Explores Gary Coleman's rise to fame as a child star, his struggles with living in the spotlight, financial troubles, depression, and the controversy surrounding his tragic death at age 42, ... Read allExplores Gary Coleman's rise to fame as a child star, his struggles with living in the spotlight, financial troubles, depression, and the controversy surrounding his tragic death at age 42, providing insight into his private world.Explores Gary Coleman's rise to fame as a child star, his struggles with living in the spotlight, financial troubles, depression, and the controversy surrounding his tragic death at age 42, providing insight into his private world.
Photos
- Self
- (archive footage)
- Self - Gary's Father
- (as Willie Coleman)
- Self - Hairstylist, Diff'rent Strokes
- (as Joann Stafford-Chaney)
- Self - Gary's Utah Theatrical Agent
- (as Sheila Erickson Rolls)
- Self - 'Philip' in Diff'rent Strokes
- (archive footage)
- Self - 'Kimberly' in Diff'rent Strokes
- (archive footage)
- Self - Producer, Good Times
- (archive footage)
Storyline
Did you know
- Quotes
Gary Coleman: Celebrity's always a burden. I don't care who you are. I don't care how much you claim you like it. You're stuck with it for life. You're gonna die a celebrity. Even if you haven't worked in 20 years.
- ConnectionsFeatures Good Times (1974)
What dominates this special are the countless dramatic moments that followed Coleman, either dealing with parents and agents who micromanaged his career and finances to a critical point, where the actor was being literally robbed by nearly everyone around him. It's sad to say it, but it's the usual textbook that followed many child actors/artists through decades (rare these days, but still happens). But seeing the scope of things, what happened to an already frail kid with many health issues, and that "fate" of dealing with untrsuty people followed him even when he got married later on, it's tragic.
The presence of his parents, the wife and the agent who profitted of him can revolt the most sensitive viewer - I was in total disbelief seeing their "serious" act on screen. Gotta have a lot of nerve.
But it also follows his true loyal friends who helped him out whenever needed (Dion Mial, who later became his manager after a falling out with a previous agent, shares many amazing stories of genuine friendship. Lucky folks might have a buddy like him). Co-star Todd Bridges and a few others who worked on "Diff'rent Strokes" offer the good stories from behind the scenes of the show, and some serious ones concerning Coleman's dad bossing around on the set.
I can't offer a view of Gary Coleman as a fan since I know very little about him, in fact I only know him because of that show (called "Arnold" in here) which had a re-run a lot later but very popular to audiences. I didn't know about the whole issue concerning his death and the foul play suspicious on the ex-wife, and that really took me by surprise. But if comparing with other documentaries made about important personalities, I can understand the criticism and rejection some viewers will have with this project since it's too downer and focused on gossips or "he said/she said", and very little about his work and attempts to rebuild his career outside of the Arnold Jackson character. We have plenty of great clips of his TV and cinema work, but without the input from critics or artists who were inspired by Coleman, there's something missing to understand one of the greatest TV icons of the 1970's-1980's.
Yet I was thrilled with it. It was a quite emotional journey with many surprising facts, dramatic moments and some humored as well - I couldn't resist laughing at his loan/credit commercial where he was poking fun of his downer financial problems. And viewers can take a closer look at Coleman that goes beyond Arnold: the funny kid; the brave kid who loved his work and continued with it despite being sick; the young man who struggled a lot, almost gave up of everything when things weren't going his way, made some mistakes but kept going facing the obstacles. It's mostly a downer, but there are inspiring moments that can make you look at things in a positive way, and just be critical of this fame thing and how it ruins bright talents who aren't sheltered with a great support network. As Mial says, this was a cautionary tale. 9/10.
- Rodrigo_Amaro
- Aug 29, 2024
- Permalink
Details
- Runtime1 hour 31 minutes