Melanie Watson Bernhardt died of osteogenesis imperfecta: report

Melanie Watson Bernhardt, best known for her role in  Diff’rent Strokes, died on Friday. She was 57.

According to her brother, the actress, who played the character of Kathy Gordon on the hit 80s sitcom, passed away in Colorado Springs.

TMZ reported that her health deteriorated quickly after she was hospitalized.

It said that Melanie Watson Bernhardt battled the genetic disorder osteogenesis imperfecta - which causes bones to break easily, poor muscle tone, hearing loss, and dental problems.

She was taken to a hospital after suffering bleeding issues, the celebrity website reported.

Speaking to TMZ, he brother said his sister was fortunate to live as long as she did with her condition.

Melanie Watson Bernhardt retired from acting after Diff’rent Strokes ended in 1986.

She had a frequent guest-starring role on the sitcom, in which she played a wheelchair-using friend of lead character Arnold (Gary Coleman). 

Another outlet reported that the former actress later created and served as the executive director of Train Rite, an organisation that trains shelter dogs to serve the disabled.

Hundreds of people took to social media to pay tribute to the late actress: