Gary

I've got mixed feelings about this documentary. Partly because it's stated multiple times throughout that he wanted peace and to leave celebrity behind. But, the true point of it was to show just how talented he was and that he was so much more than his infamous character Arnold. He was let down by so many people, including the public, who refused to see him any other way.

This documentary highlights his health condition, his talent, his relationships, and the people who either truly or possibly loved him. That's for each one of us watching to decide. I'm leaving it with the point of the documentary. He was so very talented and it was so unfortunate that he never had the opportunity to show us his full range.

Back in 1978, when Gary Coleman was 10 years old, author Scott Peck published his book, "The Road Less Traveled." One of his famous quotes is, "Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it."

Gary Coleman had a difficult life and he had a hard time transcending it. He once questioned if he was "God's punching bag." He had an illness requiring him to have a kidney transplant when he was only five, and medication which gave him a puffy face and an adult shortness of only 4 feet 7 inches.

Even though I never met him I had a connection. Back when IMDb still had discussion threads Coleman and I ended up commenting on the same thread and we also directed comments to each other. Nice comments and I remember thinking how unusual it was to be trading messages with a famous actor.

Now, seeing this biographical sketch streaming on Peacock, I understand what was happening to Coleman during his 30s and beyond. No longer the childhood star he found it increasingly difficult to get acting roles. He had living expenses, he resorted to several things including working as a security guard, a job that landed him in court after punching someone who made a rude comment.

Coleman's difficulties were compounded by the people around him, even though by one count he was paid $18Million over his glory years several people skimmed money, including his parents, and as a struggling adult saw most of the money gone. With good financial management he should have been set for life.

Coleman was smart and articulate but in many ways also immature. He put too much trust in others and did not take enough interest in his own business until it was too late.

This program uses many old clips of Coleman himself, some on TV shows or movies, some as himself in interviews. Plus clips from interviews with his parents, agents, and friends. I found it interesting and a worthwhile viewing.

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.

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.

There's something very uncomfortable about this documentary on the turbulent life of the precocious talent that was Gary Coleman. For a generation he was loved wherever his flagship show "Different Strokes" was shown, and broke down various barriers without even needing to try but just be himself.

The reality was that behind the curtains, it was all another story and this documentary is meant to be trying to reveal the reality. However, as Gary Coleman has passed away, we are left to rely on a series of contributors whom we are wholly left mostly unconvinced by their sincerity or honesty in their recalling of the young man.

It makes the entire documentary difficult watch, as we know that he was a maturing male stuck in the body of young boy.

Like many others, I was charmed by Gary Coleman in his heyday and loved his exuberance & humour. Sad to see how life transpired for him and certain of his peers.

This documentary probably on what they had on hand, should have been buried. If it's meant to reveal the truth, I'm not sure any judge would be able to give a final judgement on what was presented.

Give this a miss I think, and really maybe now let's leave Gary Coleman to rest in peace.