I just read on MSN.Com's WonderWall that Gary Coleman, the former child star, is in critical condition in the hospital in Provo, Utah. I'm not sure of just how much modeling he has done recently but he is/was a model railroader and I will extend my prayers for a speedy recovery from whatever malady has laid him low.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
He suffers from a congenital kidney disease caused by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (an autoimmune destruction and alteration of the kidney), which halted his growth at an early age, leading to a small stature (4 ft 8 in; 1.42 m). He has undergone two kidney transplants, one in 1973 and one in 1984, and requires daily dialysis.
Coleman suffered a seizure on February 26, 2010. On May 26, 2010, Coleman was admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, after falling and hitting his head.
Alton Junction
It's always bad to see another icon start to fail.
He's still pretty young as well.
Springfield PA
I saw him at Allied Model Trains in Culver City, California. Must have been about 5 years ago. So, he is definitely a model railroader ...
Marty
www.oakhurstrailroad.com
"Oakhurst Railroad" on Facebook
Alex
Guilford GuyAnd his DRGW layout was featured in a 1990 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman.
Sad news, It made the 6 O'clock TV news here in Oz as Different Strokes was a very popular show here too.
Alan Jones in Sunny Queensland (Oz)
I found it saddening that he was not even mentioned on NBC nightly news broadcast. I found about it as I was driving on the road, listening to AM talk radio.
Somewhere in my collection I have an MRR or RMC magazine with the article featuring Gary years back. I think there was a photo of him holding an HO EMD demonstrator diesel.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
I also saw Gary Coleman at Allied Model Trains in Culver City, CA about 5 years ago, and was so happy to see a celebrity into model railroading. He was very friendly and was making quite a large purchase of goods! I read an article a while ago about Rod Stewart being well into model railroading as well.....
I read on MSN.com that he could be suffering from an internal cerebral hemorrhage. If true, I hopes he pulls through.
Will
Sad news. I just read a breaking report that he died.
He passed away at 12:05 MDT he was 42 it really bugged the crap out of me how they hounded the poor guy in the press and all those stupid tabloid idiots when he fell on hard times. Nothing new for child actors and unfortunately nothing new for a lot of other Americans these days. To me he will just be some little kid that made me laugh and a fellow model railroader.
Rest in Peace Mr. Coleman..
and Happy Rails Gary, we will remember.
Johnboy out.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
That's very sad. I watched the show when it was on, I had heard he was a MRR but never saw the articles in either magazine. Rest in Peace Gary.
If you cannot fix it with a hammer;
You have an electrical problem!
What you talkin bout Willis, i always liked him ,i hope he gets better. He has a very nice layout and my prayers are with him and his family..
I know this site is run by a competitor, but I think it's appropriate to post this up:
I, too saw Gary Coleman at Allied Model Trains in Los Angeles. I believe it was the early-mid '90s. He was behind the counter, hanging out with staff. As a Hollywood native, It's general etiquette to leave celebrities alone, unless they initiate the interaction, so I didn't approach him. But in the Diffrent Strokes era he did use his screen time to promote our hobby. I remember one episode where he had a small Lionel layout in his and his brother's room, and another episode where he went to small claims court over purchasing a defective locomotive at a hobby shop (that's where I first learned about the term "small claims court!").
Sad to know he died of a brain hemorrhage. My 95-year old grandmother died of the same thing after a fall 10 years ago. She had no health issues at the time. Had it never happened, she could have been 105 today!
I myself suffered a brain hemorrhage myself after a bike accident as a teenager. I came out okay, thank God. But these things can be serious.
R.I.P., Gary.
Oh man, It seems like all my childhood stars are passing away, what a shame, i met him before and he seemed like guy and he knew his train stuff too. My prayers are with him and his family.God blessGary.
This is surely a sad day for us all. I think that we can take consolation in the fact that our hobby, the love of trains big and small, gave Gary comfort and joy in this life. I'm sure that I'll think of him whenever I see a big or little Rio Grande engine wheeling through.
Rich