Washington Informer

Actor Gary Coleman died of a brain hemorrhage following a fall at his Utah home, Fri., May 28. Courtesy Photo

Child star Gary Coleman died Fri. May 28 of a brain hemorrhage following a fall at his Utah home. Coleman’s estranged parents are seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding their 42-year-old son's sudden death.
 

Coleman became an instant celebrity following a series of commercials and a stint on the popular comedy Good Times. By 1978, he had landed the role of Arnold Jackson, a Harlem kid adopted along with his brother Willis (played by Todd Bridges) by a white Manhattan businessman (played by Conrad Bain) in Diff'rent Strokes.

Coleman was an immediate star, and his skeptical "Whatchu talkin' 'bout?" - usually aimed at his brother, Willis - became a catchphrase.

His popularity faded when the show ended after six seasons on NBC and two on ABC.

Coleman suffered continuing ill health from the kidney disease that stunted his growth and had a host of legal problems that plagued him until his death.

Despite an estrangement from his parents that began as a teenager, Coleman’s family released a statement casting suspicion on the cause of death.

“We’re not pointing fingers at anyone, but we need to know exactly what happened” Sue Coleman, 67 said. “We're not angry. We're just concerned. Did our son fall down the stairs? Did he fall in the bathtub? We need to have some closure on our son's life.”

Janet Frank, a spokeswoman for Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, said that Coleman had suffered an intracranial hemorrhage after an “accident”. Frank did not elaborate, noting the wishes of Coleman's wife, Shannon Price, 24.

Go-Go Icon Little Benny Dies, 46
Anthony Harley, 46, better known as Little Benny of the go-go group Little Benny and the Masters, died Sat. May 30 at his brother’s home in D.C. The trumpet player was one of the founding fathers of the District’s go-go music scene. Harley began as a member of the Rare Essence go-go band during the 1980s. While the official cause of death has not been announced, Harley is believed to have died in his sleep

Harley was a Ballou Senior High School alumnus and was mentored by the Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown, with whom Harley played regularly.

Anthony Harley was born in Washington on Sept. 26, 1963 and grew up in Southeast.