Gary Coleman's Parents on Shannon Price: 'She Didn't Call Us'

By John Mitchell Posted Jun 11th 2010 11:21AM

Gary Coleman's parents, Willie and Sue Coleman, sat down with Meredith Vieira on NBC's 'Today' show this morning for their first televised interview since the actor's passing to discuss their relationship with Gary, how they found out about his death and their reaction to the deathbed photos allegedly sold to the tabloids by his ex-wife, Shannon Price.

Choking back tears, Willie revealed that Price did not speak to either he or Sue after Gary passed, saying, "She didn't call us. She didn't talk to us direct." Instead, she left an impersonal message that Willie referred to as "the strangest message I have ever heard in my life."

The Colemans were in Arkansas with family celebrating the birthday of Willie's older brother when they received the news that Gary was in critical condition. Not knowing any information about the hospital where Gary was being treated, Sue called the sheriff's office in Provo, Utah, where Coleman and Price were living, and asked them to have Price call them. Price did not return their call that day, but left a message after Gary had passed, suggesting that the Colemans call her brother, who was handling the funeral arrangements.

They admit they do not feel they know everything regarding the circumstances surrounding Gary's death, but took comfort in the authority's report that indicated there was no foul play involved.

Willie and Sue echoed their previous statement that they "have never pointed a finger at Shannon" in connection to Gary's fatal fall. They were, however, quick to note that they found the deathbed photos of Gary and Shannon, which Price allegedly sold to The Globe magazine for $10,000, "disturbing." "I don't know if that [selling of the pictures] was her intention in the beginning when she took the pictures," Sue said.

Citing "outside influences" for the damage to their relationship with Gary, the Colemans denied ever taking money from their son, who sued them in 1989 for mishandling his multi-million dollar trust. They've been estranged ever since.

"As far as the money goes, we would never have taken money from him. We weren't raised that way," Sue said.

Despite being estranged for two decades, the Colemans never gave up hope for reconciliation. They say they have kept a bedroom and a spot at the kitchen table for their son.

They also denied stories that reported Gary didn't know he was adopted. "We told him when he was five years old," Willie said. "He did not want to deal with it, and he asked us to please not discuss it. And we didn't," Sue added. When asked in therapy if he wanted to address his adoption, Gary said no.

Of Todd Bridge's claim he has a document that indicates Gary wished to exclude his parents from his will, Sue said, "As far as the document goes, I have no idea what that is. As far as I knew, the two of them didn't have any close communication for many years. It seems that just since, since he has passed on, that this relationship has seemed to be closer."

"Everything that's been said about us is untrue," Willie said.

The 'Diff'rent Strokes' star died May 28 in Utah from a brain hemorrhage at age 42. Funeral services for the star were set for last weekend, but an ongoing court fight over where to bury Coleman led to its postponement.

Price has been under scrutiny since Coleman's death after speculation ignited over whether she, as his ex-wife, had the authority to make medical decisions for the unresponsive actor. Though they have been divorced since August 2008, they continued to be together.

Shannon Price has submitted a handwritten document, dated Sept. 4, 2007, that she claims is Coleman's will. The document, which was written one week after Coleman and Price were wed, names her as the sole beneficiary to his estate, TMZ reports.

The document names Price the "sole heir of any and all monies, properties, bank accounts, earnings, model trains, vehicles, cars, toys, games, electronics, homes, other inheritances if any, all things physical and/or intellectual." Complicating matters, however, is the fact that the alleged will wasn't witnessed or notarized, making proof of its authenticity difficult to determine.

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Tags: Gary Coleman, today show

Comments

(113)

Friday 11 June

By kenny

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Shannon is a redheaded stepchild.She could`nt help Gary after she pushed him down the stairs and cracked his head open .But she could sell his deathbed pictures for a profit and now she wants everything.I hope it all catches up to her and she pays for what she did.

By Doc

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Just curious, Kenny, what proof do you have the Gary was pushed down the stairs that would hold up ina court of law?

