Was Gary Coleman Typecast Out Of Hollywood Or Blackballed?!? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 12-30-2010, 02:33 PM

Was he typecast as Arnold Jackson or because of his size and later because of his legal woes was basically blackballed out of most all types of roles on TV & in movies?

Larenz09 · 01-08-2011, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Was he typecast as Arnold Jackson or because of his size and later because of his legal woes was basically blackballed out of most all types of roles on TV & in movies?

I think he was blackballed mainly because he had problems with his finances, and the dough that he sued his parents for, was probably a high-profile case which the media had eaten up greedily, and when the dough was all gone, he was probably made an example of by the media.

I don't think it was his height. Look at Emmanuel Lewis, Vern Troyer and Tony Cox. They are all short in height and they are all still making it big!

TMC · 07-28-2015, 04:28 AM

I really believe that Hollywood didn't see much value in Gary anymore once DS ended because he was no longer a cute, chubby faced, little kid. It was going to be hard to transition him into a legitimate career as an adult actor because of his height (he kind of became stigmatized by it due to his association w/ DS) and not having "leading man" good looks. Also, Gary I think had limited range as an actor, especially in the later years of DS, when Arnold became more irritable and jerky. I wouldn't be surprised if Gary's health issues were another major liability in regards to getting insurance and what not.

TMC · 07-28-2015, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larenz09

I think he was blackballed mainly because he had problems with his finances, and the dough that he sued his parents for, was probably a high-profile case which the media had eaten up greedily, and when the dough was all gone, he was probably made an example of by the media.

I don't think it was his height. Look at Emmanuel Lewis, Vern Troyer and Tony Cox. They are all short in height and they are all still making it big!

Dana Plato, the moment that she got pregnant (which forced her removal from the cast after the sixth season) pretty much got blackballed too. There must be a good reason why for the rest of her career, she could only manage little more than low-budget, B-movie work and/or what could be considered erotic/softcore porn material.

Larenz09 · 07-28-2015, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

Dana Plato, the moment that she got pregnant (which forced her removal from the cast after the sixth season) pretty much got blackballed too. There must be a good reason why for the rest of her career, she could only manage little more than low-budget, B-movie work and/or what could be considered erotic/softcore porn material.

She also became hooked on drugs for whatever reason she may have chose to. Her life as an actress went down in flames, as she was also struggling & dealing with issues in her life.

The only two stars who were in trouble for a time, but who successfully dug their way out of the black hole were Todd Bridges & Shavar Ross (I am friends with Shavar on Facebook). They saw the light and have moved on, helping others who were in the same boat that they once were in!

Todd makes guest appearances on TV shows, but he also is the owner / sponsor of a drug rehab program to help get people off drugs. Shavar is a movie producer / director who is doing very well supporting his wife & kids.

king of comedy · 07-28-2015, 05:21 PM

Poor guy.

TMC · 12-21-2016, 07:27 PM

To reiterate a bit, Gary Coleman's post-Diff'rent Strokes career was essentially a blacklist. What audiences would accept a 4'8" black man is beyond the point; between the ongoing kidney issues and his father being a bit of a jerk and both his parents putting the work load at the expense of his health (he was spending his summers doing TV movies with the likes of Robert Guillaume and Georg Stanford Brown), they just decided it was not worth the trouble. And that Dion Mial character who became his agent didn't seem to be able to get him better roles than sitcom cameos and commercials.

rusty spike · 01-06-2017, 03:08 AM

I don't think actors or actresses (or us viewers) realize how powerful the $$$ producers carry in Hollywood. I think all it takes is for an actor/actress to have a tizzy and interrupt the production timeline and it gets noticed. I think producers expect "professionalism" and don't expect stardom or real life to get in their way.

That's why I believe Gary's perpetual health and bad temperament and Dana's unexpected pregnancy affected post DS work.

king of comedy · 01-07-2017, 12:04 PM

Didn't Gary do a tv movie in which he played a kid who loves playing with fire?

ThomasE · 02-06-2017, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king of comedy

Didn't Gary do a tv movie in which he played a kid who loves playing with fire?

I saw that Movie when I was a kid. That was most definitely around the time that he was doing his TV show.

TMC · 06-06-2017, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king of comedy

Poor guy.

Is it possible that had Gary Coleman's kidney ailment he been diagnosed much earlier, he could have had treatment and normal growth?

Edward216 · 06-12-2017, 03:33 AM

I think it was all just a matter of he was growing up and wasn't a cute kid anymore so Hollywood had no more use for him along with Gary Coleman turning his back on Hollywood because he was angry (rightfully so) because he felt he'd been used by his adoptive parents and the producers of Diff'rent Strokes. I believe he was right. I think it's sad but totally understandable he became so angry and bitter as an adult.

Ed.

Yong Fang · 06-12-2017, 08:23 AM

There is a Youtube video about "child stars" from all the way back to 1920's "Baby Peggy" (who is still alive) all the way to 1990's sitcoms. One aspect was that how everyone else made money off the back of the child actor. Johnny Whitaker said when he turned 18 he "only" got $90,000, now 1970 $90,000 was pretty decent, but not when how much money was skimmed by the parents, the managers, the tax man and everyone else.

Gary Coleman I felt sorry for. He made millions of dollars and was an A List child TV actor, and his adoptive parents stole most of the money, with Coleman not getting squat. Coleman wasnt a bad guy, as far as I know, he did not drink (or much at all considering his size and kidneys) AFAIK, did not use drugs or really contribute to his economic demise. Dana Plato pissed away her money on cocaine, so did Todd Bridges.

