. In 2001, Coleman (still working as a security guard) was videotaped trying to stop a vehicle from entering the mall. A more humorous episode on pollution and the environment ("Green Hair") had Kimberly's hair turning green from acid rain. As reported by TMZ, Cooksey's wife, Amber, filed for divorce in 2019 after over 20 years of marriage. She appeared as Molly the Mail Lady in the third season (1971-1972) of Sesame Street. where I got my start.". Bridges has traveled the U.S. speaking to over 6,000 kids per day in schools and churches discussing the dangers of drug use and negative peer pressure, and Kathy Gordon (in 4 episodes) who was in a wheelchair. Bain died of natural causes Monday night in Livermore, Calif., at the age of 89. [35], On April 6, 2012, it was announced that Shout! to five years probation. He was casting a new sitcom for NBC which was to become The first and second seasons of Diff'rent Strokes also starred Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges and Dana Plato. Willis Jackson: Look at me. The fifth season also introduced a new recurring character in Arnold's class at school, that of Lisa Hayes (Nikki Swasey). Todd Bridges was born May 27, 1965 in San Francisco, CA. information: Melanie worked in Oceanside, California as the executive director of a nonprofit In the season, Bridges continued as a main cast member, but was absent in several episodes. In the second, season 7's "Cheers to Arnold," Arnold must deal with Ricky (Robert Jayne), a classmate whom he catches drinking a thermos of alcohol in the school bathroom. Lord Help Us[3] (released nationally in May 2007), an inspirational urban romantic comedy starring American Idols Nadia Turner, Oscar nominee Margaret Avery (The Color Purple), Debra Wilson (MADtv, Scary Movie 4), comedian Joe Clair (BET's Rap City, Take the Cake), Grammy-Award winning singer Al Jarreau and many others marked his feature film directorial debut. Her parents were in vaudeville and billed Dana's fortunes began to turn when she was spotted by a producer during a brief appearance Diff'rent Strokes was also known for its many "very special episodes," most notably an anti-drug episode ("The Reporter") that featured First Lady Nancy Reagan, who promoted her "Just Say No" campaign, and "The Bicycle Man", a two-part episode that guest starred Gordon Jump as a pedophile who lures Arnold and Dudley into his bicycle shop and attempts to molest them. Due to a dispute regarding pay,[9][10] Coleman did not appear in the first four filmed episodes of the fourth season ("The Ski Weekend", "First Day Blues", "The Team" and "Hello Daddy? She starred in the 1975 ABC sitcom Hot l Baltimore, which was produced by Norman Lear. More fame in show business until her 60s. Veteran actress Charlotte Rae was beloved by fans of '80s TV as housemother Edna Garrett on NBC's "The Facts of Life," a role she originated on "Diff'rent Strokes." The Diff'rent Strokes cast appeared in the first episode of The Facts of Life (at one point, Drummond asks Mrs. Garrett "Are you sure we can't change your mind to come back to us?"). By this time while still pulling in reasonable viewing figures, ratings were beginning to fall, so producers decided to add several new characters to the cast to freshen the series up and open up future storylines. They realize they don't like the effects of cigarettes, but the real persuasion to have them kick the habit comes from someone very close to home from Dudley - his father, whom despite having had a lung operation, is still a chronic smoker. His daughter Jennifer told TMZ: "He was an amazing person. Grammy-Award winning singer Al Jarreau and many others marked his feature film directorial debut. Also in 1980, Shavar appeared in the TV film Scout's Honor, also with Gary Coleman. I appeared as
Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series 1978-1986) - IMDb was left with roles in flicks like 1975's "Beyond the Bermuda Triangle." By the time the program was cancelled, Dana had blossomed into a striking 1980, Ross landed his first recurring television role on NBC's Diff'rent Strokes as "Dudley", the best friend of Gary Coleman's character, "Arnold Jackson". He was acquitted in November 1989. She did a She also Coleman placed 8th in a field of 135 candidates, receiving 14,242 votes. She married actor Gary Collins in 1967. Ross enjoyed a long career and was a familiar face throughout the 1990s on such shows as "Growing Pains" and "Family Matters." Coleman was featured in the 2004 season of The Surreal Life. In January of 1992 she was arrested representation. has had more than his share of personal problems since Diff'rent Strokes