‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Star Passes Away at 57

Actress Melanie Watson Bernhardt, best known for her role as Kathy Gordon on the beloved ‘80s sitcom Diff’rent Strokes, has died at the age of 57. Her brother confirmed to TMZ that she passed away Friday in Colorado Springs.

Bernhardt had long battled osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic condition that weakens bones and affects muscle tone, hearing, and teeth.

She had recently been hospitalized for bleeding complications, and her health reportedly declined quickly while in care. Her brother told TMZ that Bernhardt was fortunate to have lived as long as she did with the condition.

On Diff’rent Strokes, Bernhardt played Kathy, a friend of lead character Arnold Jackson, portrayed by Gary Coleman. Her character used a wheelchair, reflecting some of the challenges Bernhardt faced in real life. The show, which followed two orphaned brothers taken in by a wealthy New York family, ran for eight seasons from 1978 to 1986.

After retiring from acting, Bernhardt dedicated herself to animal welfare. According to IMDb, she became the executive director of Train Rite, an organization that trains shelter dogs to assist people with disabilities. She was previously married to Roger Bernhardt from 1994 to 1996.

Bernhardt’s passing marks the loss of a talented actress who left an impression on fans of Diff’rent Strokes and made a lasting impact through her work with animals.

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