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Gary

DocumentaryBiography

Explores Gary Coleman's rise to fame as a child star, his struggles with living in the spotlight, financial troubles, depression, and the controversy surrounding his tragic death at age 42, providing insight into his private world.

Year

2024

Duration

1h 31m

IMDb

6.6

Hero Poster

Cast

RD

Robin Dashwood

Director

Gary Coleman

Self

Shannon Price

Self - Gary's Ex-Wife

Cast

RD

Robin Dashwood

Director

Gary Coleman

Self

Shannon Price

Self - Gary's Ex-Wife

Sue Coleman

Self - Gary's Mother

Victor Perillo

Self - Gary's Theatrical Agent

W.G. Coleman

Self - Gary's Father

Eve Brandstein

Self - Casting Director, Diff'rent Strokes

Todd Bridges

Self - 'Willis' in Diff'rent Strokes

JoAnn Stafford-Chaney

Self - Hairstylist, Diff'rent Strokes

Dion Mial

Self - Gary's Friend

Sheila Erickson

Self - Gary's Utah Theatrical Agent

Drew Ryce

Self - Gary's Lawyer

Brandi Buys

Self - Gary's Friend

Randy Kester

Self - Gary's Utah Lawyer

Darren Nord

Self - Gary's Friend

Anna Gray

Self - Gary's Friend

Conrad Bain

Self - 'Philip' in Diff'rent Strokes

Dana Plato

Self - 'Kimberly' in Diff'rent Strokes

Norman Lear

Self - Producer, Good Times

Trailer

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Comments

10 Comments

👑@Quinzy3000👑Nov 25, 2025

davidoNov 25, 2025

user3596820304353Nov 25, 2025

user5578044939555Sep 16, 2024

I've read about Gary Coleman throughout the years, but never had much interest in him, and never watched his TV show. Thus, I did not know if I would watch this entire documentary. I ended up having no problem watching it until the end. The doc moved along nicely and wasn't repetitious. It does offer some good insight into his life, but not enough to make it more than a sympathetic look, lacking in critical observations. For example, why did Gary Coleman choose to marry the woman he married and still live with her after they divorced? She was a not-too-bright user who hit him, just as he hit her. With his fame and medical condition, he could have easily found a kind, nurturing woman, such as a nurse, to marry; who would have dedicated her life to supporting and taking care of him. Did he want to keep feeling like a victim, and replay over and over again the way he felt others used him? His parents were interviewed and they weren't portrayed as the demons some think they were. His first agent was interviewed and he also did not come across badly. His best friend was constantly interviewed, and there seemed nothing nefarious about their friendship, even though his father had his suspicions. The only one who came across badly was his ex-wife, but I somewhat doubt she was responsible for his death. The two of them were a trainwreck waiting to happen, and you don't need a person to cause a trainwreck.

✨ChanéPhilander✨Sep 11, 2024

Directed by Robin Dashwood. A runtime of one hour and thirty-one minutes. Streaming on Peacock. This documentary explores the once-child actor Gary Coleman and a litany of issues that plagued his life. They dive into his rise to fame and the magnetic energy Gary had at such a young age. You find out about the critical medical issues he had. Also how fame was a blessing and a curse. Then the tragic events that led to his financial strain and his suspicious death. Open the door and look inside the life of such a complicated human who was done dirty from the beginning of his life. In this Peacock documentary. "Gary" wasn't what I expected. I vaguely remember hearing about it from the "Joe Budden Podcast." I threw it on frankly because I was always told when I was younger I looked like Gary Coleman and Emmanuel Lewis from "Webster" too. But mainly Gary. I'm assuming because I was dark-skinned and had chubby cheeks. Regardless, I put this on and didn't realize the rollercoaster I was about to experience. I didn't know Gary had a kidney transplant at age five and that he spent quite a bit of time with no kidney in his body. Which is crazy. I learned about his relationship with his fellow castmates Todd Bridges and Dana Plato. How they had bets on who would die first. Then learned about how the relationship started to sour as he got a little bigheaded. Then to learn about his parents and the people who were supposed to look out for him were robbing him. I vaguely remember that court trial too. Seeing that was a little surreal. If that wasn't bad enough Gary had no money from all the hard work he put in. He filmed multiple episodes sick. His health was poor, then his mental health followed. He had nothing to show from his career but still had the fandom of someone you would think is rich. Then resenting his fame altogether. So much so that Gary constantly got into altercations from it. People treated him like a prop instead of a human being. Gary lost so much trust in people. He only trusted his good friend Dion Mial. But because of his mistreatment by the people that should've cared for him the most. Gary put too much trust in a specific woman, Shannon Price, his ex-wife. This woman was heartless and did stuff that would get you a First class ticket straight to hell. The stuff she did, like making him make her pizza rolls after getting dialysis. Not put pressure on his wound when he fell because it was too much blood. To even her being the one to officially end his life but take a selfie to sell beforehand. Which honestly made her look even more suspicious. This documentary infuriated me. Everyone took advantage of Gary and sucked him dry until he had nothing left. Gary was depressed and hated what fame brought to his life. He died alone with a leach sucking him dry even to his death bed. I'm sorry so many people failed you, Gary Coleman. Thank you so much for everything you contributed to the entertainment world. A good documentary; just be prepared to be sad and mad. I give this documentary four mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥. RIP Gary Coleman. #CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Gary.