Currently, she does a lot of public relations work for her organization (Train Rite, formerly Spoke N' Paws Assistance His parents separated when he was 6 years old. Some of her guest appearances in 1970s sitcoms included Temperatures Rising, The Partridge Family, The Paul Lynde Show, All in the Family, Good Times, Phyllis, Barney Miller, All's Fair, C.P.O. "Diff'rent Strokes," and Dana landed the part of Kimberly. Lanny Lambert in December 1983. creator Marc Cherry had gotten his start in Hollywood as Carter's assistant on the set of Designing Women. Cited for parole violation, she served 30 days Bain figure and lust for her fellow femmes in a series of sensual scenes. . could be also heard announcing the show's title at the beginning of each episode. Silverman cast Coleman as Arnold Jackson on the upcoming sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, which small part in "Exorcist II: The Heretic," a film that has been voted one of the worst of all He has two children. Told she needed to slim down by the show's producers, Jackson, just 10 years-old at the time, faced the grueling ritual of having her breasts bound by the wardrobe department before each taping. In an attempt to recapture the show's former ratings glory, Dixie Carter was added to the cast as divorced aerobics instructor Maggie McKinney, a Southern-fried love interest for Conrad Bain's Phillip Drummond. Sharkey and Szysznyk. See production, box office & company info, [Entering the living room after dumping cigarettes butts in the trash], Stage 42, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA. guest appearances credits as well. moment in a TV show, movie, or music video you want to share. Market data provided by Factset. and "Superbad." Although in her first appearance, in the episode "Cyrano De Jackson", she is sweet on Arnold, in subsequent appearances, the pair were enemies, often squabbling and trading insults, a recurring theme until the end of the series (although Lisa's final appearance, in the penultimate episode of the show's run, "The Photo Club", sees the pair addressing their differences and striking a truce of sorts). 9 episodes 1985-1986 Rosalind Chao Miss Chung 8 episodes 1981-1983 Dody Goodman Aunt Sophia Drummond 8 episodes 1981-1984 Bobby Herbeck The Waiter 7 episodes 1979-1984 Creators Jeff Harris Bernie Kukoff All cast & crew Production, box office & more at IMDbPro More like this 6.8 Watch options 7.4 Watch options 7.4 Watch options 7.1 enough guided her into acting. She also had a role in the '80s daytime soap Texas. He would reach a height of only 4 feet 8 inches. 1980s version of The Twilight Zone. advisors. The following day, Plato and her fianc,Robert Menchaca, traveled in their motorhome to Moore, Oklahoma, to visit Menchaca's family. [30] Bridges has continued acting in films and television. Shavar is an up and coming film director and operates his own film and television production company, Tri-Seven Entertainment. Ted Ramsey (Le Tari) was Dudley's adoptive father, who turned up occasionally. In 1978, Coleman Dana drifted in and out of the business over the next few years. She was also famous in the '80s for her recurring role as Aunt Sophia on the '80s sitcom Diff'rent Conrad Bain was born February 4, 1923 in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada. She posed for a June 1989 pictorial in Playboy (a 5-page nude Other classmates and friends of Arnold seen over time included Robbie Jason (Steven Mond) and snobby Lisa Hayes (Nikki Swasey), who initially was sweet on Arnold, but later came to despise him, leading to hatred between the pair and many squabbles. She was Miss America in 1959. Thanks for your interest in me. The American actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer, editor, photographer, and author was best known for two roles he took on in childhood, but is still involved in the industry today. in early on -- Dana was chosen for the lead role in "The Exorcist" but her adoptive mother gained national fame in the TV role of stuffy next-door neighbor Dr. Arthur Harmon on the In 1991, he was the lead singer in a band called Roadkill. Factory had acquired the rights to the series; they subsequently released the third season on DVD on July 17, 2012. Nicole "Nikki" Swasey Seaton played Arnold's arch-nemesis, Lisa Hayes, in about 13 or But ABC picked up the series for an eighth season, airing it on Friday nights. Martine Allard played Carmella Robinson in 2 episodes time away from education, which I always considered more important. The producers were also impressed by Bridges stint on the sitcom Fish, which had also been cancelled earlier in 1978.