‘Diff’rent Strokes’ actor Melanie Watson dead at 57
Actor Melanie Watson, best known for her role in the sitcom Diff’rent Strokes, has died at 57.
Watson passed away on December 26th in Colorado Springs. She had recent been hospitalised due to bleeding.
Her death was confirmed by her brother, Robert Watson, to TMZ.
Throughout her life, Watson battled with osteogenesis imperfecta, which is more commonly known as brittle bone disease. As a result of her condition, Watson often had fractured bones, which can also severely impact life expectancy.
Per TMZ, Watson’s condition quickly deteriorated once she was hospitalised. Her brother, Robert, also expressed said his sister did exceptionally well to live until 57 with osteogenesis imperfecta.
Watson’s time in the acting industry was limited to her guest appearances in the beloved 1980s sitcom, which ran from 1981 and 1984, as Kathy Gordon.
After the show came to an end, Watson retired from acting and later worked for the charitable organisation Train Rite as an executive director, which trains dogs to help the disabled community.
Reflecting on her career with IndieWire in 2020, Watson reflected on her time on the TV show, praising producer Norman Lear for putting a spotlight on disabled people when their roles on television were particularly limited, stating, “I’m proud of Norman for going against the norm and doing something.”
She also admitted to regret over her early retirement, adding, “I didn’t realize 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.”
Additionally, Watson launched a bid to run for the Colorado State Senate in 2020, but was forced to bow out of the race due to health issues.
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