🥀Oumaima_zarrouq🥀Sep 7, 2024

For an excellent behind the scenes view of what Gary was really like on the set of Diffrent Strokes I highly recommend reading Todd Bridges biography. Todd provides a lot of detail and context that was sorely missing from this documentary. The majority of people know Gary Coleman from DS. Yet much of his experiences on the show was glossed over in this documentary. The behavior of his parents on set was legendary. Particularly his father--although his Mother was very much a stage mother. It is a sad and familiar story. Why so much screen time was given to his ex-wife is bewildering as she didn't know him very long and she was clearly a just another leech in a long line of leeches--who sucked the money and life out of Coleman. Her 911 call was suspect IMO giving details in a calm voice while there is blood everywhere and your boyfriend is unresponsive? Strange.

Z4USep 7, 2024

I just finished watching "Gary" on Peacock. In reviewing the documentary, I can honestly say he was surrounded by idiots his entire life. Starting with his parents, Being available, but not being fully integrated on what was going on from a financial and personal perspective in your child's life. He made the money, all they had to do was make sure it was being allocated correctly. I'm not sure why they could not have picked up a book to read on entertainment business or even hire someone to teach them entertainment business. Or even hire people to run quarterly audits. There's no way $18 million should have just vanished. Second, the wife he married was a complete dimwit and soulless individual, she isn't even a real person. Thirdly, The realist person that was in Gary's life seem to have been Dion.

🌸Marie Omega🌸Sep 3, 2024

Interviews with many of the people closest to Coleman, notably his ex-wife and his longtime former agent and manager, along with his closest and dearest friends, who state the case for why that first group was responsible for a life that Coleman him expressed as being full of misery. The film is very well edited, especially given all the ground it covers and the huge differences among those interviewed about who's to blame for what. The film also shows a beautiful degree of compassion for all that Coleman went through in his life without covering up a few of the times when he exhibited questionable behavior.

ElisaSep 3, 2024

This documentary is so bland. They reuse the same music over and over again. There are so many unanswered questions and this is so open ended. It's such a tragic story and it's so sad people didn't treat him any better. Gary I hope you are at peace now. If it's true that his parents did what they did it's an abomination. The whole documentary though just feels like such a cheap telling of his life. I would say skip it unless you really really want to watch it. Again it's such a cheap feeling documentary like he see on one of those free streaming services Gary you deserved so much better.

EpphySep 2, 2024

Yet another documentary that tries to drag out a 45-minute story into 90 minutes. Basically, a child star, with some serious health issues, gets taken advantage of financially by his very naive parents and their business partners. Its not really a surprise that any child star struggles with becoming a non-famous adult, its more the norm than the exception. No mention of Gary's personal mishandling of his money though. According to this documentary he lost around 40% to 50% of his money, but that still left him about 8m, which is a decent amount, so how he ended up broke, is not covered. They drag out his last relationship and his death for quite a long time. They try to raise some suspicions around his death, but don't offer any real evidence to prove either way if it was an accident or not. If I understood correctly, he was able to communicate after the accident, so wouldn't he have said something. Edit: Grammar correction.