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Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman

Actor · Died May 28, 2010, aged 42 · Zion, Illinois, USA

Gary Wayne Coleman (February 8, 1968 — May 28, 2010) was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986) and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars". After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman struggled financially later in life. In 1989, he successfully sued his parents and business advisor over misappropriation of his assets, only to declare bankruptcy a decade later.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 8, 1968
Died
May 28, 2010 (aged 42)
From
Zion, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 61 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 20% in 30 days

What are Gary Coleman's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Family2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Family movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
31%
Bonds
26%
Morality
25%
Society
13%
Power
6%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 0 · Dark 1

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 5 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 5 of 8 analyzed roles.

Hero
5 of 8
Trickster
2 of 8
Mentor
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
8
Joyful
8
Hopeful
3
Melancholic
2
Tense
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet1
  • Cyclical1
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Gary Coleman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gary Coleman's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

61 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 19 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Amnesia: Who Are You? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Internet Submission 2

  • Midgets vs Mascots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Associate Producer · as Himself

  • An American Carol(2008)

    as Slave

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Great Buck Howard(2008)

    as Gary Coleman

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Too Many(2006)

    as Pizza Guy

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Church Ball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Charles Higgins

  • The Tyra Banks Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Robot Chicken(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnold Jackson / Barry the Banana / James Robert 'Radio' Kennedy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Drake & Josh(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Coleman

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • TV in Black: The First Fifty Years(2004)

    as Arnold Jackson

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • A Carol Christmas(2003)

    as Christmas Past

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Frank McKlusky, C.I.(2002)

    as Gary Coleman

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Baby Bob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Coleman

  • Night of the Living Doo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Gary Coleman (voice)

  • Shafted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Mister Gary Coleman

  • Son of the Beach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Parkers(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Like Father, Like Santa(1998)

    as Ignatius

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Dirty Work(1998)

    as Gary Coleman

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories: The Movie III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Arnold Jackson

  • Make Me Laugh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Contestant

  • Waynehead(1996)

    Show 13 episodes · as Kevin (voice)

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • The Jamie Foxx Show(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Cupid

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Fox Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Murray Lipschitz, Jr.

  • The Drew Carey Show(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Drew's double

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • The Naked Truth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Coleman

  • Sherman Oaks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gary Coleman

  • S.F.W.(1994)

    as Gary Coleman

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Parent 'Hood(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Wayans Bros.(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Coleman

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Unhappily Ever After (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Devil

  • The Ben Stiller Show(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Martin(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Mad Dog No Good

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnold Jackson-Drummond

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 4 episodes · as Gary Coleman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Nineteen Summers: San Diego Padres 1969-1988 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Married... with Children(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Property Inspector · as Reverend

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Gary Coleman: For Safety's Sake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnold Jackson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • 227(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Playing with Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as David Phillips

  • The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins(1984)

    as D. C. Collins

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Kid with the 200 I.Q.(1983)

    as Nick Newell

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Jimmy the Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Jimmy

  • Silver Spoons(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnold Jackson

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • The Gary Coleman Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 26 episodes · as Andy Le Beau

  • The Kid with the Broken Halo(1982)

    as Andy LeBeau

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • On the Right Track(1981)

    as Lester

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Scout's Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Joey Seymour

  • Lucy Moves to NBC(1980)

    as VP of Programming

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Kid from Left Field(1979)

    as Jackie Robinson 'J.R.' Cooper

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hieronymous Fox

  • The Facts of Life(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnold Jackson

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Hello, Larry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Arnold Jackson

  • Diff'rent Strokes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 189 episodes · as Arnold Jackson

  • America 2-Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · as Little Wayne Coleman

  • The Jeffersons(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Good Times(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 85th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 60 titles from 1974 to 2014; peak year 2008.

Highest rated

Gary (2024)

Midcredits 63rd

Most popular right now

Waynehead (1996)

Film career

19742014

Peak 2008 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1978Screen debut· Diff'rent Strokes
  • 1995First film· S.F.W.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting59 of 60: 59 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndProducing1 of 60: 1 only producing, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s8 · acting1980s17 · acting1990s20 · acting2000s13 · acting2010s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 14th · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Gary Coleman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 29th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 30th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 34 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

A Christmas Too Many (2006)

99th percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Simpsons (1989)

Midcredits 96th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 56/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 34. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Gary Coleman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gary Coleman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Guillaume shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles