He ends the commercial by saying, "Pay your bills on time and everyone will love you." Todd Bridges Dana Plato, who played his daughter Kimberly, died in 1999 of a drug overdose. Following Rae's departure midway through the second season, Nedra Volz took over as the housekeeper, the older and crankier Adelaide Brubaker, introduced in the episode "The Election". In 1993, Willis had trouble remembering events from what year? Show, and Mad TV. Dana's mother, Florine 'Kay' Plato, who had guided her career died of a blood disease in January Dana was helped by Las Vegas singer, Wayne Newton, 3 Diff'rent Strokes: Arnold and Dudley Get Molested Diff'rent Strokesfollowed the lives of two young brothers from Harlem, Arnold and Willis, after their mother died and they were adopted by the wealthy Mr. Drummond. include Tell Me You Love Me, The O.C. Under the pressures of sudden fame, Dana Plato, who appeared as Phillip Drummond's daughter, Kimberly, began using marijuana, prescription pills, and cocaine while shooting "Diff'rent Strokes." [2] As a director, his first short film, Soul to Take (2003), garnered him an Internet distribution deal with Russell Simmons' media company Simmons/Lathan Media Group. and give me an update. Appearing on shows ranging from "The Love Boat" to "Magnum P.I.," Ross was a ubiquitous presence as a supporting actor and guest star. [43], The series had graded its audio tracks to AAC 2 Channels. so episodes. He is survived by three children: Jennifer, Kent and Mark. was left with roles in flicks like 1975's "Beyond the Bermuda Triangle." Bosque de Palabras Following the cancellation of Diff'rent Strokes in 1986, Coleman, Bridges and Plato encountered difficulty in finding other acting jobs. Dixie passed away April 10, 2010 in Houston, TX of complications of endometrial cancer. She As the youngest sister of one of the most popular musical families in entertainment history, Janet Jackson grew up in the shadow of her famous brothers. Plato's publicized brushes with substance abuse contributed to this decision, resulting in her dismissal from the series at the end of the sixth season. ABC canceled the series after 19 episodes of the proposed 22-episode season, a result of low ratings and a feeling that the series had run its course, although it was also observed that by this time, the once joyous Coleman, now 17, was looking angry and haggard,[10] a combination of his ongoing medical issues and a bitter financial dispute with his parents. [41], On August 27, 2013, it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to various television series from the Sony Pictures library, including Diff'rent Strokes. I had to get to sleep so I could get up for the kids and do the TV show Monday-Friday. She was married to Robert Bernhardt on January 8, 1994 and they divorced on July 26, 1996. Arizona and worked at Tucson Hobby Shop because he is/was an active model railroader. The disease claimed her life in 2014. catapulted the 10-year-old to stardom. Movies. As detailed by Turner Classic Movies, Rae was born Charlotte Rae Lubotsky on April 22, 1926, in Milwaukee. Her name that she goes by now is Melanie Bernhardt. Gary Coleman, who played adopted son Arnold Jackson, died in 2010 after a fall down a flight of stairs in his home. In a two-part episode on the dangers of hitchhiking ("The Hitchhikers"), Kimberly and Arnold (who were out in the cold weather and didn't have money for cab or bus fare) were abducted by a serial kidnapper-rapist (played by Woody Eney), who initially acted as a good Samaritan by giving the two of them a ride and inviting them to his apartment. He remained on the show as a regular cast member through the show's seventh season at NBC and its ill-fated move to ABC. Arnold (Gary Coleman) is very excited to be on his first date, until Dudley (Shavar Ross) shows up and tries to tag along.From Season 4, Episode 6 'Double Da. She appeared as Molly the Mail Lady in the third season (1971-1972) of Sesame Street. Steven Mond played one of Arnold's friends on the show (Robbie Jayson). His second short film, A Taste of Us (2004), dealt with the civil unrest of the 1960s segregation in the south and was originally made as a pilot presentation for the TV One Network. career as a stage manager / assistant director, which I'm still working as Hervey served as the head of public relations for HealthSouth Corporation in Birmingham, Alabama during events that would lead to a massive fraud scandal. When the laugh track stopped, he had to scrounge for work. (Dana did grab a was on a fall 1999 episode of Get Real as well as ER. He still remained in the public eye, albeit as the central character in Appeared in an episode In November 2015, she released her autobiography, The Facts of My Life, which was co-written with her son, Larry Strauss. Danny continued to act throughout his teen years with roles in the Nickelodeon camp comedy series "Salute Your Shorts" and the blockbuster "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" but transitioned largely to music and voice-overs in the 1990s. she was arrested for the armed robbery of a Las Vegas video store (which she used In 2004, he was interviewed for the special features for the first season DVD release of Diff'rent Strokes. More recently, he is trying to get on with his life and start over. 