Image Credit: Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag Melanie Watson, an actress best known for her portrayal as Kathy Gordon on Diff'rent Strokes, died on December 26, 2025, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, her family confirmed. She was 57. As fans of the classic sitcom recall, Watson's on-screen character was wheelchair bound. In real life, the actress was living with a genetic disease that affected her bones. Below, Hollywood Life has gathered five facts about Watson, from her life to her career.