Who was Melanie Bernhardt from Diff'rent Strokes?

Melanie Bernhardt was an actress who played Kathy Gordon on the TV show "Diff'rent Strokes."

What condition did Melanie Bernhardt have?

Melanie Bernhardt was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a disease causing bones to fracture easily.

What did Melanie Bernhardt do after Diff'rent Strokes?

After retiring from acting, Melanie Bernhardt married and co-founded a charity to train service dogs.

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Diff'rent Strokes Actress Melanie Bernhardt Dies

28 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Actress Melanie Bernhardt, known for 'Diff'rent Strokes,' has died.
She lived with osteogenesis imperfecta, a brittle bone disease.
Bernhardt also helped found a service animal training charity.

Diff'rent Strokes Actress Melanie Bernhardt Dies

Actress Melanie Watson Bernhardt, celebrated for her role on the classic sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," has died. She passed away recently in Colorado Springs.

Bernhardt was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a disease characterized by extremely fragile bones. Her family shared that she had been hospitalized due to bleeding complications, and her condition rapidly worsened despite medical efforts.

Fans will remember Bernhardt as Kathy Gordon on "Diff'rent Strokes." After her acting career concluded, she married Roger Bernhardt and later co-founded the charity Train Rite, which focused on training service dogs.

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