Teen Actress Dana Plato, Iconic in the 70s and Early 80s, Passes Away at 34 Years Old
Dana Plato, the former actress from the popular sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, met a tragic end in 1999, leaving many in disbelief. At just 34 years old, her demise was far from unexpected given her tumultuous journey in life.
A California native, Plato was adopted by Dean and Kay Plato before picking up acting at a young age. Casting calls with her mother eventually landed Plato the coveted role of Kimberly Drummond on NBC's Diff'rent Strokes. The show skyrocketed her to fame alongside her co-stars, Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges.
Early fame, however, brought forth its own perils. Plato freely admitted to experimenting with drugs and alcohol alongside her co-stars. As the years went on, her career took a nose dive as she fell deeper into substance abuse and personal turmoil.
By the 1990s, Plato's life was a messy mix of personal and financial woes. She was fired from Diff'rent Strokes during her pregnant years, and her attempts to make a successful return to the business were largely unsuccessful. With rising drug addiction and alcoholism consuming her life, she found herself in legal trouble for events such as robbing a Las Vegas video store.
Despite multiple opportunities to seek help, Plato seemed to hit rock bottom when her husband left her and her mother passed away. The 1980s were not kind to her, with her finances draining away due to her accountant's embezzlement.
In a last-ditch effort to turn her life around, Plato moved to Las Vegas in pursuit of renewed success. However, her luck continued to sour as she wound up facing more legal trouble and a forgery conviction.
Dana Plato's tragic end came on May 8, 1999, in an RV in Moore, Oklahoma. Police initially suspected an accidental death, but a medical examiner later ruled it a suicide. Reports suggested that drugs, including Soma and a generic form of Lortab, were found in her system, and her history of suicidal tendencies played a role in the final determination.
Although Dana Plato's life was short-lived, her death left a lasting impression, particularly on her son Tyler Lambert who was just 14 years old at the time. The traumatic loss seemed to have serious repercussions on Tyler's life.
Tragically, Tyler would also succumb to drug abuse and took his own life two days before the anniversary of his mother's death in 2010. The impact of a parent's passing at such a young age can be profound and long-lasting.
This is the sad tale of Dana Plato, a star who succumbed to Hollywood's dark side. For more heartbreaking stories of former child stars, continue reading.
[After learning about Dana Plato, delve further into the tragic story of Judith Barsi, a 10-year-old actress who was horrifically murdered by her own father. Discover additional heartbreaking stories of former child stars.]
The tragic death of Dana Plato, a former child star from Diff'rent Strokes, was shocking to many, especially given her tumultuous journey in life that was marked by early fame, personal turmoil, and substance abuse. Her passion for acting began at a young age, and she rose to fame alongside celebrities like Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges in the world of pop-culture and entertainment.
