Name: After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped
Director: Ted Haimes
Genre: Drama
Released: 2000-05-16
Duration: 60 min
Rating: 5.8
Cast: Alon Williams, Corey Mendell Parker, Elise Horn, Catero Colbert, Sean Bridgers

Your favorite childhood star's life was a horror show — and they made a movie about it.

exploitation cinematrue crime adjacentcursed energy

Overview

Drama

You've read the stories, you've seen the documentaries. Now see the movie that brings it all to life.

Content warning

celebrity court overdose rise and fall televison tragic event child star legal battle prescription drug abuse arrested+3 more

childhood traumafame as destructionsystemic failureaddiction cycles

Standout Aspects

Acting

Alon Williams channels Gary Coleman's rage and fragility disturbingly well.

Production

Shot in 60 minutes because even the crew wanted to leave.

Best for:Solo·Background

Heads up:Drug Use·Triggers

Director

Ted Haimes

ReleasedMay 16, 2000

Runtime1h

StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacefast

Intensityhigh

Tonedark

Feelheavy

Top Cast

Corey Mendell Parker

Todd Bridges

Sean Bridgers

Robert

Sy Richardson

Mr. Coleman

David Yost

Playboy Photographer

Kimberly Bailey

Robin Quivers

Tom Fahn

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Elise Horn, who played Dana Plato, had never seen a full episode of Diff'rent Strokes before filming — the director thought it would make her performance 'fresher.'

Cultural

This TV movie premiered just months after Gary Coleman's own bizarre arrest for assault, making it accidentally current-events journalism.