EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW: Todd Bridges On Gary Coleman Deathbed Photos: 'How Could Ex-Wife Be So Selfish?'
June 8 2010, Published 4:35 a.m. ET
Gary Coleman’s Diff’rent Strokes co-star Todd Bridges has slammed the star’s ex-wife after it emerged that she snapped photos of the star on his deathbed.
“How could you be so selfish?” Bridges asked Shannon Price in an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com.
The 45-year-old, who played older brother Willis to Coleman's Arnold on the hit television series, told RadarOnline.com’s Alexis Tereszcuk that he was questioning the motivations of his friend’s on-again, off-again partner Price, 24, to cash in on the late actor.
“I would never be that mad at somebody to ever do something so dreadful and horrible to them,” Bridges said.
“Are you angry at him?
“Are you that mad at him that you would do this to him?”
The diminutive former child star died at the age of 42 late last month after suffering a brain hemorrhage following a fall at his Santaquin, Utah, home.
Price and her family were at Utah Valley Regional Medical Centre where Coleman was on life support, near the time of his death. Medical staff has confirmed they were taking pictures.
Price’s representative has insisted Price is not receiving any compensation for the pictures.
AUDIO: Hear Gary Coleman’s 911 Tape
However, Bridges said he did not buy Price’s explanation that she took the photos, but never intended to release them.
“It sounds a little hokey to me,” he said. “That’s insane, I couldn’t even imagine doing that. Poor Gary has no idea what’s going on in his life, he has no idea that this is happening to him because he’s not here to fight back.
“You shouldn’t have taken them in the very beginning anyway.”
On and off screen, Bridges and Coleman were inseparable during their Diff'rent Strokes heyday in the late '70s and early '80s and remained close until his death.
Coleman’s former agent Victor Perillo also spoke out about the photos in a statement released on Tuesday, calling them “despicable”: "While Gary Coleman's family continues to privately grieve the passing of their son, they would like to thank all of his fans for their generous support. This kind gentle soul left the world with many beautiful memories to cherish. That is why I am personally appalled to hear the news that individuals are selling photos of Gary in the hospital. This is unconscionable and despicable. I would like to praise all the reputable news organizations that declined the offers.
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