Melanie Watson, the actress best known for her role on Diff’rent Strokes, has died. She was 57.
TMZ reported the news on Sunday, December 28. According to the outlet, Melanie’s brother, Robert Watson, said she died Friday in Colorado Springs. He shared that she had been hospitalized earlier in the week after “suffering some issues with bleeding,” and that her condition deteriorated rapidly.
'Diff'rent Strokes' Star Melanie Watson Dead at 57 t.co/dABkevonrP pic.twitter.com/SwToYCi5jo
— TMZ (@TMZ) December 28, 2025While no official cause of death has been released, the former child star had long lived with a rare genetic condition called osteogenesis imperfecta, which affects bone strength and connective tissue. Also known as brittle bone disease, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases explains that the condition causes bones to fracture easily, sometimes with little or no injury, and can range from mild to severe with additional medical complications.
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For those unfamiliar, Diff’rent Strokes was one of the biggest sitcoms of the late 1970s and early 1980s, centering on two young brothers from Harlem — Arnold and Willis Jackson — who are adopted by a wealthy businessman. The show starred Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges, and Conrad Bain, and became a pop culture staple during its original run.
Melanie appeared on the series as Kathy Gordon, one of Arnold’s friends, in a recurring role that spanned multiple seasons. While her time on screen was limited, the role left a lasting impression.
‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Actress Melanie Watson Dies at 57 t.co/m1YkUuyUXQ pic.twitter.com/xgfrLci2K7
— RetroNewsNow (@RetroNewsNow) December 28, 2025According to TheWrap, Kathy was written specifically for Melanie by legendary producer Norman Lear after she appeared on his short-lived series The Baxters. At the time, it was rare to see disabled characters on television at all — even rarer for those roles to be played by disabled actors.
In a 2020 interview with IndieWire, Melanie reflected on that experience. “I’m proud of Norman for going against the norm and doing something,” she said. “I didn’t realize what a gift it was to be the first one out there. If I had to do it all over again I would have stayed in the business.”
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