Gary Coleman – 42 (1968 – 2010)

Although Gary Coleman rose to prominence doing comedy in the show Diff’rent Strokes, his life story is pretty sad. At only 42 years old, his premature demise happened after he fell off the stairs at his home.

Coleman, whose name is included in VH1’s 100 Greatest Kid Stars, was diagnosed with congenital kidney disease. It was the reason for his short stature and childlike features. Sadly, he experienced financial troubles later in life and even filed for bankruptcy, despite being one of the highest-paid child actors at the peak of his career in the ’70s.