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." [citation needed]. Some of her drama guest appearances included The Defenders, McMillan & Wife, St. a boy named Spencer Todd Bridges. Philip Drummond: No. Elsewhere, Murder, She Wrote, Thunder in Paradise, Sisters, Diagnosis: Murder, Strong Medicine, ER, Life and Pretty Little Liars. She blasted her way back into the headlines a pellet gun and netted her $164) - she was charged with armed robbery and was later sentenced However, behind the scenes, the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes" found that life rarely offered the easy answers and happy endings of a sitcom. Shavar Ross was a familiar face on TV throughout the 1980s and '90s. Best known as Kimberly Drummond, the older sister on Gary Coleman was born February 8, 1968 in Zion, Illinois. [19], In 1989 three years after the series ended, Coleman sued his parents and his former manager over misappropriation of his trust fund. On May 26, 2010, Coleman was admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah in critical condition after falling down the stairs at his home in Santaquin and hitting his head, possibly after another seizure, and suffering an epidural hematoma. Melanie Watson (now Bernhardt) played Arnold's friend in early on -- Dana was chosen for the lead role in "The Exorcist" but her adoptive mother else, feel free to contact me. Rae received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 1982. of several times she went into rehab. Arnold and Dudley give into peer pressure and experiment with smoking. Her first role as the "Old Lady" came in a 1975 episode of Good Times. By the time the program was cancelled, Dana had blossomed into a striking was born on August 24, 1993. But Plato and her character were well received by audiences, and the producers became convinced that her inclusion added an extra element of appeal to the audience, offering a female character for young girls and women to identify with. my information and the write up of the 2 episodes I appeared in from your Thanks for your interest in me. Rae starred in the first seven seasons before her sister Beverly Ann Stickle (Cloris Leachman) took over the shop and helped look after the girls. "Diff'rent Strokes," and Dana landed the part of Kimberly. dollars. IMDB / Gary Coleman Photos. enough guided her into acting. He also did a voice in a Sega Saturn game called "Return to She blasted her way back into the headlines Child Stars Special, Geeks, Freaks, and Sidekicks, where he revealed that during the taping of the very special episode of Diff'rent Strokes in which he was molested, he was going through a similar experience in real life; he was being "touched" by a family friend inappropriately while he was asleep.[4]. into. As documented in Biography's "Diff'rent Strokes: Behind the Scenes," Coleman was receiving a reported $70,000 per episode. The success of the spin-off led to several Strokes/Facts crossovers in the ensuing years. [40] Season 8 was released on May 29, 2018. Note: This is Le Tari's first appearance as Dudley's father, Ted Ramsey. Dana Plato led quite an interesting life, full of dizzying heights found the going decidedly rough. She came to fame as a child star but found out soon enough that early from 1961 to 1963. She voiced the character of Nanny in 101 Dalmatians: The Series, which aired from 1997 to 1998. nude pictorial did nothing to help revive her career, though, and Dana continued to languish Edna Garrett was the housekeeper for the Drummond family at their Park Avenue apartment in New York City. In 2017, she was diagnosed with bone cancer. During the visit, Plato claimed she was ill and decided to take a nap. their son Tyler Edward Lambert was born. This last project was spun off into the Saturday-morning It's available on Ted Ramsey ( Le Tari) was Dudley's adoptive father, who turned up occasionally. Starring: Charlotte Rae, Dixie Carter, Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges, Dana Plato, Mary Jo Catlett, Danny Cooksey. "I really didn't want to do the show," Jackson writes. " And if it comes up in to up and coming young people with the love of the art as myself. 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 time.) He was 42. He appeared as a contestant on the Fox reality show Skating with Celebrities, but was eliminated on the second episode of the show. also did an episode of Fantasy Island with Peter Graves, Eve Plumb and the rest of the cast. As detailed in her 2011 self-help memoir,"True You," Jackson received her first major TV role when she was cast as an abused child on Norman Lear's classic sitcom "Good Times" in 1977. Mary Ann Mobley, who was the second Mrs. Drummond, was born February 17, 1939 Despite having made $25,000 an episode while on the series, she was often broke and was working as a cashier at a dry cleaning store. as Etta. Conrad In 2001, Coleman was employed as a shopping mall security guard in the Los Angeles area. He died April 4th, 1987 at the age of 40 of a heart attack in Los Angeles County, California. Although he was awarded over $1 million in the decision, he filed for bankruptcy in 1999. in Hollywood as a producer of sports vignettes and as a director. The first and second seasons of Diff'rent Strokes also starred Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges and Dana Plato. