Actor. As a child he appeared in episodes of "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times" before attaining celebrity status as a star of the NBC situation comedy "Diff'rent Strokes," where his character's usual retort to his brother (played by Todd Bridges) "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" became a national catchphrase. Coleman earned as much as $100,000 per episode, but was left with a quarter of his original net worth after paying his parents and advisers; he later successfully sued his parents and advisers for mishandling his money. After "Diff'rent Strokes," he starred in feature films and made-for-TV movies including "On the Right Track" and "The Kid with the Broken Halo." Coleman continued to work occasionally in TV and movies, but eventually declared bankruptcy and worked as a security guard and in other low-profile jobs. He suffered from a congenital kidney disease which halted his growth at an early age, leaving him with a small stature (less than five feet tall) and a childlike appearance even as he grew into adulthood. He underwent two kidney transplants, one in 1973 and one in 1984, and required daily dialysis.
Actor. As a child he appeared in episodes of "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times" before attaining celebrity status as a star of the NBC situation comedy "Diff'rent Strokes," where his character's usual retort to his brother (played by Todd Bridges) "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" became a national catchphrase. Coleman earned as much as $100,000 per episode, but was left with a quarter of his original net worth after paying his parents and advisers; he later successfully sued his parents and advisers for mishandling his money. After "Diff'rent Strokes," he starred in feature films and made-for-TV movies including "On the Right Track" and "The Kid with the Broken Halo." Coleman continued to work occasionally in TV and movies, but eventually declared bankruptcy and worked as a security guard and in other low-profile jobs. He suffered from a congenital kidney disease which halted his growth at an early age, leaving him with a small stature (less than five feet tall) and a childlike appearance even as he grew into adulthood. He underwent two kidney transplants, one in 1973 and one in 1984, and required daily dialysis.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Advertisement
See more Coleman memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
