Authorities rule Gary Coleman's death an accident

[October 07, 2010]  SANTAQUIN, Utah (AP) -- Authorities have confirmed that "Diff'rent Strokes" actor Gary Coleman's death has been ruled an accident.

Santaquin Police Chief Dennis Howard says an autopsy found Coleman died of natural causes after an accidental fall. He says the finding matches the evidence police found at Coleman's Santaquin home on May 26.

Howard says the state medical examiner's conclusions bring the police investigation into the death to a close.

The 42-year-old actor died at a Provo hospital two days after his fall. He was taken off life support after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

Coleman became a star after "Diff'rent Strokes" debuted in 1978. He played Arnold Jackson, the younger one of a pair of African-American brothers adopted by a wealthy white man.

[Associated Press]

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