Another interesting thing about the "child stars" show was it showed how difficult it was for a child actor to be able to adjust to normal life and a normal job. Many cannot do it. Then there is the typecasting, and Coleman was typecast forever as Arnold Jackson, and it was much more paramount with him, because Coleman's body never grew and he became a punchline and a joke. That sucks. Then having to take a job being a mall cop and then being harrassed by some stupid woman for an autograph or teasing and Coleman retaliating. He was angry like was said before and who can blame him. Coleman should have been in Polynesia on the beach. Coleman should have gone to college, but no money for that, and probably a poor education on top of that.

But not all child actors go off the deep end, so there has to be some personal responsibility there somewhere.

TMC · 06-25-2017, 01:25 AM

I don't know if anybody else saw Reelz Channel's Autopsy show on Gary Coleman? But it seems like Gary's frustrations with Diff'rent Strokes (and the show business game in general) really started to around 1983. Gary was not only frustrated with his health issues (it was around this time that he got his second kidney transplant), but the long work hours (along with the huge pressure of having to carry Diff'rent Strokes), and not being allowed to "grow up" on screen. But Gary was for all intents and purposes, his parents' (and for that matter, the producers) meal-ticket so he was going work hard no matter how dire his health situation was.

12-30-2010, 02:33 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Was Gary Coleman Typecast Out Of Hollywood Or Blackballed?!? Was he typecast as Arnold Jackson or because of his size and later because of his legal woes was basically blackballed out of most all types of roles on TV & in movies?
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

12-21-2016, 07:27 PM	#7
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,242	To reiterate a bit, Gary Coleman's post-Diff'rent Strokes career was essentially a blacklist. What audiences would accept a 4'8" black man is beyond the point; between the ongoing kidney issues and his father being a bit of a jerk and both his parents putting the work load at the expense of his health (he was spending his summers doing TV movies with the likes of Robert Guillaume and Georg Stanford Brown), they just decided it was not worth the trouble. And that Dion Mial character who became his agent didn't seem to be able to get him better roles than sitcom cameos and commercials.
	Last edited by TMC; 02-15-2019 at 03:23 AM.

07-28-2015, 04:28 AM	#3
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,242	I really believe that Hollywood didn't see much value in Gary anymore once DS ended because he was no longer a cute, chubby faced, little kid. It was going to be hard to transition him into a legitimate career as an adult actor because of his height (he kind of became stigmatized by it due to his association w/ DS) and not having "leading man" good looks. Also, Gary I think had limited range as an actor, especially in the later years of DS, when Arnold became more irritable and jerky. I wouldn't be surprised if Gary's health issues were another major liability in regards to getting insurance and what not.

07-28-2015, 05:21 PM	#6
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	Poor guy.

01-06-2017, 03:08 AM	#8
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I don't think actors or actresses (or us viewers) realize how powerful the $$$ producers carry in Hollywood. I think all it takes is for an actor/actress to have a tizzy and interrupt the production timeline and it gets noticed. I think producers expect "professionalism" and don't expect stardom or real life to get in their way. That's why I believe Gary's perpetual health and bad temperament and Dana's unexpected pregnancy affected post DS work.

01-07-2017, 12:04 PM	#9
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	Didn't Gary do a tv movie in which he played a kid who loves playing with fire?

06-12-2017, 03:33 AM	#12
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,630	I think it was all just a matter of he was growing up and wasn't a cute kid anymore so Hollywood had no more use for him along with Gary Coleman turning his back on Hollywood because he was angry (rightfully so) because he felt he'd been used by his adoptive parents and the producers of Diff'rent Strokes. I believe he was right. I think it's sad but totally understandable he became so angry and bitter as an adult. Ed.

06-12-2017, 08:23 AM	#13
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	There is a Youtube video about "child stars" from all the way back to 1920's "Baby Peggy" (who is still alive) all the way to 1990's sitcoms. One aspect was that how everyone else made money off the back of the child actor. Johnny Whitaker said when he turned 18 he "only" got $90,000, now 1970 $90,000 was pretty decent, but not when how much money was skimmed by the parents, the managers, the tax man and everyone else. Gary Coleman I felt sorry for. He made millions of dollars and was an A List child TV actor, and his adoptive parents stole most of the money, with Coleman not getting squat. Coleman wasnt a bad guy, as far as I know, he did not drink (or much at all considering his size and kidneys) AFAIK, did not use drugs or really contribute to his economic demise. Dana Plato pissed away her money on cocaine, so did Todd Bridges. Another interesting thing about the "child stars" show was it showed how difficult it was for a child actor to be able to adjust to normal life and a normal job. Many cannot do it. Then there is the typecasting, and Coleman was typecast forever as Arnold Jackson, and it was much more paramount with him, because Coleman's body never grew and he became a punchline and a joke. That sucks. Then having to take a job being a mall cop and then being harrassed by some stupid woman for an autograph or teasing and Coleman retaliating. He was angry like was said before and who can blame him. Coleman should have been in Polynesia on the beach. Coleman should have gone to college, but no money for that, and probably a poor education on top of that. But not all child actors go off the deep end, so there has to be some personal responsibility there somewhere.

06-25-2017, 01:25 AM	#14
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,242	I don't know if anybody else saw Reelz Channel's Autopsy show on Gary Coleman? But it seems like Gary's frustrations with Diff'rent Strokes (and the show business game in general) really started to around 1983. Gary was not only frustrated with his health issues (it was around this time that he got his second kidney transplant), but the long work hours (along with the huge pressure of having to carry Diff'rent Strokes), and not being allowed to "grow up" on screen. But Gary was for all intents and purposes, his parents' (and for that matter, the producers) meal-ticket so he was going work hard no matter how dire his health situation was.