Buzz
Between 1978 and 1986, NBC's Diff’rent Strokes became a cultural phenomenon, captivating viewers nationwide. The show revolved around wealthy Mr. Drummond (Conrad Bain) and his unexpected role as guardian to Arnold (Gary Coleman) and Willis (Todd Bridges), the orphaned children of his late housekeeper.
Spanning eight seasons, the series is remembered not only for its onscreen antics but also for the offscreen challenges faced by its young cast. Here are 13 intriguing facts that Willis might have shared at some point.
1. The Show Secured Its Spot After The Little Rascals Fell Through.
NBC President Fred Silverman was determined to create a project for Gary Coleman, the talented 10-year-old who had gained fame through his commercial appearances. (Coleman’s maturity even led some to believe he was a little person.) After a pilot for a Little Rascals reboot was rejected in 1978, Silverman placed Coleman in a script about two Harlem brothers adjusting to life in a luxurious Manhattan penthouse. Though Conrad Bain was the show’s nominal lead, Coleman’s portrayal of Arnold stole the spotlight, keeping the series in the top 30 for its first three seasons.
2. White Supremacists Opposed the Show.
Although Strokes avoided overt political themes, the premise of a wealthy white man adopting two black children provoked backlash. Conrad Bain received threatening letters from the Ku Klux Klan, sealed in wax by a Grand Dragon, while Todd Bridges reported being harassed by individuals claiming Klan affiliation.
3. The Show’s Title Might Trace Back to Muhammad Ali.
The Yale Book of Quotations notes that Muhammad Ali, who guest-starred in a 1979 episode, was quoted in the Great Bend Daily Tribune in 1966 saying, “Different strokes for different folks.” The phrase gained further traction through Syl Johnson’s 1968 song. Before settling on the iconic title, producers considered naming the show 45 Minutes from Harlem.
4. Gary Coleman Missed Episodes Due to Salary Disputes.
Although Coleman was the standout star of Strokes, he initially earned just $1,800 per episode. His parents, who also managed his career, negotiated a significant raise to $30,000 per episode. By 1981, with syndication profits on the horizon, another pay dispute arose, causing Coleman to skip the start of the fourth season. Eventually, his salary was bumped to $70,000 per episode, briefly making him NBC’s highest-paid comedy actor.
5. Coleman Modified His Iconic Line.
According to writer Ben Starr, Arnold’s original line was, “What are you talking about, Willis?” Coleman improvised it into the legendary catchphrase, “Whatchoo talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?” The writers tried to limit its use to avoid overexposure, but it became a cultural phenomenon. By the late 1990s, Coleman grew so weary of the line that he refused to say it anymore.
6. The Show Dominated 'Very Special' Episodes.
Sitcoms began addressing serious topics as early as the 1970s, with Edith Bunker’s assault in a memorable All in the Family episode. However, the 1980s saw comedies regularly adopting movie-of-the-week themes to attract media attention and boost ratings. In 1983, Strokes aired a two-part episode tackling child molestation, featuring Gordon Jump (later famous as Maytag’s Lonely Repairman) trying to lure Arnold and his friend. This success led to Very Special Episodes on bulimia, epilepsy, alcoholism, and hitchhiking dangers. The series concluded in 1986 with a Very Special finale, where Arnold exposed a steroid scandal in his school newspaper.
7. Alan Thicke Helped Write the Theme Song.
Known for his role as Jason Seaver on Growing Pains and as Robin Thicke’s father, Alan Thicke also composed iconic TV music in the 1980s. Alongside writing the theme for The Facts of Life, he co-wrote and performed the music and lyrics for Diff’rent Strokes. In 2012, an interviewer even had Thicke’s son sing a portion of it.
8. Coleman Underwent a Kidney Transplant During the Show.
Coleman’s small stature stemmed from medications used to treat a congenital kidney defect, leaving him with one shrunken kidney and another that was failing. He received his first kidney transplant at age five and a second in 1984. Facing another surgery in 1986, he chose dialysis four times a day instead. The drugs he took stunted his growth, and by 14, he knew he wouldn’t grow taller than four feet eight inches. The show even dedicated an episode to his character grappling with the same condition.
9. Arnold Made Cross-Show Appearances.
NBC executives capitalized on Coleman’s popularity by having Arnold appear on Silver Spoons, the Strokes spinoff The Facts of Life, and even the unrelated Spielberg-produced series Amazing Stories. In the episode “Remote Control Man,” a beleaguered husband finds his life transformed into a sitcom, complete with a cameo from Arnold.
10. Coleman Pushed for More Mature Storylines.
As Coleman approached adulthood, he grew tired of portraying a childlike Arnold. For the final season, he convinced the writers to age Arnold into high school, allowing for more mature plots like dating and driving, while reducing scenes of him sitting on Mr. Drummond’s lap. He also secured a dramatic role in the 1985 TV movie Playing with Fire, where he played a troubled child arsonist. The film, like many Very Special Episodes, concluded with a cautionary message: “Get therapy.”
11. Todd Bridges Portrayed a Drug Dealer Who Targeted a Younger Version of Himself.
The post-Strokes lives of its young stars were fraught with challenges. Dana Plato, who played Kimberly Drummond, battled addiction and was arrested for robbing a convenience store before her death from a drug overdose in 1999. Coleman, facing limited career opportunities, passed away in 2010 due to complications from a fall. Bridges encountered multiple drug-related issues before turning his life around. In a 2000 Fox docudrama about the show, Bridges played a drug dealer who sells to an actor portraying his younger self. His real-life sister, Verda, played his mother in a 2006 TV movie.
12. Willis Hit the Jackpot with Publisher’s Clearing House.
A 2013 Publishers Clearing House ad campaign repurposed classic sitcom clips to show characters winning big. Using Diff’rent Strokes footage, the ad featured Arnold’s dismay as Willis discovers he’s won a million-dollar prize.
13. Coleman Brought Arnold Back on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Despite his desire to leave Arnold behind, Coleman returned to the role for the 1996 series finale of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. As the Banks family prepares to part ways, Will (Will Smith) shows their home to potential buyers, including Arnold and Mr. Drummond. Drummond offers a meta remark after Arnold delivers his iconic catchphrase: “You know, Arnold, those lines were funnier when you were still a little kid.”
