Diff'rent Strokes star Gary Coleman died last night after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
The 4ft 8in actor, 42, had a fall at his home and was rushed to hospital where he fell into a coma. Doctors were unable to operate on him because of the severity of his condition.
His wife Shannon Price decided to turn off the life support machine.
It was the third time he had been admitted to hospital this year after seizures in January and February.
A representative for Coleman said last night: "Gary will be badly missed. He'll remain in the hearts of those who were entertained by him over the years."
Coleman was taken from his Salt Lake City home to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center on Wednesday before his condition worsened. The actor, whose growth had been stunted by a congenital kidney defect, had previously had two failed kidney transplants.
He played Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes from 1978 to 1986.
But he had got caught up in a series of financial and legal problems in recent years. In 2007, he was arrested after a "heated discussion" with his wife Shannon, 24. He was cited for disorderly conduct. Two years later, the couple had another row in which Shannon was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. In January, Gary - whose catchphrase was "Whatchoo talking 'bout Willis?" - was held on domestic assault allegations and spent a night in jail.
He lost most of his fortune in a legal battle with his adoptive parents, who managed his wealth until he was 18. He was forced to work as a security guard and filed for bankruptcy.
Strokes Of Bad Luck
Todd Bridges, who played Willis, battled drug addiction and was tried in 1988 for the attempted murder of a dealer. He was acquitted and is now drug free. Dano Plato, who played Kimberly, also struggled with drugs and died of an overdose in 1999.
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