'80s TV Update: "Diff'rent Strokes"

"Diff'rent Strokes" is an 80's tv show that follows the lives of two inner city black youth who are adopted by a rich, widowed, white man. "Diff'rent Strokes" ran from 1978 - 1986, and it has become one of the most popular 80's tv shows of all time.

After "Diff'rent Strokes" ended, some of the true life situations of the show's child stars have been tragic and heavily publicized. The majority of the show's adult actors have gone on to have busy acting careers without negative press. If you have ever wondered what happened to the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes," here is your chance to play catch up.

Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman became the star of "Diff'rent Strokes" as Arnold Jackson. Soon after the show's end, it was discovered that the parents of the 80's child actor squandered his earnings. He sued his parents and won, but he later filed for bankruptcy. Coleman's financial woes would eventually land him in a job as a mall security cop.

In 1998, Gary Coleman was arrested for punching a female fan in a disagreement over his autograph. In the summer of 2007, Coleman was married, and then one month later, he and his wife were involved in a domestic dispute - the two even appeared on a memorable episode of Divorce Court in 2008.

Over the years, Coleman had done many guest spots, and he even appeared in a season of the reality tv show, "The Surreal Life." Unfortunately, it seems that the actor simply cannot stay out of trouble, currently; Gary Coleman is in the midst of more negative press as he was arrested at his home in Utah on domestic assault charges only minutes of this writing.

Todd Bridges

Todd Bridges portrayed Willis Jackson on "Diff'rent Strokes." Since the show's end, Bridges has had several serious scrapes with the law - the most serious scrape was a near conviction for murder in 1998. Early after the 80's tv show ended, it was uncovered that Bridges battled a serious cocaine addiction, and then in 1993, he was involved in a dispute that caused him to stab a man in self defense.

In 1998, Todd Bridges was married, and he is still married today to the same woman - they have a son together. Bridges received favorable press in 2001 when he rescued a paraplegic woman from a sinking car. Lately, Todd Bridges has been living a clean and sober life with his family, and his latest acting gig is a role in the film Big Money Rustlas (2010).

Dana Plato

Dana Plato played Kimberly Drummond on "Diff'rent Strokes." Soon after the show ended, Plato was fired for being pregnant, and she promptly descended into a world of drugs and alcohol, B films, soft porn, and a Playboy spread. In 1991, she was so down and out until she took a job as a clerk in a dry cleaning store. Eventually, Dana Plato became so desperate for money until she held up a video store at gunpoint. After a period of inactivity, Dana came out as a lesbian, then promptly took back her statement, and showed up intoxicated at an interview.

By the time 1999 rolled around, Dana Plato was living in a Florida RV park, and on her second husband. She made an appearance on the "Howard Stern Show" where several callers made extremely hurtful remarks, and several others were exceedingly kind. Plato was visibly emotional by both caller types, but she got through the show intact. One day following her "Howard Stern Show," appearance, Dana Plato committed suicide by taking an overdose of Vanadom and Vicodin.

Conrad Bain

Before starring in the role of Phillip Drummond on "Diff'rent Strokes," Conrad Bain was well known to sitcom audiences as Dr. Arthur Harmon from the 70's sitcom classic, "Maude." Bain has been married to the same woman since 1945 and he has managed to keep away from negative situations. When "Diff'rent Strokes" ended, Conrad Bain went on to guest star in many 80's tv shows. Bain's last television appearance to date was a guest spot on an episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air;" this episode was memorable because Bain reprised his role as Phillip Drummond.

The Housekeepers: Charlotte Rae, Nedra Volz, and Mary Jo Catlett

As Mrs. Garrett, Charlotte Rae was the first and most endearing housekeeper on "Diff'rent Strokes." Rae departed after six seasons to begin her own show, "The Facts of Life," where her Diff'rent Strokes character was carried over. After 9 years on the other popular 80's sitcom, Rae went on to guest star on tv shows throughout the 80's and 90', and she excelled on the Broadway stage where she was nominated for two Tony Awards. Currently, Charlotte Rae has no scheduled upcoming projects, but her last appearance to date was an episode of "Life," just last year (2009).

Nedra Volz played the second housekeeper on "Diff'rent Strokes," Adelaide Brubaker. After the show came to an end, Volz made many guest appearances throughout the 80's and 90's. As an octogenarian, her last appearance was in The Great White Hype (1996) starring Samuel L. Jackson. In 2003, Nedra Volz died from complications of Alzheimer's disease.

Mary Jo Catlett's, Pearl Gallagher, was the third and final housekeeper on the show. Like Rae and Volz, since "Diff'rent Strokes" ended, Catlett has also had an enduring career with guest spots on many 80's and 90's tv shows. Mary Jo Catlett's last appearance to date was a recent episode (2009) of "Cold Case."

"Diff'rent Strokes" also featured Dixie Carter as Maggie (Phillip Drummond's second wife), who went on to success on the late 80's tv sitcom, "Designing Women," Danny Cooksey as Danny (Maggie's son) who found success doing tv animation voice-overs, Shavar Ross (Arnold's best friend, Dudley) who keeps busy with constant guest star spots, and Janet Jackson (Willis' girlfriend, Charlene), who has emerged as a bona fide international music super star.

The majority of the "Diff'rent Strokes" alumni has fared well. Dana Plato's death was tragic, but Nedra Volz lived a long, full and successful life. It would appear that Todd Bridges' negative press is permanently behind him - to his credit, he has founded the Todd Bridges Youth Foundation, an organization which reaches out to troubled teens. But unfortunately, trouble and bad press for Gary Coleman are still with him today.

- Sources-

* Gary Coleman Busted Following Disturbance at Home - E! Online Blog (January 25, 2010)

* "Diff'rent Strokes" - Internet Movie Database