The $1.3 Million Question: 5 Shocking Facts About Gary Coleman's Will And The Woman Who Inherited It, Anna Gray

As of December 12, 2025, the name Anna Gray remains inextricably linked to the tragic and complicated final years of beloved Diff'rent Strokes star Gary Coleman. While the child actor’s death in 2010 was a shock to the world, the subsequent legal battle over his modest estate—a fight that pitted his ex-wife against his former girlfriend and business associate, Anna Gray—became a dramatic, multi-year saga that highlighted the star's personal struggles.

This article dives deep into the relationship between Gary Coleman and Anna Gray, examining the controversial 2005 will, the explosive probate court proceedings, and the definitive ruling that ultimately gave Gray control over Coleman’s final affairs and legacy. The final court decision offered a rare glimpse into the tumultuous life of a star who spent his adult years battling financial hardship and personal turmoil.

Biographies of Gary Coleman and Anna Gray

To truly understand the high-stakes battle over Gary Coleman’s assets, one must first appreciate the complex lives and roles of the two main figures: the actor himself and the woman who would become his final executor, Anna Gray.

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Gary Coleman: The Child Star Who Battled Adversity

• Full Name: Gary Wayne Coleman
• Born: February 8, 1968, in Zion, Illinois, U.S.
• Died: May 28, 2010, in Provo, Utah, U.S. (Age 42)
• Known For: Playing Arnold Jackson on the hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986).
• Health Issues: Suffered from a congenital kidney disease that caused stunted growth and required two kidney transplants and daily dialysis.
• Adult Struggles: Faced significant financial hardship, having sued his parents and business manager for misappropriation of his trust fund, and dealt with numerous legal and personal problems.
• Cause of Death: Epidural hematoma after a fall at his home.

Anna Gray: The Friend, Manager, and Ultimate Beneficiary

• Role in Coleman’s Life: Friend, former girlfriend, personal assistant, and CEO of his personal corporation.
• Relationship Timeline: Anna Gray and Gary Coleman’s relationship dates back several years before his death, predating his brief marriage to Shannon Price.
• Will Executor: She was named the executor and sole beneficiary of Gary Coleman’s 2005 will.
• Public Stance: Gray was highly critical of Coleman’s ex-wife, Shannon Price, particularly regarding the circumstances of his final injury and death, claiming Price was "more worried about herself."
• Post-Battle Life: Following the conclusion of the estate battle, Anna Gray largely retreated from the public spotlight, focusing on carrying out Coleman's final wishes, including the disposition of his ashes.

The Critical 2005 Will and the Estate’s Value

The entire legal struggle hinged on a single, crucial document: a will Gary Coleman executed in 2005. This was the core of Anna Gray’s claim to the estate, and its validity was fiercely contested by Coleman’s ex-wife, Shannon Price.

The 2005 will explicitly named Anna Gray as both the executor of his estate and the sole beneficiary of all his property. This document was created during a period when Gray was deeply involved in managing Coleman’s affairs, serving as his personal assistant and the head of his corporation. It was a clear statement of his wishes at that time, entrusting his friend and confidante with his final legacy.

However, the existence of this will was complicated by subsequent events in Coleman’s life. In 2007, Coleman married Shannon Price, a woman he had met on the set of the movie Church Ball. Following their marriage, Price claimed that Coleman had created a handwritten codicil (an amendment to a will) that named her as his heir, or, alternatively, that they were still in a common-law marriage despite their divorce in 2008.

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The value of the estate, while not the millions one might expect from a child star, was still significant, estimated to be around $1.3 million. The estate comprised various assets, including his intellectual property, residuals from Diff'rent Strokes, and personal property, all of which became the subject of the bitter probate battle.

The Explosive Probate Battle: Gray vs. Price

The probate court proceedings in Utah became a public spectacle, drawing international attention to the sad final chapter of Gary Coleman's life. The core issue was whether the 2005 will favoring Anna Gray was superseded by a later document or relationship with Shannon Price.

The trial focused on three key legal arguments:

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1. The Validity of the 2005 Will

Anna Gray’s legal team argued that the 2005 will was the last legally sound document expressing Coleman’s final wishes. It was formally executed and clearly outlined his intentions to leave everything to Gray, who he trusted implicitly.

2. The Handwritten Codicil and Common-Law Marriage

Shannon Price’s claim rested on a post-2005 handwritten note, which she claimed was a valid codicil, and the assertion that she and Coleman were still in a common-law marriage at the time of his death, despite their formal divorce in 2008. This common-law argument would have automatically entitled her to the estate as his spouse.

3. Allegations of Abuse and Undue Influence

Perhaps the most damaging testimony against Price was the evidence presented regarding the couple's volatile relationship. The Utah judge ultimately sided with the arguments that their divorce was valid and that Price had engaged in abuse and financial exploitation of Coleman. This finding severely undermined her credibility and her claim to the estate.

The Definitive Ruling and Anna Gray’s Control

The protracted legal dispute finally reached a definitive conclusion when a Utah court ruled in favor of Anna Gray. The judge’s decision effectively invalidated Shannon Price’s claims, finding that the divorce was legitimate and that the evidence did not support her assertion of a common-law marriage or a valid later will.

The ruling’s implications were immediate and far-reaching:

• Gray’s Victory: Anna Gray was confirmed as the executor and sole beneficiary of the Gary Coleman estate, honoring the intentions laid out in the 2005 will.
• Ashes Dispute: The ruling also gave Gray the authority to finally carry out Coleman’s wishes regarding his remains. Coleman had reportedly expressed a desire to be cremated and have his ashes scattered along the railroad tracks where he used to watch trains—a wish Gray committed to fulfilling.
• Legacy Management: As the heir, Gray gained control over Coleman’s intellectual property, including his image and likeness, allowing her to manage his legacy and prevent unauthorized commercial exploitation.

The final judgment was a bittersweet victory for Anna Gray. It closed a painful chapter of litigation but underscored the tragic end of the former child star’s life. The court’s findings regarding the abuse Coleman endured provided a sobering final detail to his public narrative, highlighting the importance of the 2005 will as a genuine expression of his trust in Anna Gray during a tumultuous time. The resolution of the probate battle cemented Anna Gray’s place as the final custodian of Gary Coleman’s memory and meager fortune.