Gary Coleman Documentary Explores Actor’s Tragic Life and ‘Suspicious’ Death

The new documentary "Gary" explores the life and death of actor Gary Coleman.Photo byPeacock

A new Peacock documentary offers a sobering look at the troubled life of late actor Gary Coleman.

The film titled Gary premiered on Thursday, Aug. 29. The documentary follows the former child star’s journey from his hometown of Zion, Illinois, to the bright lights of Hollywood, and the heartbreak that would follow.

Coleman was born on Feb. 8, 1968. At age two he was diagnosed with a kidney defect, his mother said in the film. At five, he underwent a kidney transplant and would later require dialysis for the rest of his life.

Also Read: New Documentary to Explore ‘Mysterious Death’ of Actor Gary Coleman

The actor’s childhood friend and former manager Dion Mial was among those interviewed in the film.

Mial said by the time Coleman was 17, his body had “absorbed” his remaining kidney.

“From December 31 of 1985 until his death, Gary lived without a single kidney in his body,” Mial shared.

Despite his health problems, Coleman found fame and fortune in Hollywood with a breakout role as Arnold Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes.

“I can recall showing up to set one day and Gary was in the middle of the scene, completed the scene, bent over and threw up,” Mial shared. “He fundamentally never knew what it was to be fully healthy.”

Diff’rent Strokes aired over eight seasons from 1978 to 1986. At one point, Coleman was said to be the highest-paid child star on TV.

The actor’s co-star Todd Bridges was also interviewed and described Coleman as a comedic “genius.”

During his Hollywood career, Coleman earned over $18 million dollars. But much of his money was spent by others.

The actor was 18 when Diff’rent Strokes was canceled. By then, he was “exhausted” and “spent,” Mial said.

According to his manager, Coleman wanted to take a break. But “no one would accept that,” including his parents and his agent, Mial said. Instead, they pushed the actor to continue working and capitalize on his fame.

The documentary also offered insight into Coleman’s estrangement from his parents, after he accused them of stealing his earnings.

The actor sued his parents and his business adviser, leading a judge to award Coleman $1.2 million.

“I very clearly expressed to him that I felt that some of the business people in his life were completely insincere, that they were duplicitous with him, because I heard very frequently, ‘Gary’s a little jerk, thank God he pays us a good salary,’” Mial stated.

Coleman’s parents denied wrongdoing. His father called Mial a “demon” in the film.

Coleman died from a brain hemorrhage in 2010, after suffering a fall at his home. He was 42.

The documentary noted that his death was “suspicious,” with some people pointing the finger at the actor’s ex-wife, Shannon Price. She denied playing a role in Coleman’s death. “I didn’t touch him,” Price said.

Gary is currently streaming on Peacock.

Watch the trailer for the film below: