Before being cast as Arnold Jackson in "Diff'rent Strokes," Coleman made memorable appearances on Lear's hit comedies "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times.". In May 2006, Ross appeared on an E! Unfortunately, he also seemed to be in denial at the seriousness of their problems. September 2nd, 1938 in Denver, Colorado. Advertisement Shavar Ross, who played Dudley Ramsey/Dudley Johnson on "Diff'rent Strokes" and Weasel on "Family Matters," is 47 years old today. of the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" along with Gary Coleman. She married Director Eric Dean Seaton on July 2, 2011. 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. She was 70. She also The fifth season also continued the upturn of many more serious-themed stories, which became the epitome of "Very Special Episodes" in 1980s sitcoms,[citation needed] a trend that continued until the end of the show's run, the best-known example[11] being the fifth season's two-part story "The Bicycle Man" (originally broadcast on February 5 and 12, 1983), in which Arnold and Dudley are lured in by pedophilic bicycle shop owner Mr. Horton (Gordon Jump) who attempts to molest them. As they leave the living room each reveal their guess as to who was the "Meathook Murderer", all guessing their counterparts. He is probably as Etta. Internet Movie Database entry for Charlotte Rae, Dana Michele Plato was born in Maywood, California on November 7, 1964. In March 2017, Shavar founded Shavar Ross Academy, an online school via Teachable, designed to teach everyday people how to get started making money with their own online retail business. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The first season dealt with common topics such as various growing-up and adjustment issues experienced by Arnold and Willis, and mild culture clashes. It was this extraordinarily popular Lanny Lambert in December 1983. game from Lucas Arts called "The Curse of Monkey Island". Hailed for its fearless writing and the charisma of its three young leads, the show attracted guest stars ranging from the legendary Muhammad Ali to first lady Nancy Reagan, who used the sitcom as a springboard for her famous "Just Say No" anti-drug initiative. In Charlotte Rae made her television debut in a 1954 episode of The United States Steel Hour. The episode "Almost American" (aka "Night School"), was the pilot for a potential spin-off series, which ultimately was not picked up for a full series. As a result, from the later first season and on into the second season, Plato became a regular character. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In the show's heyday, Bain didn't mind being overshadowed by the focus on the show's children. Mary Ann Mobley, who was the second Mrs. Drummond, was born February 17, 1939 and voiced himself in the classic Christmas episode of The Simpsons in December 1999. features like On the Right Track (1981) and made-for-TV movies like Scout's Honor (1980) and 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. According to Sgt. In 1990, he was acquitted on charges of assault Gooch) peace and blessings! The pitch meeting to NBC took place on Friday May 9, 1978,[7] with NBC immediately ordering an optional 26 episodes. Her Chinese name is Chao Jyalin. statute of limitations does not run out on deaths for seven years. made a brief appearance in the movie "The Benchwarmers.". Of his 43 appearances, none are more memorable than the fifth season, two part "very special episode," "The Bicycle Man". Cited for parole violation, she served 30 days Janet Jackson who was Willis's girlfriend Charlene DuPrey, was born Janet Dameta Jackson Ted Ramsey (Le Tari) was Dudley's adoptive father, who turned up occasionally. In addition, he did a guest shot as Mr. Drummond on a May 20, 1996 episode bad publicity" world of Hollywood. Le Tari, who played Dudley's father Ted Ramsey, was who posted the $13,000 bail for her. He appeared on Love Boat: The Next Wave on UPN on It leaves you with such a helpless feeling. [19] In 1994, he was arrested after allegedly ramming someone's car after an argument. Some of her guest appearances in 1970s sitcoms included Temperatures Rising, The Partridge Family, The Paul Lynde Show, All in the Family, Good Times, Phyllis, Barney Miller, All's Fair, C.P.O. called 'Building Bridges' in 2000. He also appeared in season 2 of the television show Benson, episode 11 "Big Buddy" and episode 17 "Easy Kid Stuff". born April 21st, 1946 in Ohio. Although he was eventually acquitted, Bridges spent nine months in jail. an 18-month-old child) gave her up for adoption as an infant and she was taken in by a (If you have e-mail addresses on All rights reserved. When Kelly (Christina Applegate) recognizes him, he denies any connection to Arnold Jackson, but utters his catchphrase to Al, "What'cha talkin' about, Bundy? of 1988 and her husband reportedly left her the same week. NBC showed immediate interest and felt the format had potential; at their request the pitch was developed, with Coleman's character, Arnold, gaining an older brother, producers feeling Coleman would benefit from the addition of a second, slightly older child to interact with, and who could add a further dynamic to storylines. She returned to Broadway in 1974 to appear in Lorelei Rae received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama for her role as Helen in the 1975 CBS television movie Queen of the Stardust Ballroom. Upon the player securing his autograph, police storm the mall to arrest him for an unknown crime, which leads to a violent shootout. In October 1999, he was 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. However, he is still best known for playing Arnold Jackson's best friend Dudley on "Diff'rent Strokes." She appeared as Molly the Mail Lady in the third season (1971-1972) of Sesame Street. Another episode involved a con artist (played by Whitman Mayo) posing as a relative of Arnold and Willis in an attempt to get access to the inheritance they were left by a former neighbor. 'Diff'rent Strokes' star Gary Coleman dies (AP), Google News / TMZ / Wikipedia / Grammy-Award winning singer Al Jarreau and many others marked his feature film directorial debut. Within a year of Diff'rent Strokes' debut, Gary As detailed by IMDB, he also appeared in many films, including the 1979 crime drama "The Onion Field" and the '80s cult classics "The Hollywood Shuffle" and "Amazon Women on the Moon." The final two episodes produced for the third season ("Growing Up" and "The Model") had originally been postponed due to a writer's strike,[citation needed] and the interspersing of these two episodes with the ones without Coleman taped at the start of the fourth season allowed the span of his absence to be broken down onscreen. Also introduced in the third season is Philip's dotty and eccentric sister Sophia (Dody Goodman), in the episode "Junk Food Junkie". Years. Sadly, Plato's second chance didn't stick and soon she was in court charged with using forged prescriptions to illegally obtain valium. "My adoptive brother, an older man who my family and I took in and treated him as family, would make passes at me at night in my sleep, and that really affected me. sterling gems as 1992's "Bikini Beach Race" and 1995's "Compelling Evidence." She starred in the 1975 ABC sitcom Hot l Baltimore, which was produced by Norman Lear. The short-lived series starred James Cromwell, Richard Masur, Conchata Ferrell, Al Freeman, Jr., Jeannie Linero, Gloria Le Roy, Robin Wilson, Stan Gottlieb, Lee Bergere and Henry Calvert. Over the course of its eight-year run, "Diff'rent Strokes" took on real-world problems such as teen crime, eating disorders, and child sexual exploitation with a seriousness never before seen in a television comedy. 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 The Kid With the Broken Halo (1982). alongside Richard Dean Anderson in a guest role on MacGyver; and a regenerated hellspawn in the episode "The Burning Man" from the years. The pilots did not sell although they were later edited into a television film for some markets. Rae starred as Mrs. Garrett (Mrs. G), who was the housemother at the prestigious Eastland School for Girls in Peekskill, New York. pursuits as hockey and speed skating when, in his junior year of high school, he suddenly Most of that money was supposed to go into a trust fund set up by Coleman's parents in 1980. Bridges was offered the role without needing an audition. layout, the shots were taken in November 1988 in Arizona), showing off the delectable figure that she'd kept hidden for all those years. at the age of 9, he could still pass as a precocious five-year-old. Dana and Lanny would divorce Diagnosed with bone cancer the previous year, Charlotte Rae died August 5, 2018, at the age of 92. finished a movie with Todd Bridges. . Mr. Bain was 89. specials and movies such as The Chipmunk Adventure. When Arnold and Dudley were having lunch outside and ready to trade sandwiches like they do everyday, they both were upset that they both . Season 1 was also released in Regions 2 & 5 on October 6, 2008. child, including appearances for KFC, Arco and Dole bananas. (1994). Shavar Ross was a familiar face on TV throughout the 1980s and '90s. 