Gary Coleman's unusual LOOK in 1983 on Diffrent Strokes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 02-17-2006, 08:18 PM

I haven't done any research on this yet but does anyone know why Gary Coleman physical apperance changed in 1983. He became very DARK and had this kind of skeleton look in his face. Anyone recall this look?

iluvjackandkaren · 03-05-2006, 12:29 PM

my guess would be his dialysis and kidney treatments.

Brian Damage · 03-05-2006, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluvjackandkaren

my guess would be his dialysis and kidney treatments.

Exactly, Coleman was very sick during this time.

dummytree · 07-31-2006, 04:40 PM

Yes, it is a period where he was just exhausted, it is documented (E! Hollywood Stories and elsewhere).

caligirl · 08-11-2006, 03:43 PM

How sad

Ireneparalegal · 08-11-2006, 04:35 PM

You need to remember, those who suffer from kidney problems, illnesses, they will tend to "bloat" or have a somewhat "fatty" look to them. Especially in the face. So, we could have been seeing him as he would look had it not been for his kidney problems. Either way, he has dealt with kidney problems all his life.

dummytree · 08-12-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

You need to remember, those who suffer from kidney problems, illnesses, they will tend to "bloat" or have a somewhat "fatty" look to them. Especially in the face. So, we could have been seeing him as he would look had it not been for his kidney problems. Either way, he has dealt with kidney problems all his life.

A friend of mine had a kidney transplant in the late 90's and had "chubby" cheeks and a paler skin than usual, due to his treatments, dialysis and all that. It's pretty extreme, all that medicine involved and diets you have to stick to. He was so brave about it all (he's doing great now, thank you

)

megamanj2004 · 09-05-2006, 06:18 PM

Actually, he began looking thinner in the face sometime in 1982, b/c I just saw the ep. where he beats Willis at a Space-Age arcade game yesterday and that ep. was from 1982.

dummytree · 09-08-2006, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megamanj2004

Actually, he began looking thinner in the face sometime in 1982, b/c I just saw the ep. where he beats Willis at a Space-Age arcade game yesterday and that ep. was from 1982.

Oh thanks. this season must be the one from 1982-83 then. The fifth.
He probably used less "cortisone" by then (i don't know what the english word is. Probably the same?). It's a substance that gives you that chubby looks.

willjarmon · 09-10-2006, 11:36 PM

That's when the dialysis really came into really serious play around that time because if you look between 1981-1985 (Seasons 4-7) you noticed on one show he was bloated and then a few weeks later he was thinner and then in like the last 3 or 4 episodes of season 8 he was just plain skinny and if you noticed he didn't act mush in those last 5 or 6 shows untill Front Page and the one with Robin Givens

88survivor · 09-11-2006, 01:08 AM

He looked pretty weird looking in the pilot episode, though. After the pilot episode, he looked different and there is the Arnold we all know.

dummytree · 09-11-2006, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88survivor

He looked pretty weird looking in the pilot episode, though. After the pilot episode, he looked different and there is the Arnold we all know.

You're right. I wouldn't say "weird" but this episode looks like it was shot a year or a few months prior to the rest of the season. He looks and sounds a bit younger in the pilot.

TMC · 07-16-2014, 10:33 PM

I just saw an episode on Encore Black involving Sam's friend (played by Soleli Moon Frye), who just happens to be a girl and I was taken a back by how "weird" Gary Coleman looked in contrast to episodes prior to that (during that season, which I think was Season 7). I noticed that he had missed several episodes (presumably because he was on medical leave), and yet in this episode that I'm referring too, Gary's complexion seemed lighter and his cheeks became really puffy.

TVFactFan · 07-16-2014, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

I just saw an episode on Encore Black involving Sam's friend (played by Soleli Moon Frye), who just happens to be a girl and I was taken a back by how "weird" Gary Coleman looked in contrast to episodes prior to that (during that season, which I think was Season 7). I noticed that he had missed several episodes (presumably because he was on medical leave), and yet in this episode that I'm referring too, Gary's complexion seemed lighter and his cheeks became really puffy.

And he went from that to thinner and darker

Mace Dolex · 07-18-2014, 06:20 PM

I noticed his physical appearances would fluctuate when watching the episodes in syndication but at the time I didn't know Gary had a medical condition I was guessing he had plastic surgery or something.

02-17-2006, 08:18 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,062	Gary Coleman's unusual LOOK in 1983 on Diffrent Strokes I haven't done any research on this yet but does anyone know why Gary Coleman physical apperance changed in 1983. He became very DARK and had this kind of skeleton look in his face. Anyone recall this look?

08-11-2006, 04:35 PM	#6
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	You need to remember, those who suffer from kidney problems, illnesses, they will tend to "bloat" or have a somewhat "fatty" look to them. Especially in the face. So, we could have been seeing him as he would look had it not been for his kidney problems. Either way, he has dealt with kidney problems all his life.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

09-05-2006, 06:18 PM	#8
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,357	Actually, he began looking thinner in the face sometime in 1982, b/c I just saw the ep. where he beats Willis at a Space-Age arcade game yesterday and that ep. was from 1982.
	__________________ 10 AND A HALF YEARS GOING STRONG!!!

03-05-2006, 12:29 PM	#2
iluvjackandkaren Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 26, 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 122	my guess would be his dialysis and kidney treatments.

07-31-2006, 04:40 PM	#4
dummytree Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 07, 2003 Location: France Posts: 84	Yes, it is a period where he was just exhausted, it is documented (E! Hollywood Stories and elsewhere).

08-11-2006, 03:43 PM	#5
caligirl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 09, 2006 Posts: 13	How sad

09-10-2006, 11:36 PM	#10
willjarmon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 31, 2001 Posts: 182	That's when the dialysis really came into really serious play around that time because if you look between 1981-1985 (Seasons 4-7) you noticed on one show he was bloated and then a few weeks later he was thinner and then in like the last 3 or 4 episodes of season 8 he was just plain skinny and if you noticed he didn't act mush in those last 5 or 6 shows untill Front Page and the one with Robin Givens

09-11-2006, 01:08 AM	#11
88survivor Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2006 Location: NY Posts: 1,849	He looked pretty weird looking in the pilot episode, though. After the pilot episode, he looked different and there is the Arnold we all know.

07-16-2014, 10:33 PM	#13
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,210	I just saw an episode on Encore Black involving Sam's friend (played by Soleli Moon Frye), who just happens to be a girl and I was taken a back by how "weird" Gary Coleman looked in contrast to episodes prior to that (during that season, which I think was Season 7). I noticed that he had missed several episodes (presumably because he was on medical leave), and yet in this episode that I'm referring too, Gary's complexion seemed lighter and his cheeks became really puffy.

07-18-2014, 06:20 PM	#15
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,669	I noticed his physical appearances would fluctuate when watching the episodes in syndication but at the time I didn't know Gary had a medical condition I was guessing he had plastic surgery or something.