The Turbulent Aftermath Of Gary Coleman's Death

Fifteen years after Gary Coleman's tragic passing, the beloved star is remembered as a man caught between fleeting fame, personal tragedy, and lingering questions that continue to haunt fans and the entertainment industry.

The then 42-year-old actor died on May 28, 2010, after falling at his Utah home, leading to a fatal head injury. The man once celebrated for his charisma, catchphrases, and pop-culture magic died with a remarkably dull thud but also with complications. And his death, like the decay of his life, set off an examination more vast than the fate of a former child star, but also of how he spent the last moments of his life.

Read More: Scooter Braun Speaks Out On Justin Bieber's "Swag" Album After $31.5M Settlement

His former wife, Shannon Price, took a surprising and controversial role in his downfall. Their marriage had even formally ended in 2008, but the issue of Price never went away. Her choice to allow the ventilator to be turned off after Coleman was determined to be brain-dead raised questions about her medical power-of-holding and her relationship with him after their divorce. That unease was compounded by the publication of a ghostly photo of Coleman on his hospital bed, with Price in attendance, on the cover of a tabloid in the weeks following his death. What ensued was a swirl of speculation, legal confusion, and moral argument. Fans were left asking how a man who had once claimed he had "40 years in him yet" could have his life ended so abruptly and so controversially.

Coleman's life was a perpetual struggle, personally and professionally. From financial struggles to disputes over his autonomy with his adoptive parents, and a career marred by public mockery, his mature life had little to do with ease. Yet, he remained hopeful. In an interview just months before his death, he discussed his desire to keep moving forward, indicating that he still had dreams and unfinished business. His death would leave a messy legacy. It was a case study in the dark aftermath of fame. Even in death, the world is still piecing it all together.