Celebrity Mound

Former child television star Gary Coleman is in critical condition near his Utah home with what his family calls a “serious medical problem.”

Utah Valley Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Janet Frank said Coleman, 42, was admitted to the Provo facility on Wednesday but she couldn’t release any other details.

Coleman lives in Santaquin, which is 55 miles south of Salt Lake City.

The actor is best known for his stint on TV’s “Diff’rent Strokes,” which aired from 1978 to 1986.

In February, Coleman suffered a seizure on the set of “The Insider.”

Coleman’s Utah attorney, Randy Kester, said he had communicated by text message with Coleman’s wife, Shannon Price, and that the family did not want to release any additional details at this time.

“Anything they could say would be premature because they don’t know the full extent of his condition right now,” Kester told The Associated Press.

Price and her father released a statement Thursday to KUTV-TV saying Coleman was taken to the hospital with “a serious medical problem.” The statement asks for prayers, adding “we hope those prayers are answered and that Gary will be able to recover and return home soon.”

Coleman has lived in Utah since 2005, when he came here to star in the movie “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 and married her in 2007.

Coleman has had a string of financial and legal problems, in addition to continuing ill health from the kidney disease he suffered as a child. Coleman has had at least two kidney transplants and has ongoing dialysis.

Last fall, Coleman had heart surgery that was complicated by pneumonia, Kester said.

In February, Coleman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge related to an April 2009 domestic violence incident at his home. Recent health issues have caused several follow-up hearings in Coleman’s case to be delayed, Kester said.

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 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?”

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.

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.

Gary will be playing the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® Now You Know Better $1,000,000 Game Show live versus America on Thursday, February 28, 2008 from 4 to 5 pm EST. You can compete against Gary and chat with him at www.NowYouKnowBetter.com.