Dion Mial: Interior Designer & Gary Coleman’s Trusted Friend
Dion Mial is an award-winning interior designer and entertainment professional based in Los Angeles, known for creating personalized spaces and for his close friendship with actor Gary Coleman.
Dion Mial: Interior Designer and Entertainment Professional
Dion Mial has built a reputation as both an acclaimed interior designer and an entertainment professional. His career spans decades and includes work with high-profile clients and a close association with the late actor Gary Coleman. This article examines Mial’s career, his design philosophy, and his impact in both the design and entertainment industries.
Early Life and Education
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Dion Mial comes from a diverse ethnic background that includes African, Native American, English, and French heritage. This multicultural background has influenced his ability to connect with people from various backgrounds and generations.
Mial initially pursued an academic path that might have led him to a career in psychiatry. He studied engineering, psychology, and biology at Loyola Marymount University. However, his career took an unexpected turn when he was offered an apprenticeship with one of Denver, Colorado’s premier designers who recognized Mial’s natural talent and unique approach to design, as evidenced in Mial’s own living space.
Career in Interior Design
Following his apprenticeship, Mial established his design business, Dion Mial Design, Inc., which operates between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. As the owner and principal of this architectural interior and exterior design firm, he specializes in high-end residential properties.
Mial’s design services are comprehensive, including:
- Space planning and staging
- Project management
- Furnishings selection
- Color specification
- Lighting design
- Cabinet design
- Fabric selections
- Wall and floor coverings
- Accessories
- Collaborative architectural and landscape design
His design philosophy centers on creating spaces that reflect the personality and lifestyle of his clients. Often referred to as the “Dr. Phil of Design” because of his straightforward approach, Mial isn’t afraid to abandon traditional design rules when necessary. He believes that since his clients are multifaceted individuals, their living spaces should reflect that complexity.
Notable Design Projects
Throughout his career, Mial has worked on numerous significant projects that showcase his versatile design abilities:
- The Cardine Ellsworth Home (built in 1913) – This project earned him the 2007 Landmark Award from the prestigious Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society. The project involved a complete interior and exterior renovation and restoration, adhering to strict HPOZ (Historic Preservation Overlay Zone) guidelines. It included a 2,500 square foot addition with complete landscape redesign and swimming pool installation.
- Siegfried & Roy’s Magician’s Lair and Fantasia – Mial designed spaces for the famous magicians, demonstrating his ability to work with unique and creative clients.
- California beach house – This project showcased Mial’s ability to create designs suited to coastal environments.
- Denver’s Parade of Homes and Show Home for Hope – This project benefited Hospice of Metro Denver, showing Mial’s commitment to using his design talents for charitable causes.
Design Philosophy and Approach
What distinguishes Mial from other designers is his commitment to serving as an “expert creative interpreter” first and a technician second. This approach allows him to remain true to the breadth of creativity while also respecting budget constraints.
Mial’s design philosophy can be summarized as:
- Creating spaces that reflect the client’s personality and lifestyle
- Willing to abandon traditional design rules when necessary
- Taking an eclectic and personalized approach
- Focusing on creating “lifescapes” rather than just interiors
- Balancing creativity with practical budget considerations
His approach has been described as “liberating and unimposing,” allowing clients to express themselves through their living spaces. Mial has also worked with real estate professionals, consulting with high-end custom home builders, contractors, and realtors. He has transformed hundreds of multi-family residential units throughout Southern California from outdated to “marketplace contemporary.”
Corporate executives also seek out Mial’s services to bring warmth and comfort to otherwise cold office environments.
Career in Entertainment
In addition to his work as an interior designer, Mial has maintained a parallel career in the entertainment industry. Since 1995, he has operated as an independent entertainment professional through Dion Mial Entertainment in the Greater Los Angeles Area.