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Most of that money was supposed to go into a trust fund set up by Coleman's parents in 1980. However, to fans of "Diff'rent Strokes," he will forever be remembered as Ted Ramsey, the adoptive father of Arnold Jackson's best friend, Dudley, played by Shavar Ross. grew, she became difficult to handle on the show, and Paar was not happy with her upstaging habits. In January 2007, he appeared as a member of the "mob" on the US version of the game show 1 vs. 100. run, which lasted from 1978 to 1986. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. According to Sgt. Dana Michele Plato was born in Maywood, California on November 7, 1964. The series made stars of Coleman, Bridges, and Plato and became known for the "very special episodes", in which serious issues such as racism, illegal drug use, alcoholism, hitchhiking, kidnapping, and child sexual abuse were dramatically explored. After high school, I got an economics degree from UC Berkeley and a law Now, his main role is in the courtroom, in a pathetic fight against his own parents", "The Durant Daily Democrat Google News Archive Search", "The TV Ratings Guide: 1983-84 Ratings History", "Ron Jeremy: Gary Coleman Hated Saying "Whatchu Talkin' Bout" Line", "Vanilla Ice I'm Going to Gary Coleman's Memorial", "The Five Lowest Moments of Gary Coleman's Career", "Former Child Star Gary Coleman Cited for Disorderly Conduct in Parking Lot Spat", "Gary Coleman critically hurt after falling and hitting his head", "Dana Plato, 34, Star of 'Diff'rent Strokes', "The 'Diff'rent Strokes' curse isn't a joke", "Child star Dana Plato's life ends with overdose", "Jury Acquits Todd Bridges Of Charges Of Attempted Murder, Manslaughter", "Todd Bridges arrested, charged after tiff involving vehicle", "Todd Bridges on TV Dad Conrad Bain: 'He Treated Me Better Than My Own Father', "Troubled lives for 'Diff'rent Strokes' stars", "Long Island News from the Long Island Press", "Diff'rent Strokes Front/Rear Box Art, Episode List for Sony's 'Diff'rent: Fan Favorites' DVD", "Diff'rent Strokes 'Season 3' DVDs! He studied at Alberta's Banff School of Fine Arts, served layout, the shots were taken in November 1988 in Arizona), showing off the delectable figure that she'd kept hidden for all those years. MacDonald's movie Dirty Work. Edna Garrett was the housekeeper for the Drummond family at their Park Avenue apartment in New York City. In January of 1992 she was arrested Sadly and tragically, she died of a prescription drug overdose on May 8th, 1999. [citation needed]. He died at 12:05 pm MDT (18:05 UTC) on May 28 at the age of 42. Thanks Todd. His parents separated when he was 6 years old. Martine Allard played Carmella Robinson in 2 episodes Early episodes mostly address typical family sit-com issues, but as the series progresses, it sometimes focuses on more serious topics, including drug abuse, alcoholism, hitchhiking, child abuse and crime. Another episode ("Skin Deep or True Blue") is about Kimberly's new boyfriend, Roger Morehouse (played by Grant Wilson), not allowing his sister, Emily (Melora Hardin), to go to their school's costume ball with Willis because he is black. moment in a TV show, movie, or music video you want to share. Coleman was then placed on life support after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage and died on May 28 from complications of his injury at age 42.[22]. have enclosed a couple of recent pictures of myself, my resume with all [8] The title for the series eventually became Diff'rent Strokes, inspired by the phrase "Different strokes for different folks", popularized by boxer Muhammad Ali in 1966 (Ali himself makes a guest appearance in the second season). Rae was also known for her voice work. On May 7, 1999, Plato gave what would be her final interview to infamous radio shock jock Howard Stern. The reason for this, in part, was that it was in Rae's contract that she be allowed to return to Diff'rent Strokes should The Facts of Life be canceled. [17][18] He also guest-starred as himself on The Wayans Bros., The Ben Stiller Show, Drake & Josh, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Parkers, Robot Chicken, and The Simpsons. jazz at the Boston Conservatory and University of Nevada Las Vegas. Yarn is the best way to find video clips by quote. It's located at 7403 Beverly Blvd. The movie is currently in stores nationwide Coleman was featured in the 2004 season of The Surreal Life. She performed some of the lyrics for the first season theme song. Jason Hervey , who played one of Arnold's friends Charlie in the auditioned for a proposed television revival of the old Little Rascals comedy series. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He appeared on 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. who posted the $13,000 bail for her. She posed for a June 1989 pictorial in Playboy (a 5-page nude As they leave the living room each reveal their guess as to who was the "Meathook Murderer", all guessing their counterparts. [24] In 1998, she appeared in a softcore pornographic film entitled Different Strokes: The Story of Jack and Jilland Jill, which was intended to capitalize on her Diff'rent Strokes fame. Goodman also provided the voice of Miss Miller on the animated series Alvin & the Chipmunks and various nude pictorial did nothing to help revive her career, though, and Dana continued to languish The book was the first opportunity for Charlotte fans to explore the fascinating story of her extraordinary life: poignant and hilarious, a story of courage and triumph, one that speaks for a generation of women breaking barriers, taking on challenges, overcoming personal tragedy, and paving the way for others. Season 1 was also released in Regions 2 & 5 on October 6, 2008. Additionally, Arnold appeared on the Silver Spoons episode "The Great Computer Caper" and the Amazing Stories episode "Remote Control Man". He has appeared in several tv movies and theatrical movies such as Back to 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. Medical investigators ruled the death a suicide, as per AP. in their directors guild program which I landed. They are expecting their first child on March 22, 2012. He was acquitted in November 1989. Ross enjoyed a long career and was a familiar face throughout the 1990s on such shows as "Growing Pains" and "Family Matters." in Biloxi, Mississippi and grew up in Brandon, Mississippi. In her marraige to Arthur she had two Arnold and Dudley (and often Robbie) shared many childhood escapades together, and were featured in many episodes, school-based and otherwise, throughout the show's run. By the time 13-year-old Todd Bridges took the role of Willis Jackson on "Diff'rent Strokes," he was already a seasoned actor. seemingly effortless way with comedy won her lots of fans during the show's prime time an 18-month-old child) gave her up for adoption as an infant and she was taken in by a School, Back to the Future, and Pee-Wee's Big Picture. Her ill-conceived grab for rent money (it was really a cry for help according to many people) sent her to jail . As detailed in the Biography documentary "Diff'rent Strokes: Behind the Scenes," declining ratings led to producers radically altering the show's tried-and-true formula. However, he is still best known for playing Arnold Jackson's best friend Dudley on "Diff'rent Strokes." She has been married to actor Hal Holbrook since 1984. In 1991, he was the lead singer in a band called Roadkill. fame often has its own pitfalls. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Both movie franchises are very memorable and she was a big part of them. Reelpreviews.com. Feel free to use none, any, or all of this on your page. the leading female artists of the last several years with numerous hits. a product of New York City Public Schools. in January of 1992, when Although billed on the opening credits of each episode, Plato appeared only semi-regularly for much of the first season. magazine "Girlfriends." [31] Since Charlotte Rae's death in 2018 at the age of 92, Bridges is the only living member of the original cast. Her birth (1994). In a late first-season episode of Strokes ("The Girls School", which served as the backdoor pilot of Facts), Mrs. Garrett took Kimberly to the school with the intent of helping her sew costumes for a school play. 28, 1914 in Columbus OH. Dana's mother, Florine 'Kay' Plato, who had guided her career died of a blood disease in January In 2001, Coleman (still working as a security guard) was videotaped trying to stop a vehicle from entering the mall. He didn't get the part but "Cold Turkey" director Norman Lear remembered him when he created "Maude. (2005) - S10E04 Blonde Ambition, Never Have I Ever (2020) - S01E05 started a nuclear war. Both marriages ended in divorce. spontaneous cuteness faded. He sued his adoptive parents She provided the voice of Adrienne Van Leydon in Itsy Bitsy Spider from 1994 to 1995. Adopted as an infant, his father worked Crying just like a man. The cast of series regulars on "Diff'rent Strokes" grew by two in Season 6 with the addition of Dixie Carter and . leader on the TV series 227, but his short stature and ever-diminishing acting range made him with Carol Channing. the web and also on Android and iOS. on the fringes of the entertainment industry. October 9, 1998. He appeared as the grandpa in the 1990 movie, Postcards TV credits include her first role as a waitress on The Phil Silvers Show, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Mary Tyler Some of these were important or serious storylines under the "very special episode" heading, which Diff'rent Strokes popularized. He was a lot like Mr. Drummond, but much more interesting in real life. While there, Mrs. Garrett met Kimberly's classmates and was offered the job as "dorm mother." It was said that she had left to star in her own series, Designing Women, but she and Coleman had often clashed, leading to tension and animosity on set. Dana was helped by Las Vegas singer, Wayne Newton, Todd Bridges was born May 27, 1965 in San Francisco, CA. "After Diff'rent Strokes I left my agent because I felt she wasn't creator Marc Cherry had gotten his start in Hollywood as Carter's assistant on the set of Designing Women. (Living Single, Wayan's Brothers, Sunset Beach, Hype, The Berne Mac Show, September 2nd, 1938 in Denver, Colorado. (If you have e-mail addresses on In that notorious installment, Arnold and Dudley fall under the spell of a seemingly friendly proprietor of a local bike shop, who is actually a dangerous child molester (via Decider).