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. Kimberly was written out of the show with the explanation that she moved to Paris to study for a couple of years, but returned as a guest star for the season finale "A Special Friend", after Plato gave birth. presently working on a solo jazz CD, touring with a cabaret show, touring "Designing Women" ran for seven seasons and made Carter a household name. Dana's fortunes began to turn when she was spotted by a producer during a brief appearance In 1991, he was the lead singer in a band called Roadkill. He appeared as a contestant on the Fox reality show Skating with Celebrities, but was eliminated on the second episode of the show. He was 89. Robbie Jason (Steven Mond), another recurring school friend, also makes his first appearance in that episode. Some of her drama guest appearances included The Defenders, McMillan & Wife, St. He appeared as a contestant on a 2006 celebrity episode of the Fear Factor, but was Dana Plato led quite an interesting life, full of dizzying heights Dogs), and she's done a lot of public TV spots for another organization that trains assistance dogs. In the season, Bridges continued as a main cast member, but was absent in several episodes. Eventually, she wants to transition out of They realize they don't like the effects of cigarettes, but the real persuasion to have them kick the habit comes from Read allArnold and Dudley give into peer pressure and experiment with smoking. Coleman secretly wed his girlfriend of five months, Shannon Price, 22, on August 28, 2007. Coleman's role was almost certainly based on a 1998 incident in which Coleman punched a fan who sought his autograph while he was at a shopping mall. I had to get to sleep so I could get up for the kids and do the TV show Monday-Friday. Also first appearing in the second season was Arnold's best friend Dudley Johnson (Shavar Ross), first seen in the episode "Teacher's Pet". we will certainly prosecute.". Yarn is the best way to find video clips by quote. but the scheme backfires when Drummond insists on a personal inspection of Arnold's grades, on "Diff'rent Strokes." Cast: Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, Danny Cooksey, Mary Ann Mobley, and Todd Bridges . Thanks Todd. Due to a dispute regarding pay,[9][10] Coleman did not appear in the first four filmed episodes of the fourth season ("The Ski Weekend", "First Day Blues", "The Team" and "Hello Daddy? [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. Pearl Gallagher: [Entering the living room after dumping cigarettes butts in the trash] I see that Smokey and the Bandits left. Goodman also provided the voice of Miss Miller on the animated series Alvin & the Chipmunks and various prospects -- Dana came out as a lesbian in a 1998 issue of the Sapphic pride on tv in episodes of Hart to Hart, Starsky & Hutch, Happy Days, The A-Team, Dana and Lanny would divorce See production, box office & company info, [Entering the living room after dumping cigarettes butts in the trash], Stage 42, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA. Please visit the links such as the Internet Movie Database and Wikipedia for the most up to date [38] Season 6 was released on July 25, 2017. She also had a role in the '80s daytime soap Texas. in early on -- Dana was chosen for the lead role in "The Exorcist" but her adoptive mother He has since hired as an intern/on-air personality show Mojo and Betsy In the Morning for 93.7 KRQ in As a result Looking back, it's shocking how many sitcoms hinged on the premiseof parental death. and shattering lows. She performed some of the lyrics for the first season theme song. in March of 1990 and Dana was allowed visitation of her son, but her husband won physical When the dispute was ultimately settled, Coleman returned to the series, missing only two more episodes (season 7's "The Gymnasts" and "Baseball Blues"). She has a CD out called "Dixie Carter Sings John Wallowitch Live At The Carlyle". Steve became engaged to Elys Bank, a technical writer originally 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. Other survivors include her daughter, Linda Deffenderfer of Chandler and Barbara Lee Volz (1939-1992). was in the short-lived Fox series, Mr. President, where he was the chief advisor to Sadly, he would outlive two of his young co-stars and see a third descend into a life plagued with drug abuse and brushes with the law. Sympathetic to the former child star's plight and disgusted by her treatment by the press, singer Wayne Newton posted her $13,000 bail in hopes of giving Plato a much-needed second chance. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Sadly, in August of 2007, the organization came to an end. Prince of Bel Air, Married with Children, Homeboys in Outer Space, The Keenen Ivory Wayans Both marriages ended in divorce. After her guest appearance at the end of the previous season, Plato returned making several further guest appearances in the final season and billed with the guest cast. Hype in 1995. in their directors guild program which I landed. On May 26, Coleman struck his head in a fall in his Santaquin, Utah, home. She has been married to actor Hal Holbrook since 1984. a pellet gun and netted her $164) - she was charged with armed robbery and was later sentenced Watson on July 20th, 1968 in South Laguna, California. She has appeared in numerous tv movies and is She They planned to be married in Spring 2001. His Although she would establish herself as an unparalleled musical force with her chart-topping third album "Control" in 1986 (via Billboard), she was initially more well-known for her acting than her voice. opposite Dolly Parton and Lee Majors in the telefilm A Smoky Mountain Christmas, where he played an orphan, and also starred web site. "outsider," coming in for a few episodes a year, so I was never really She posed for a June 1989 pictorial in Playboy (a 5-page nude More At birth, he was diagnosed with a number of serious maladies, most notably focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a congenital autoimmune condition that damages the kidneys. So while Linda Blair went on to huge stardom, Dana magazine "Girlfriends." when that changes I'll be sure to keep you up to date. He appeared in Kid Rock's "Cowboy" video. ", Conrad Stafford Bain attended high school in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, deciding on his life's work after an appearance as the stage manager in a high school production of "Our Town.". personal assistant for Yvette Lee Bowser who was a producer for 'A Different World'. Easily move forward or backward to get to the perfect clip. from Salt Lake City. Additionally, Arnold appeared on the Silver Spoons episode "The Great Computer Caper" and the Amazing Stories episode "Remote Control Man". and appeared on other talk shows such as The Merv Griffin Show. Diff'rent Strokes (1978) - S05E16 The Bicycle Man: Part 1. my dad lets me have a little sip on special occasions. the show, it was an honor ! "After Diff'rent Strokes I left my agent because I felt she wasn't He Additionally, Todd Bridges appeared along with Gary Coleman and Vanilla Ice on a VH-1's He Bain said in interviews later that he struggled to talk about his TV children's troubled lives because of his love for them. After finding out they missed the ending of the movie, Pearl, Willis and Kimberly walk to the kitchen. Although the court awarded Coleman a $1.3 million judgment, legal costs and mounting medical expenses left him virtually penniless. With Willis dropped into the background slightly, this new brotherly duo took center stage for many storylines. Bridges, Plato and Catlett were all absent from the episode, and several cast members later voiced their disappointment that they had not realized it would be the final episode, and would have liked to have been present to mark the end of the series onscreen more adequately. He has creator Marc Cherry had gotten his start in Hollywood as Carter's assistant on the set of Designing Women. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, 227, Baby Talk, Can't Hurry Love (which starred Nancy McKeon), The King of Queens and Girl Meets World. close with anybody. The He sued his adoptive parents Then/Now: The Cast of Diffrent Strokes, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck', Kelsey Grammer wont apologize for the 'difference' that Jesus has made in his life, Person roaming in 'Scream' Ghostface costume prompts multiple police calls, Kelsea Ballerini kisses Chase Stokes after criticizing ex amid nasty divorce, Why Kevin Bacon refuses to share the secret to his 35-year marriage to Kyra Sedgwick. Bain died of natural causes Monday night in Livermore, Calif., at the age of 89. Dana Michele Plato was born in Maywood, California on November 7, 1964. "Sesame Street's" early call time and busy shooting schedule proved difficult for Rae to manage. In 1993, she voiced the character Aunt Pristine Figg in Tom and Jerry: The Movie. 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. 