By dale

i agree if she couldnt go to him while on the phone with 911 because of the blood ect how could she get close enough to take pics? and why would any one consult an ex wife? if they werent married then the next of kin would be back to his parents . this biotch pushed him i dont care what they say . and why was she there when it happened . if i got rid of a wife they wouldnt be around me any more but thats me . hmmmmm theres something rotten in denmark and it aint cheese !

Saturday 12 June

By Caitlin

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What proof do you have? I do feel that she wants the limelight and taking pictures and selling them are awful. She wants money and she wants attention.

By themeeker

The parents are denying all of the wrongdoing that Gary blamed them for while he was alive. How easy to deny it now that Gary has conveniently died. They are liars.

Shannon is also a vulture, but the parents deserve nothing...no respect at all. They're pulling a Christina Crawford and telling the most convenient money making story they can concoct for a few moments in the spotlight and a large cash grab. Shame on them.

By beth

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i be thinking kenny has been snortin that kitty litter, or he has a sick, and wild,imagination,sheese buddy you have no shame in your game.

By Steve

and how do you know she pushed him? Was you there? Gee maybe you should inform the police so they can arrrest her. People this is how rumors get started.

By adarn

Who took care of Gary when he was a bady? Who sent him to school? Who fed him all the way through adulthood? He was divorced 2008; that woman should not get anything. The fact that she hid Gary's sickness from his own father and mother showed that something suspicious happened. Apparently, she wrote it when Gary was unconscious and back dated it. Gary's parents should pursue a speical investigation. They are the ones who took care of Gary and brought him up well. The parents should take over the body.
adarn

By jacqueline

yes i feel the same agree with u i believe that she did pushed him downstair bez she only want money millonaire money in his will. she should go to jail for what she did it... i could not believe it and world people know can tell she did push him downstair .god knows!!!

Sunday 13 June

By Victoria

Were you there? How can you say that? Were you aware that she was such a bad epileptic that she was often confined to a wheelchair and couldn't go down stairs? At the time of his accident she was very ill, and in her wheelchair.

I will agree that she is certainly NOT the brightest light bulb in the bunch. She's whacky, which could be due to all of the very strong meds she takes to keep her epilepsy under control. She also took him back after he beat her. Which could mean she is just naturally not too bright, and it's not just her meds.

But those things do not make her a murderer. He fell off a ladder. She could have just left if she didn't care. She called 911 in a panic. You can't judge her. You were not there.

By Donna Ross

The 911 call tells the Truth. Shannon is definitely guilty of something. She had absolutely NO remorse whatsoever and acted very irritated.

By Lori

Was there anyone in this poor man's life that truly cared for him? Certainly not his wife or his parents. Must have been a very lonely man. Probably why he always seemed to be angry.

By Keith

His ex-wife may be a goldigger but I knew the director of the majority of the shows on "DS" and he told me stories about what thieves and quintessential "parent/managers" they were. They ripped him off, treated him like crap, and made his life miserable so what ever they have to say I take with the smallest grain of salt you can find.

By nikkiterry1

Shannon knows more about the accident of Gary Coleman than she has told. She is uncaring and whether she believes in GOD or not the HIGHER POWER WILL MAKE SURE SHE PAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Lynn

HIGHER POWER WILL MAKE SURE SHE PAYS? DON'T JUDGE PEOPLE OTHERWISE YOU WILL PAY!

By Tom

God does not work that way.

By john

Hey rob your kid blind, and steal all his money you loose certain rights! as far as the skank he married they have a special place in hell for people like her !!!

By TIM

I guess she will have her own reality show soon...She is a ugly skanky freak of nature...

By Bonbon

The person I feel sorry for is just Gary, it looks like his wife is a total skank and why would you take pictures of a dying person, I wouldn't doubt it if she pushed him and his parents obviously did something wrong too as he wouldn't speak to them for twenty years, it's a shame, sounds like Gary had it rough all the way around.

By KAREN

WE DO NOT KNOW THE WHOLE OR TRUE STORY YET. EXCEPT, THE FACT THAT HE CUT HIS PARENTS OUT OF HIS LIFE IN 1996. WHY WOULD SHE CALL THEM AFTER HE DIED? THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT HIM AFTER THEY ROBBED HIM BLIND.

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