Diff’rent Strokes actress Melanie Watson has died aged 57.
The former child star – who was best known for her appearances as Kathy Gordon on the classic sitcom – died in Colorado Springs on Boxing Day (December 26) after being hospitalised.
Her brother Robert Watson told TMZ that his sister was taken to hospital because of bleeding, and her condition deteriorated before she died.
The actress was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta – also known as Brittle Bone Syndrome, a connective tissue disease – and used a wheelchair.
Diff’rent Strokes ran for eight seasons from 1978 to 1986, and Watson joined as Kathy in the third season of the show, with her character appearing in four episodes.
Her most notable appearances came in the 1982 episode Kathy and 1984’s Kathy’s Olympics.
Following her role in Diff’rent Strokes, Watson retired from acting, although she later admitted she hadn’t realised ‘what a gift it was’ for her to be on screen, and she regretted giving up her career.
Praising late producer Norman Lear, she told IndieWire in 2020: ‘I’m proud of Norman for going against the norm and doing something.
‘I didn’t realise what a gift it was to be the first one out there. If I had to do it all over again, I would have stayed in the business.’
On the subject of representation, Lear told the same outlet: ‘I grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. And across the street from me there was a disabled person, up the street from me there was somebody with a different disability. It wasn’t unknown to me.’
Watson recalled how in one episode, she had to appear on crutches to show that she could walk as she inspired best friend Arnold (Gary Coleman) to give an important speech.
‘I did not want to do that. I can remember saying, “This is somebody else’s dream,”‘ she admitted. ‘But they explained to me this was the premise of the episode.’
Watson was afraid to walk because she had had a bad fall a few years before, but her mother told her to stay quiet and do the scene.
Meanwhile, she admitted she wasn’t always the easiest to work with.
What is osteogenesis imperfecta?
As detailed by Great Ormond Street Hospital, osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic condition present from birth which sees ‘fractures usually caused by minimal impact’.
It’s caused by collagen – which is the protein responsible for bone structure – being ‘missing, reduced or of low quality’, and so it can’t support the minerals in the bone.
With the bones weakened, they are easy to
fracture.
Other signs and symptoms can include bones having an altered shape, whites of the eyes appearing more blue or grey, hypermobile joints, and more.
‘I was a pill. I was always playing with my yo-yo and listening to my Walkman,’ she recalled. ‘Back in those days I didn’t have a wheelchair. So I was carried everywhere.’
Away from acting, Melanie was briefly married to Robert Bernhardt from 1994 to 1996 and founded the organisation Train Rite, which trains shelter dogs to help disabled people.
Fans and former co-stars have paid tribute to Watson, including Diff’rent Strokes actor Shavar Ross.
He wrote on X: ‘So sad to hear this. Melanie and I worked together on Diff’rent Strokes, and we stayed in touch through social media over the years.
‘I’m truly saddened by this loss. My heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and everyone who loved her. Rest in peace.’
Others pointed out that she was part of their ‘childhood’, while @TheRealAJ_ added: ‘Sad to hear the passing of Diff’rent Strokes actress #MelanieWatson. She was awesome as Kathy.
‘Diff’rent Strokes was my show back in the day. I like that Kathy and Arnold were good friends. My thoughts and prayers are with Melanie Watson’s family. She will be missed. 🙏’
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