1968 – 2010

Gary Coleman

American actor (1968–2010)

television actorfilm producerfilm directorvoice actortelevision director

Born

1968-02-08, Zion

Died

2010-05-28

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

Gary Wayne Coleman was born in Zion, Illinois in 1968 and worked as an actor, film producer, director, voice actor, screenwriter, and comedian. A kidney disease limited his growth to 4 feet 8 inches, treated with corticosteroids and other medications. After appearing in commercials and television episodes in the mid-1970s, he was cast as Arnold Jackson in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, which ran from 1978 to 1986 and made him a child star. For this role he received two Young Artist Awards and three consecutive People's Choice Awards for Favorite Young TV Performer from 1980 to 1983, along with nominations for two TV Land Awards. Coleman died on May 28, 2010.

Occupation

Gary Coleman is recorded as a television actor, a film producer, a film director, a voice actor, a television director, a comedian, a screenwriter and a actor, born in Illinois (1968–2010).

Connections to Illinois

Gary Coleman was born in Zion, Illinois in 1968. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

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Gary Coleman came from Zion. A full Aubrey report on Zion pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

Ronald Reagan

president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)

Walt Disney

American animator, producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor and entrepreneur, founder of The Walt Disney Company (1901–1966)

Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Gary Coleman

Who was Gary Coleman?

Gary Coleman was American actor (1968–2010), born in Illinois (1968 – 2010).

When and where was Gary Coleman born?

Gary Coleman was born on 1968-02-08 in Zion.

When did Gary Coleman die?

Gary died on 2010-05-28.

What was Gary Coleman known for?

Gary Coleman is recorded as a television actor, a film producer, a film director, a voice actor, a television director, a comedian, a screenwriter and a actor.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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