Melanie Watson has died at the age of 57. The Diff'rent Strokes actress reportedly passed away on Friday. According to her brother, Robert Watson, who spoke with TMZ, she was recently hospitalized for bleeding. Her situation reportedly deteriorated after being admitted.
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Watson was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, which is also known as brittle bone disease. She spent her life in a wheelchair.
During her time on Diff'rent Strokes, Watson played Kathy Gordon, who was the best friend of the character Arnold Jackson. She appeared in four episodes of the show. It was her only venture into the sitcom business.
According to The Independent, Watson's role on the show was specifically created for her.
"From 1981 to 1984, Watson guest-starred on the show in a role specifically created for her as an optimistic girl in a wheelchair."
Following her brief stint as an actress, Watson founded Train Rite, an organization dedicated to training service animals for those with disabilities. She also took on the role of CEO for Couiffie's Ranch, which was formed to help people with disabilities find increased independence through service animals.
News of Watson's passing has led to an outpouring of love and mourning on social media.
Melanie Watson Recently Recalled Her Time on 'Diff'rent Strokes'
During a 2020 interview with IndyWire, Watson recalled working on the set of Diff'rent Strokes and how accommodating everyone was.
"I was a pill," Watson recalled. "I was always playing with my yo-yo and listening to my Walkman...Back in those days I didn't have a wheelchair. So I was carried everywhere."
When looking back on her time as an actress, Watson admitted that she felt blessed with the opportunity and at times regretted stepping away.
"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."
Despite her fleeting role on Diff'rent Strokes, it's clear that Watson left a lasting impression, not only on those she worked with, but also on the audience.
No information has been released regarding her funeral or service.
