Diff'rent Strokes star Melanie Watson dies aged 57
Melanie Watson, known for her role on Diff'rent Strokes, has died. She was 57.
The actress' brother, Robert Watson, confirmed to TMZ that she was recently hospitalised and her condition deteriorated.
Watson died on Friday December 26 in Colorado Springs.
Melanie Watson, known for her role on Diff'rent Strokes, has died. She was 57. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Watson is best remembered for her role as Kathy Gordon in four episodes of the classic sitcom Diff'rent Strokes.
The series, which featured the late Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges, enjoyed an eight-season run between 1978 and 1986.
A trailblazer in its era, the story revolved around an interracial, blended family and tackled racial and social issues from a comedic lens.
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Watson is best remembered for her role as Kathy Gordon in four episodes of the classic sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. NBC
Watson used a wheelchair after she was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, is a lifelong genetic condition that affects the bones.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, people with osteogenesis imperfecta break bones easily, with little or no force causing the break.
In 1982, she appeared in an episode of Diff'rent Strokes titled Kathy – named after her character.
Watson is pictured on the first day of the cross country Olympic Torch Relay, 1996. Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
In it, Kathy argued with Coleman's character, Arnold, when he tried to convince her to walk without using crutches.
According to her IMDB page, Watson was previously married from 1994 to 1996 to Robert Bernhardt.
She also founded Train Rite, an organisation which trains shelter dogs to help people with disabilities.
In a 2020 interview with IndieWire, Watson spoke about her rise to stardom and representing disabled people on-screen.
"I didn't realise what a gift it was to be the first one out there," she said.
"If I had to do it all over again, I would have stayed in the business."
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