According to popular celebrity gossip site, TheSuperficial.com, Gary Coleman had filed a restraining order against his wife, Shannon Price, just three months before his death (http://www.thesuperficial.com/gary-coleman-filed-a-restraining-order-against-shannon-price-06-2010#more-448662).
Their marriage has always seemed volatile and both have publicly alleged that the other had a bad temper, but let’s be realistic. If any violence ever occurred in their marriage, and I’m not saying it ever did, who do you think would be the victor? Would it be the less than five foot tall, child-sized, 40-something man with a lifetime of major health problems or the 5’7″, 20-something wife?
Previously Shannon Price was involved in a domestic violence issue for which she was arrested and then bailed out. She had smashed property belonging to Coleman in their Utah home and then mouthed off to police officers when they arrived at the scene (http://www.rightcelebrity.com/?p=6220).
Okay, we all have a temper at times and apparently, so did Mr. Coleman as seen in a video in which he totally wigs out (somewhat justifiably) on a prying interviewer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2A7zigZmlE).
Shannon Price has apparently also called the police on Coleman for domestic violence and he was involved in an incident in which a man alleged Coleman tried to run over him in a parking lot.
Nobody says that little people can’t have big tempers, but how much of a threat to a normal-sized adult could a 4’8″ tall man be?
It is also alleged that Shannon Price had moved back into their home before he died and that Coleman did not want her there. At the time that she moved back into the home, Coleman was allegedly in the hospital.
Several celebrity sites have reported that Coleman revealed in a written legal document, the following quote regarding his wife: [She] “has shown a tendency to damage, destroy and steal my property and I believe she will continue to do so in my absence and while she is trespassing in my home.” (http://www.nj.com/entertainment/celebrities/index.ssf/2010/06/gary_coleman_called_shannon_pr.html)
I am not sure what is going on here, but one might be lead to speculate that his death was something more than an accident, based on their volatile marriage and penchant for fighting and feuding.
After his initial success as a child star, Coleman’s life, career and health went downhill and it’s very, very sad as I remember fondly how much I loved his television show, “Diff’rent Stokes“, and how many times he made me laugh and smile.
