More than four decades after Diff’rent Strokes first brought its young stars into American living rooms, the cast’s lives have taken turns few viewers could have predicted. Some continued acting, some struggled away from the spotlight, and one star’s story ultimately became a remarkable tale of survival.
When Diff’rent Strokes premiered in 1978, its young stars were part of one of television’s most recognizable families. The show became a major success and remained on the air for eight seasons, but the lives of its stars after the sitcom could hardly have been more different.