Former child star Gary Coleman unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade during a U.S. TV interview on Tuesday – storming out of the studio after a guest attorney quizzed him over his recent domestic violence arrest.
The Diff’rent Strokes star agreed to appear on America’s The Insider in a bid to set the record straight about his arrest following a domestic dispute at his home in January involving wife Shannon Price.
He was handed a suspended sentence of 31 and a half days in jail and ordered to attend a domestic violence course after pleading guilty to one count of domestic violence criminal mischief at a court hearing on February 8, 2010.
But when the show’s guest lawyer Lisa Bloom asked him whether he attacked his wife, Coleman lost his temper – and began an expletive-filled rant at the attorney.
He shouted, “She’s (Bloom) pushing my buttons and I don’t like her now, the next thing I’m going to do is leave, f**k you all.”
Coleman jumped off his stool and stormed off the set, reportedly cursing all the way to his waiting car outside the studio.
The Insider host Lara Spencer later admitted she was shocked by the outburst, telling Bloom, “I thought he was almost going to get violent with you. I got scared for you Lisa.”
Former child television star Gary Coleman pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge related to a domestic violence incident last April.
In a deal with the prosecutor, Coleman entered the plea in Santaquin Justice Court on his 42nd birthday.
Court clerk Jane Swan says the original charge of domestic violence assault was dropped. No details of the April 18 incident are detailed in court documents, but defense attorney Randy Kester told The Associated Press that Coleman and his wife, Shannon Price, had an argument which got out of hand.
“No one was injured and no ambulances were called,” Kester said by phone. “It was just a disagreement.”
Judge Sharla Williams sentenced Coleman to 31 1/2 days in jail. The “Diff’rent Strokes” star will serve the time only if he fails to complete a domestic violence course and pay a $595 fine.
“I think it’s an exceptionally fair resolution,” Coleman’s attorney, Randy Kester, told the AP by phone. “He’s been under an extreme amount of stress.”
Kester said Coleman has suffered a string of health problems – dialysis for an ongoing kidney condition and heart surgery that was complicated by pneumonia last fall – and has struggled to find work.
Coleman was arrested Jan. 24 at home on a warrant for failing to appear in court. He spent a night in jail before a fan paid his $1,725 bail. Kester said Coleman missed the court appearance because he was in the hospital.
Coleman moved to Santaquin, about 65 miles south of Salt Lake City, in 2005, around the time he starred in “Church Ball,” a comedy based on basketball leagues formed by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He met Price on the movie set.
In December 2008, Coleman pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge stemming from an incident in a bowling alley parking lot three months earlier and was ordered to pay a $100 fine.
A personal injury lawsuit against Coleman and Price, 24, related to the same incident has been settled. Colt Rushton accused Coleman of hitting him with his truck after an altercation over photos.
“Diff’rent Strokes” aired in 1978-86. Coleman played Arnold Jackson, best known for the line, “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?”
Actor Gary Coleman has spoken out after his release from a Utah jail, following his arrest for allegedly attacking his wife Shannon.
The former child star was arrested and jailed on Sunday after police were called to his home, but no criminal charges were filed.
Upon arriving at his home, police discovered a misdemeanour failure to appear warrant for Coleman from an unrelated incident and took him into custody.
Coleman has now posted $1,725 bail and was released on Monday.
The Diff’rent Strokes star has spoken out to explain the reason for his missed court date appearance – he was allegedly absent because he was in hospital undergoing an operation.
He tells RadarOnline.com, “I was in the hospital getting minor surgery.”
Coleman’s father, who picked up the star from the prison, revealed to the website the actor had received heart surgery.
But Coleman reportedly insisted he didn’t “want to spread that around,” because he fears his condition will prevent him from getting work.
But the 41 year old is relieved he is free from his jail cell: “I’m happy as a clam… I just want to come home.”
He is due to appear in court on February 8, 2010.
Actor Gary Coleman was released from a Utah jail Monday after being arrested over the weekend on a warrant for failing to appear in court, police said.
Santaquin Police Chief Dennis Howard said officers went to the “Diff’rent Strokes” star’s home after a domestic disturbance call Sunday afternoon. Howard said they arrested Coleman, 41, on the warrant and booked him into the Utah County Jail.
Santaquin City Attorney Brett Rich said the warrant is related to a domestic violence charge filed against Coleman in the city justice court on Aug. 26, 2009.
Jail records show Coleman posted $1,725 bail and was released Monday afternoon. He is expected to appear at a hearing in Santaquin Justice Court on Feb. 8, Rich said.
Santaquin is about 65 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Coleman’s agent, Robert Malcolm, told The Associated Press he had no details about the arrest. A telephone message left for Terry Plant, a Utah-based attorney who has represented Coleman in the past, was not immediately returned Monday.
In December 2008 Coleman pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge stemming from an incident at a Payson bowling alley and was ordered to pay a $100 fine.
A personal injury lawsuit against Coleman and his wife, Shannon Price, 24, related to the same incident has been settled.
Colt Rushton sued Coleman over a September 2008 incident in which Coleman allegedly hit Rushton with his truck in a Payson bowling alley parking lot after an altercation over photos.
Coleman moved to Santaquin in 2005, around the time he starred in “Church Ball,” a comedy based on basketball leagues formed by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and Price met on the movie set.
“Diff’rent Strokes” aired from 1978 to 1986. Coleman played a character named Arnold Jackson and was best known for the line, “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?”
Actor Gary Coleman jailed in Utah
Actor Gary Coleman was arrested in Utah on a warrant for failing to appear in court, police said.
The 41-year-old former “Diff’rent Strokes” actor was booked into the Utah County Jail Sunday, said Santaquin police officer Shawn Carter.
He said early Monday that he didn’t have details on the warrant or know if Coleman was still being held. He said more information would be released later in the day.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Utah County Jail records show he was arrested after police received reports of a disturbance at his Santaquin home.
The actor was arrested in Utah in 2008 after a man claimed Coleman tried to run over him in a parking lot when he tried to take a picture with the child star. The case was reportedly been settled out of court.
Gary Coleman has reached a settlement with a disgruntled fan who accused the DIFF’RENT STROKES star of running him over with his truck.
The actor was slapped with a personal injury lawsuit from Colt Rushton, who alleged he was assaulted after trying to take pictures of Coleman and his wife, Shannon Price, as they left a Utah bowling alley in 2008.
Rushton claims he took a few shots before a member of the former child star’s entourage confronted him, telling him he would have to pay for the privilege of photographing the actor.
Rushton declined the offer and alleged Coleman then struck him in the chest before climbing into his truck and driving into him.
According to RadarOnline.com, the suit was dismissed on Tuesday after Coleman, Price and Rushton came to a settlement agreement.
The terms of the deal have been kept confidential.
“Diff’rent Strokes” actor Gary Coleman is in a Los Angeles hospital after suffering what he believes was a slight seizure. Coleman’s agent, Robert Malcolm, says the 41-year-old actor was taken by ambulance to a hospital shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday after he began feeling “fuzzy” and vomited while resting at a hotel.
Malcolm says Coleman appeared to be fine minutes later, and a CAT scan at the hospital showed no problems. He says Coleman – who has had two failed kidney transplants – will receive dialysis and remain hospitalized overnight.
Malcolm says Coleman was in town to meet with producers of his latest film about removing a brief scene of frontal nudity that Coleman says was unauthorized. The meeting was rescheduled for Thursday.
Gary Coleman’s Confessing Even More…
Gary Coleman’s year-long marriage to his 22-year old wife isn’t his only rocky relationship. Now he’s confessing to the world about one of his other long-time love affairs…butter.
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