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. Tari made his first appearance as Ted Ramsey in the third season episode "Football Father" but would really shine in 1981's "Room For One More" and 1983's "The Bicycle Man . She blasted her way back into the headlines nude pictorial did nothing to help revive her career, though, and Dana continued to languish "), with a separately filmed cameo tagged on to the end of one episode explaining that he was away in the country visiting some of Mr. Drummond's relatives. No, I don't still keep in touch with anybody from the show, although it include Tell Me You Love Me, The O.C. softcore tale of a guy and a girl and another girl, and Dana shows off her curvaceous Her birth figure and lust for her fellow femmes in a series of sensual scenes. had undergone three operations for a congenital kidney defect known as nephritis. place. Initially they agreed to add it, but they later decided not to (although a previous episode, the third season's "Little Mother", had tackled a similar theme, when Kimberly's friend falls pregnant and, due to a misunderstanding, it is thought that Kimberly is pregnant). Hope, Designing Women, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He retired from acting and went to school so he could have a normal life. series, coupled with the precocious Coleman's spirited TV talk show appearances, that All rights reserved. The Dana Plato Memorial Site After a performance, she has an epileptic seizure and Sam thinks she's dying. 's (Roger E. Mosley) son (from 1986 to 1988) in the television series Magnum, P.I. She had been considered for Maggie when the role was created, but was not chosen in part due to age disparity between her and Bain.[13]. Market data provided by Factset. In 2001, Coleman was employed as a shopping mall security guard in the Los Angeles area. 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). She appeared as Molly the Mail Lady in the third season (1971-1972) of Sesame Street. Unable to launch a serious acting career, Plato appeared in "Playboy" and in a few "B" grade movies. auditioned for a proposed television revival of the old Little Rascals comedy series. Bain's death leaves only one surviving member from his "Diff'rent Strokes" TV family. I didn't want to be away from my family. He died April 4th, 1987 at the age of 40 of a heart attack in Los Angeles County, California. "I had just won a Golden Globe and was feeling on top of the world," she told Saratoga Living'sAnn Hauprich in 2003. And if it comes up in The Tracy Morgan Show, and various Bridges' more high-profile role was as Monk, a shell-shocked Vietnam veteran, conspiracy theorist, and nephew of Chris's boss Doc on the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. But ABC picked up the series for an eighth season, airing it on Friday nights. While not a spin-off, Hello, Larry (19791980) had a connection to Strokes as it was established in a crossover episode that Philip Drummond and Larry Alder (McLean Stevenson) were old Army buddies and Mr. Drummond had bought the company that owned the radio station where Larry worked as a talk show host. do get evidence that Robert is guilty by criminal negligence or actual participation, More recently, he is trying to get on with his life and start over. Besides Diff'rent Strokes, she The Facts of Life main cast included Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon (1980-1988). Following the cancellation of Diff'rent Strokes in 1986, Coleman, Bridges and Plato encountered difficulty in finding other acting jobs. Volz appeared on a semi-regular basis, but was not added to the opening credits, instead always credited with the guest cast on the closing credits. Small Claims Court (11/19/80 - #305) . In 1984, she married the father of her child, musician Lanny Lambert, but the couple divorced in 1990. 28, 1914 in Columbus OH. Shavar married Jacqueline Ross on December 15, 1992. In the final season (when the sitcom moved from NBC to ABC), the one-hour season opener ("Sam's Missing") revolved around Sam being kidnapped by Donald Brown (Royce D. Applegate), a bereaved father hoping to replace his own dead son, Tommy. However, behind the scenes, the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes" found that life rarely offered the easy answers and happy endings of a sitcom. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. With his remaining kidney failing, Coleman was forced to urinate with the aid of a surgically created bypass opening in his side. They also have a daugther named Bo. [29] He now travels across the United States, touring schools and discussing the dangers of drug use. Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain) is a widower for whom their deceased mother previously worked; his daughter, Kimberly is played by Dana Plato. Unfortunately, Coleman's life was largely devoid of the laughter that his onscreen persona elicited. Bain played wealthy Manhattan widower Philip Drummond, who promised his dying housekeeper he would raise her sons, played by Coleman and Todd Bridges.