Gary Coleman Cited for Disorderly Conduct

Rise and Fall

Gary Coleman rose to popularity when he starred on the television series Diff’rent Strokes. The sitcom made Coleman a household name, however, when the series ended in 1986, he and his co-stars had trouble keeping their lives on track.

• Todd Bridges, who played his brother Willis, faced many years of drug addiction before cleaning up his act and eventually making a comeback when he appeared on the series Skating with Celebrities.
• Dano Plato, who played Kimberly Drummond, fell into a downward spiral of drug abuse that ended in her death in 1999, the result of a drug overdose.
• Coleman, who fell out of the spotlight after the series, sued his parents and manager for stealing his million-dollar trust fund. While he won the ruling, resulting in $1.28 million, he eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1999. Coleman also made headlines when he was accused of punching a woman who asked for an autograph. In 2003, he attempted to run for governor of California, but was largely unsuccessful.

The Incident

This latest incident occurred in Provo, Utah, after witnesses noticed Coleman arguing with a woman. Police responded to a call and arrived on the scene to assess the situation. According to Captain Cliff Argyle, "Mr. Coleman was very excited and loud...At one point, he exited his vehicle, waving his arms, yelling and screaming." Coleman was cooperative for the police, but was issued a citation, which could result in a $750 fine and as much as three months in jail.