Melanie Watson, who was finest identified for taking part in Kathy Gordon reverse Gary Coleman’s Arnold Jackson on “Diff’hire Strokes,” has died. She was 57.
Her brother, Robert Watson, confirmed to TMZ that Melanie had handed away on Friday in Colorado Springs, Colo. Per the outlet, Melanie had been hospitalized previous to her loss of life on account of some bleeding, however deteriorated quickly after.
Melanie was born July 20, 1968 in Dana Level, Calif., the place she was identified with osteogenesis imperfecta (often known as brittle bone illness), which is a genetic dysfunction that causes bones to fracture simply.
She went on to pursue appearing as she obtained older, gaining public recognition for her recurring position on “Diff’hire Strokes” between between 1981 and 1984. Followers will seemingly bear in mind one pivotal episode involving her character, aptly titled “Kathy,” wherein Coleman’s Arnold tries to persuade Watson’s Kathy to not use her wheelchair.
Nevertheless, she finally retired from appearing after “Diff’hire Strokes” ended and pivoted her focus to advocacy and repair work. Melanie was a founding father of Prepare Ceremony, a nonprofit with a mission to coach shelter canine in order that they could help individuals with disabilities.
In 2020, Melanie praised Norman Lear for championing illustration on “Diff’hire Strokes” and different TV exhibits.
“I’m happy with Norman for going towards the norm and doing one thing,” she informed IndieWire on the time. “I didn’t notice what a present it was to be the primary one on the market. If I needed to do it over again I might have stayed within the enterprise.”