His entertainment work includes:
- Artist management (actors, singers, professional sports figures)
- TV and film packaging
- Development and production
- Music production
- Singing and songwriting
- Directing
- Hosting
- Event planning
Acting Career
Mial himself has appeared in several productions. According to his IMDb profile, he is known for:
- “The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins” (1984) – where he served as a dialogue director
- “The Kid from Left Field” (1979) – where he played a character named Bryan
- “Gary” (2024) – where he appeared as himself, identified as “Gary’s Friend”
- “TV Guide’s Truth Behind the Sitcom Scandals 2” (2000) – where he appeared as himself
While his acting credits are limited, they span several decades, showing his long-term connection to the entertainment industry.
Relationship with Gary Coleman
One of the most significant aspects of Dion Mial’s public profile is his long-standing relationship with the late actor Gary Coleman, best known for his role in the television series “Diff’rent Strokes.”
Role as Coleman’s Manager and Friend
Mial served as Coleman’s manager and was a lifelong friend to the actor. Their relationship extended far beyond professional management, with Mial providing crucial support throughout Coleman’s tumultuous life.
The 2024 Peacock documentary “Gary” highlights Mial’s role in Coleman’s life. According to the documentary, Mial was a confidant who witnessed the harsh realities of fame and its consequences on Coleman. He guided the actor through the transition from being a beloved child star to facing the difficult realities of adult life as his career declined.
Mial’s influence was particularly important during the years when Coleman faced numerous personal and professional challenges, including health problems and legal conflicts. The documentary explores how Mial helped Coleman find work and purpose, with Coleman relying on him for support and advice as he struggled with the aftermath of his fame.
Supporting Coleman Through Health Challenges
Coleman faced significant health issues throughout his life. As revealed in the documentary, “From December 31 of 1985 until his death, Gary lived without a single kidney in his body,” according to Mial. This meant Coleman required regular dialysis treatments and faced numerous health complications.
Mial was also there during Coleman’s mental health struggles. He shared a particularly poignant story in the documentary about receiving a concerning call from Coleman one night around 10:30 p.m., several years after Coleman’s fame as a child actor had waned and he was struggling to find roles due to his age.
According to Mial, Coleman said, “Well, I just wanted to call you to say goodbye. I can’t take this anymore, it’s not worth living, I’m going to kill myself.” When Mial reached Coleman’s house, he found him “sitting alone with a keyboard and he was just tapping single notes at a time,” a stark image of the actor’s isolation and depression.
Legal and Financial Support
Mial also helped Coleman navigate complex legal and financial issues later in his life. As Coleman grew older, he became estranged from his parents and business team after discovering that his finances were being mismanaged.
Mial assisted Coleman in his efforts to regain control of his finances, a process that was challenging and ultimately led to further estrangement from his family. The documentary covers Coleman’s mistrust of those who had managed his career and finances, with Mial becoming one of his few trusted confidants during this difficult period.
Coleman’s Final Days and Aftermath
Mial remained an important part of Coleman’s life until the end. Following Coleman’s death in 2010, Mial was among those who questioned the circumstances surrounding it, particularly the decision to remove Coleman from life support just two days after he suffered a fall.
Mial pointed out that Coleman “didn’t have that far to fall” given he was only 4 feet and 8 inches tall, suggesting skepticism about the severity of the injuries from the fall. He was also critical of Coleman’s ex-wife, Shannon Price, for her actions following Coleman’s death.
In a statement released to the media, Mial blasted Price for “cashing in” on Coleman’s death. When a new will emerged that left everything to Price, Mial challenged its validity. This public stance demonstrated Mial’s continued loyalty to Coleman even after his death, seeking to protect his friend’s legacy and final wishes.
Professional Recognition and Awards
Throughout his career, Mial has received recognition for his work in interior design:
- The 2007 Landmark Award from the Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society for his work on the Cardine Ellsworth Home.
- The Bespoke Award issued by the Juanita A. Portlock Memorial Scholarship Fund, awarded to a Los Angeles interior design professional (sole proprietor/entrepreneur), “For your interior design style and ability to liberate spaces!”
