Who is Melanie Watson's ex-husband? What we know about her family and personal life amid Diff'rent Strokes star's death at 57

After Melanie Watson's role as Kathy Gordon on Diff'rent Strokes, she retired from acting. Her days in the spotlight were dim after the show ended. She kept her personal life out of the public eye, and not much was known about the former child actor. However, what we do know is that Melanie was married to Roger Bernhardt for two years, from 1994 to 1996.

We also know that Melanie was close to her brother, Robert, who broke the news of her passing. He told TMZ that his 57-year-old sister passed away in her home in California Springs. Before she passed, Melanie suffered a short period of bleeding, which worsened.

She was born with a genetic disorder called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which causes bones to break easily, hearing loss, dental problems, and poor muscle tone. Robert also told TMZ that his sister was lucky to live up to 57 years old with her condition, and he will always think of her.

According to TMZ, Watson also reportedly helped found the charity Train Rite. They provide training to dogs to help them become service animals.

How many episodes was Melanie Watson in on Diff'rent Strokes?

Melanie Watson appeared in four episodes during the eight seasons of Diff'rent Strokes. She played the role of Kathy Gordon and joined the American sitcom in season three. Kathy was Arnold Jackson's (a role played by Gary Coleman) best friend.

While Melanie was pleased that the show was inclusive and represented disabled children, she did encounter challenges during filming. In a 2020 interview with IndieWire, Watson revealed that she did not have a wheelchair at the time, which meant she had to be carried around the set.

Later on, she was using a manual wheelchair, which had its fair share of complications. She said that the wheels often got entangled with the wires on the set. Nonetheless, the crew was warm and supportive, always ready to help her.

She also shared about one scene that made her uncomfortable while filming. Melanie Watson was asked to walk on crutches for a certain scene, which would inspire Arthur's speech. She said that she did not want to do it because she had had a bad fall before she was filming on Diff'rent Strokes, and is still traumatized by it.

Some of Melanie Watson's most popular episodes are "Kathy" and "Kathy's Olympics," which aired in 1982 and 1984, respectively.

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After leaving acting, Melanie Watson chose a quiet life and stayed close to her family. She shared a strong bond with her brother Robert, who remembered her with love and pride after her passing.

Also read: What challenges did Melanie Watson face while filming Diff'rent Strokes? Accessibility issues revisited following her death at 57

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