good post. I have a friend that used to run in similar circles as Gary Coleman did when she was in LA (she had the opportunity to hang out with celebs and he happened to be at the same place on more than one occasion). She claimed it drove him nuts when people would ask him to say the famous catch phrase. People would run after him tauntingly saying, “come on Gary, just say it”, or “what you talkin’ ‘bout Gary?”!
The Saturday night live “A Christmas Carol” spoof was pretty good with Gary uttering “what you talkin’ ‘bout everyone?” at the end.
I’m sure it’s hard when you have played a character as recognizable as the one he played and people can be pretty stupid in inserting themselves into your private life.