Diff'rent Strokes TV star Gary Coleman dies aged 42

The actor, 42, best known for his role on TV show Diff'rent Strokes in the 1980s, was admitted to Utah's Provo hospital on Wednesday and put on a life-support machine.

Coleman's family said that his condition worsened yesterday and he slipped into unconsciousness. He was rushed to hospital on Wednesday from his home in Santaquin, 55 miles south of Salt Lake City.

Utah Valley Regional Medical Centre spokeswoman Janet Frank said that Coleman had been on life support, but this was terminated, with family consent, and he died at 12:05pm local time yesterday.

The hospital later released a statement on behalf of Coleman's family. It stated that his condition worsened on Thursday and he fell unconscious.

Coleman had lived in Utah since 2005. The actor had already been to the hospital twice this year for seizure- related illnesses.

He is best known for his stint on TV's Diff'rent Strokes, which aired from 1978 to 1986.

Coleman, with his cheeky smile and perfect comic timing, became an instant star. He played the younger brother in a pair of African-American siblings adopted by a wealthy white man.

He became a global star, thanks in part to his on-screen catchphrase, used in almost every episode, "Wathchoo talkin' about, Willis?"

His popularity faded when the show ended after six seasons on the NBC network and two on ABC.

Despite having found success on television, his later career was marred by medical and legal problems. He suffered continuing ill-health from the kidney disease that stunted his growth and had a host of legal problems in recent years.