Dana Plato’s tragic story is one that seems far too familiar for child stars.
Hers is the classic tale of a young sensation who had it all, but who quickly went off the rails and ended up in a world of drugs and poverty before dying much too soon.
Born in 1964 in California, Dana’s birth name was Dana Michelle Strain but she was adopted by Dean and Kay Plato when she was still a baby. When Dean and Kay got divorced, Dana was brought up by her adopted mum.
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Kay was keen to get Dana into the world of Hollywood and showbiz, and she took the youngster to a bunch of casting calls. Dana picked up several minor roles in commercials, TV and film – and then, aged 13, she struck gold when she was offered the role of Kimberly Drummond on Diff’rent Strokes, alongside stars such as Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges.
(Image: NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Almost overnight, she became a national sensation. With top-billing on the show, she was even nominated for a Young Artist Award.
But like many others who have trod the same path in the Hollywood spotlight, fame brought its temptations, and it wasn’t long before Dana’s world involved booze, weed and cocaine.
She moved in with the musician Lanny Lambert in 1983, aged 19, and soon fell pregnant with her son Tyler – and that was the end of her time in Diff’rent Strokes. It might be hard to believe in today’s celebrity world, but back then, the producers thought her personal life was too seedy for the show, so she was written out.
(Image: NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
She returned as a guest star on a few occasions and picked up a number of other roles, but nothing as big as her permanent part on Diff’rent Strokes. In her efforts to move away from her child star roots, she began to take on a series of more risque jobs, getting a boob job before posing for Playboy and later in life, she appeared nude in Prime Suspect and even starred in an erotic thriller named after Diff’rent Strokes.
And off-screen, things had also taken a downturn. Dana and Lanny had got hitched in 1984, but they separated in 1988 in what was a traumatic week for the actress. As well as her marriage falling apart, it was the same week that her mum died.
She gave an accountant control of her finances but he allegedly then did a runner with virtually all her money, leaving her with the equivalent of about £120,000 – a far cry from the fortune she’d made as a teenage star.
(Image: Bettmann Archive)
And when her divorce from Lanny went through in 1990, he got custody of Tyler and she was given only visiting rights.
It was around this point that Dana really went off the rails. She was married to actor and producer Scott Atkins for just one month, and later got engaged to her manager, Robert Menchaca, and lived with him in a motorhome in Florida.
In February 1991, she robbed a Las Vegas video store with a pellet gun, prompting the member of staff to call the cops and say: “I’ve just been robbed by the girl who played Kimberly on Diff’rent Strokes.” Dana returned to the scene of the crime a short while later and was immediately nicked.
(Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
She was eventually given five years’ probation but she didn’t learn her lesson, and she was arrested again the following year for forging a prescription. She was banged up for 30 days.
Dana eventually found herself working at a dry cleaners’ in Las Vegas – the epitome of a child star who had it all but whose life had completely fallen apart.
(Image: Getty Images)
In May 1999, the day before she died, she went on the Howard Stern Show and spoke candidly about her troubles. But when she claimed she’d been sober for more than a decade and the only drugs she used were prescription painkillers, listeners called in to tell her they didn’t believe her. Dana even offered to take a drugs test on air.
(Image: NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
But although she allowed a strand of her hair to be cut for testing, Howard later said she begged him not to test it as soon as they were off the air. “That’s when I knew she was lying,” he said.
The next day she and Robert were visiting his mum when Dana said she felt unwell. She took various drugs and went to lie down with Robert in their motorhome. When he woke up, he found her dead. She was just 34.
(Image: Getty Images)
There’s been disagreement over the coroner’s ruling, which was that she’d taken her own life. Some of her pals insist it was an accidental OD.
Dana was part of the so-called curse of Diff’rent Strokes, which also affected fellow child stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges.
Gary, who played Arnold Jackon, sued his parents and former manager and eventually went bankrupt before getting a lengthy criminal record. He died in 2010. Todd, who played Willis Jackson, ended up with drug problems and his own criminal record.
(Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Even beyond the grave, Dana’s legacy has been one of tragedy. In 2010, two days before the 11th anniversary of her death, her son Tyler – who had also turned to drugs – took his own life at the age of just 25.
On what would have been Dana’s 55th birthday in 2019, Todd Bridges posted on Twitter: “You were the one person I could always talk to. You were one of my best friends. I will never forget you and love you forever. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dana Plato RIP, you are free my friend.”
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
