Culture
‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Actress, A Favorite of the ’80s Sitcom, Has Died at 57
Melanie Watson Bernhardt, ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Star, Dies in Colorado at 58
Melanie Watson Bernhardt, the actress who played Kathy Gordon in the TV show Diff’rent Strokes, has passed away.
Bernhardt died on Friday in Colorado Springs, her brother reportedly told TMZ.
She had osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder that leads to fragile bones, poor muscle tone, hearing loss and dental problems. The outlet mentioned that she had been taken to the hospital after suffering bleeding issues and her health worsened very quickly after she was admitted.
‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Actress Melanie Watson Bernhardt Dies at 57
Melanie Watson Bernhardt, actress who appeared on Diff’rent Strokes as Kathy Gordon in a recurring role, has died at the age of 57.
Melanie’s brother disclosed to TMZ that she had died on Friday in Colorado Springs. He also mentioned that since she had struggled with osteogenesis imperfecta throughout her life, the family thinks she was really lucky to have lived for so long. This rare inherited condition results in very brittle bones, muscle weakness, hearing loss, and dental problems. She had been in the hospital recently for bleeding issues and her health went downhill quite fast after the admission.
On the show Diff’rent Strokes — which aired for eight seasons from 1978 to 1986 — Bernhardt was seen as the friend of Arnold (Gary Coleman), who uses wheelchair . Following the show’s final episode, she left acting and eventually became the founder and executive director of Train Rite, an educational program that trains dogs from shelters to be helpers of people with disabilities, according to IMDb.
Beforehand, Bernhardt was wedded to Roger Bernhardt between 1994 and 1996.
Todd Bridges on Racism and Struggles After Diff’rent Strokes
Todd Bridges who portrayed Willis Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes, has openly talked about the difficult reality he was confronting as a young Black child star.
“You are doing something great for people and they are enjoying it, but when you go outside you are treated like you are ignorant, reckless and foolish ,” he said to Page Six in 2021. “It’s like you don’t even have any intelligence or you’re not a good kid, totally opposite.”
Bridges was one of the child actors who, along with some of his fellow cast members, faced public struggles after the show wrapped. He became addicted to crack cocaine and methamphetamine and in 1989 he was arrested and charged with the attempted murder of a Los Angeles drug dealer Kenneth “Tex” Clay. However, he was found not guilty.
Tragic events after Diff’rent Strokes: Gary Coleman and Dana Plato
Gary Coleman who portrayed Arnold Jackson was 42 when he passed away in 2010 from an epidural hematoma. Prior to his death, he had a successful lawsuit against his parents and former business adviser for misappropriation of his earnings as a child star.
Dana Plato, the girls’ adoptive sister Kimberly Drummond in the show was also a drug addict and alcoholic for a long time. She died at age 34 in 1999 due to a drug overdose, which was later ruled as suicide.
