What you need to know
Melanie Watson, known for her role in “Diff’rent Strokes,” has died. She was 57 years old.
According to TMZ, the actress passed away on Friday, December 26th in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Melanie’s brother, Robert Watson, told the outlet that Melanie was hospitalized and her condition worsened.
Frank Carroll/NBC/NBCU Photobank
The former child star was born with osteogenesis imperfecta and used a wheelchair. According to the Mayo Clinic, this genetic disorder, also known as brittle bone syndrome, is a connective tissue disease that causes bones to become brittle.
Melanie appeared as Cathy Gordon in four episodes of Diff’rent Strokes. The classic comedy, starring the late Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges, ran for eight seasons from 1978 to 1986.
Her character was introduced in the show’s third season, with standout performances in the 1982 episode “Cassie” and the 1984 episode “Cassie’s Olympics.”
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According to IMDb, Melanie was married to Robert Barnhart for two years from 1994 to 1996. She also founded Train Rite, an organization that trains rescue dogs to help people with disabilities.
Melanie opened up about her iconic role in a 2020 interview with IndieWire, speaking about the late Norman Lear’s work on people with disabilities. The actress recalled that it was her “medicine” for work, saying, “I was always playing with my yo-yo or listening to my Walkman.”
“I’m proud of Norman for doing something against the norm,” she added of the Diff’rent Strokes producer.
“I didn’t realize what a gift it was to be the first one. If I had to start over, I would have stayed in the business,” Melanie said.
