It seems as if this story will never end. This week, we learned of Gary Coleman’s final wishes – at least for his funeral. One of the many wills that has popped up since the actor’s death was filed Tuesday in Provo, Utah. The two-page will read that Gary wished to be cremated, but his funeral wishes were far sadder. He stated that only “those who have no financial ties to me and who can look each other in the eyes and say they really cared personally for Gary Coleman” be allowed at the wake.
It is not known if Coleman’s estranged parents, Willie and Sue, will be allowed to attend the wake. The couple spoke on the “Today” show this week, repeating their claims that they didn’t take Coleman’s money and felt no bitterness towards their son.
Another thing that probably comes as no surprise to anyone is that Coleman was almost broke when he died. His main asset was his Utah home, valued at $315,000. But, before anyone can claim that, attorney Kent Alderman told PEOPLE that first Coleman’s medical and funeral bills would have to be paid.
The will filed Tuesday claims Coleman’s former manager Dion Mial as the executor of his estate. Ex-wife Shannon Price claims she has a more current will, which leaves her everything, that will supersede that one, but has yet to produce it. Todd Bridges, who said he was disgusted by the deathbed photos Price sold to the Globe for a reported $10,000, said he has a will too, but we haven’t seen that one either.
Claimed she too has a will is Anna Gray. Who? A will that was executed in 2005 was filed Friday in Utah court leaving all the money to Gray, a friend who formerly lived with Coleman.
Now my question in all this is that we all knew the poor guy didn’t have much, if any money, when he died. I mean $315,000 is a chunk of change, but it is really anything to be fighting over?
Well, considering the vultures that seemed to surround Coleman his whole life, you might think “yes,” but Bridges shed some light on the situation. He said that Coleman had pensions with both the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Actors. Bridges said that when he turns 55, his pension will be around $13,000 a month and he estimated Coleman’s pension could be as much as $20,000 a month.