Since moving to a small town in Utah for privacy, it seems that Gary Coleman’s life has become even more drama-filled.  Police reports are stating that the cops have been called in to assist with situations involving Coleman 21 times.  These incidents include: a suicide call involving 30-40 Oxycontins; domestic disputes resulting in injuries; domestic disputes resulting in self-harm;  Coleman worried that his wife would send her three brothers to harm him and asking the police for protection; and even a supposed break-in that turned out to be boxes falling in the basement.  This quote from the police report describes Coleman throwing a fit at his wife, Shannon Price, in a parking lot in Provo:

“Coleman was yelling and pounding his steering wheel for approximately 10 minutes before he jumped out of his truck. He ran out in front of his truck and around to the woman’s door, stopping several cars, and then he went to his door and was running around, yelling and screaming and throwing his arms in the air as he did,” the police report says. “Coleman was yelling that he could not take it anymore.” The report says Price felt threatened and was worried things were going to “get out of control they way they did earlier.” The 4-foot-8 actor was charged with disorderly conduct and eventually placed on probation.

[From NY Post]

This is the same Shannon Price who, one month later, he decided to marry.

I understand wanting to get away from the drama of Hollywood, but one recent-ish gig for Coleman was on season two of The Surreal Life in 2004.  He wasn’t a regular cast member and was just featured on one episode, but still. He was being paid by people whose intention was to display him as a has been. You hope that was one fat paycheck. He also went on Divorce Court to try and save his marriage to Shannon Price. You don’t get more public than that. Going on cable television to settle a personal matter is just screaming for attention.

Though he accepts jobs like The Surreal Life, he also likes to bite the hand that feeds him.  A recent incident occurred in September of this year, in which he assaulted a fan who was trying to take a picture in the parking lot of a bowling alley.

I also can’t help but feel bad for him.  Due to his stature as well as his early TV career, it’s hard to think of him as anyone but, well, Gary Coleman.  He’ll probably spend the rest of his life playing himself and he’s just not that likable anymore.

In the least surprising news of the week, Gary Coleman is divorcing his wife of 8 months, 22-year-old Shannon Price. Lest you fear Coleman might resort to his typical child-like hysterics, rest assured that the couple is keeping it classy: they’re going to film the end of their marriage on an episode of Divorce Court.

Shortly after their marriage was first revealed to the public, Coleman revealed that he and Price hadn’t yet consummated their then six month old marriage. Price told The Insider that Gary has a terrible temper (as had already been well-documented on various reality television shows… and several police reports) and yells and throws things when he doesn’t get his way. You know, if you’re most famous for your pocket-sized statute and child-like features (and you hate that that’s what you’re known for), it makes sense that perhaps you wouldn’t engage in child-like temper tantrums. Apparently that’s exactly what’s torn the pair apart.

It may not have been the world’s shortest marriage, but in a way… Diminutive Diff’rent Strokes alum Gary Coleman is ostensibly divorcing his wife of just eight months, Shannon Price. The duo is keeping it classy and taking their marital woes to the small screen, having already taped an episode of Divorce Court set to hit syndication May 1-2.

Apparently Price, 22, can’t cotton to Coleman’s temper tantrums, announcing during the show that her 40-year-old mister “stomps the floor and yells, ‘Meehhhh,’ and starts throwing stuff around…He bashes his head in the wall, too.”

Another gripe: Coleman prefers staying at home with his train set to taking her out. Come to think of it, though, his penchant for toy locomotives could just be research. He’s got to do something to prepare for this trainwreck.

[From E! News]

I was under the impression that Gary Coleman was a regular guy who just happened to be short. But when you combine that with the temper tantrums, the love of playing with trains, and the inability to consummate his marriage, it makes you wonder if there’s something else going on with Gary Coleman. Either way, it’s clearly the best thing for Shannon Price. Aside from marrying Gary, she seems relatively normal. Obviously she’s got SOME issues going on, but she didn’t appear as obviously crazy as a lot of the people you see on TV. Maybe she can go on to live a normal life. Or maybe she’ll have her own reality show where she must choose from 30 short men. Now that’s television.