These awards highlight Mial’s skill in both contemporary design and historic restoration, showing his versatility as a designer.
Current Professional Activities
As of 2025, Dion Mial continues to operate his design business, Dion Mial Design, Inc., which he has run since 2007. The company is based in Los Angeles, with offices at 5482 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1534.
His business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and he remains closed on weekends. Mial also maintains his entertainment business, Dion Mial Entertainment, which he has operated since 1995.
Personal Attributes and Skills
Beyond his professional accomplishments, several personal attributes have contributed to Mial’s success:
Cultural Versatility
Mial’s diverse ethnic background and life experiences have given him the ability to connect with people from various backgrounds and generations. This cultural versatility has likely been an asset in both his design work and his entertainment career.
Linguistic Skills
In addition to being a native English speaker, Mial has limited working proficiency in Spanish, which may expand his client base and ability to work with diverse teams.
Communication Style
Often described as the “Dr. Phil of Design,” Mial is known for his straightforward communication style. He “tells it like it is,” which likely helps clients understand his vision and make decisions about their spaces.
Creative Interpretation
Mial’s approach to design emphasizes creative interpretation over technical execution. This prioritization allows him to focus on understanding and expressing his clients’ personalities and needs before addressing the technical aspects of design.
Impact and Legacy
Dion Mial’s career spans multiple decades and industries, leaving a significant impact in several areas:
In Interior Design
Mial has contributed to the field of interior design through his personalized approach that prioritizes the client’s personality and lifestyle. His willingness to break from traditional design rules when necessary represents a more client-centered approach to design that values individual expression over adherence to established norms.
His work on historic restorations, particularly in Los Angeles’ Hancock Park neighborhood, has helped preserve architectural heritage while updating spaces for modern living.
In Entertainment
While perhaps less prominent than his design work, Mial’s contributions to the entertainment industry include not only his own performances but also his work in artist management and production.
His most significant impact in this area may be his support of Gary Coleman, helping the former child star navigate the challenges of fame and its aftermath. The 2024 documentary “Gary” highlights this aspect of Mial’s career, bringing renewed attention to his role in Coleman’s life.
Personal Legacy
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mial’s legacy includes his loyalty and dedication to friends like Gary Coleman. The documentary portrays him as someone who stood by Coleman through difficult times, providing support when many others had abandoned the former star.
This personal loyalty, combined with his professional achievements, paints a picture of a multifaceted individual whose impact extends beyond his business success.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dion Mial
What is Dion Mial known for?
Dion Mial is known for his work as an interior designer specializing in high-end residential properties and for his role as Gary Coleman’s former manager and lifelong friend. He has also worked in the entertainment industry as an actor, producer, and artist manager.
What is Dion Mial’s design philosophy?
Mial’s design philosophy centers on creating spaces that reflect the personality and lifestyle of his clients. He believes in serving as a creative interpreter first and a technician second, sometimes abandoning traditional design rules to better express his clients’ multifaceted personalities.
What awards has Dion Mial received?
Mial received the 2007 Landmark Award from the Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society for his restoration work on the Cardine Ellsworth Home. He has also received the Bespoke Award from the Juanita A. Portlock Memorial Scholarship Fund for his interior design style.
How was Dion Mial connected to Gary Coleman?
Mial served as Gary Coleman’s manager and was a lifelong friend to the actor. He supported Coleman through health challenges, career difficulties, and legal and financial issues. After Coleman’s death, Mial publicly questioned the circumstances surrounding it and challenged the validity of a will that left everything to Coleman’s ex-wife.
Where is Dion Mial’s design business located?
Dion Mial Design, Inc. is based in Los Angeles, with offices at 5482 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1534. Mial operates his business between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Samantha Yates is a creative writer and journalist with expertise in content creation and editing. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and brings professional experience from Lionbridge, where she developed engaging content for leading technology companies
