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Boxtop presents

Gary Coleman
Arnold in the 1980's sitcom Diff'rent Strokes

September 10, 1998

Gary Coleman made a huge splash as Arnold in the 1980's sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. Find out what he has been up to since then as he takes some time to visit with us and answer your questions.

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Speaker: The Talk City Network, in association with iXL Live(tm) welcomes you to a conversation with our special guest Gary Coleman. Welcome to Talk City, Gary! What do you consider the major turning point - or points - in your career?

GaryColeman: There's never been a turning point in my career. The only turning point where it could have improved or got better was the end of Different Strokes. And then I just retired for a while!

Mysterygirl: Gary, welcome to Talk City! What new projects are you working on?

GaryColeman: I'm currently working on Wayans Brothers as we speak - I'm there now. And if the mysterygirl is anywhere near Pasadena, she can visit HoloWorld Cafe at 620 North Lake Avenue! I'm the director of promotions there. HoloWorld Cafe is a restaurant with great food, laser tag, video games, air hockey, and an ice cream bar.

Stardust: Gary, if you could go back and change the past, would you and what would you change?

GaryColeman: I'd change it all - every last bit of it! But since I'm a person who lives in reality constantly, that is not something I consider.

Sandman: Do you still keep in touch with castmates from previous shows?

GaryColeman: No, not really. I'm strictly business. I love my work, and I enjoy my jobs, but I like real people to be my friends. I don't consider myself to be as real as I like to be! The only exception I can even think of would be John Travolta - he's always been a really nice, down- to-earth person, regardless of what he was doing.

Whatcha Doing Willis: Do you think Different Strokes will ever have a reunion show?

GaryColeman: The longer it takes, the less likely that will be. It's already been twelve years. I'm interested in other roles, and other possibilities in acting. Different Strokes has already stereotyped me, and irretrievably limited my possibilities in acting - so going back to it would be a death knell for any hope of a career in acting that I could have.

Enigma: Did you have any role models growing up?

GaryColeman: Most of my role models were teachers in school. Conrad Bain was a very intelligent person, and I like thoughtful, creative, intelligent people - so he's a good idea of what a role model should be. I really admired him. I'm always picking up traits or qualities of people that I meet - and I add those qualities to myself.

Auroraborealis: What advice can you give to someone just starting out in show business?

GaryColeman: Go to college. Get a degree in electronics or manufacturing - or a business degree of some kind - so that you can work in a corporate world where there will always be some kind of a job. Don't give up any employment to pursue acting - that makes about as much sense as trying to fly to the moon without a space suit!

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