And we would always invite some people over. She started living in a mobile home with her manager and fiance, Robert Menchaca. In a last-ditch attempt to revive her career, Plato hired a new accountant to manage her money and had breast augmentation surgery. [10][11], Dana Plato was born Dana Michelle Strain on November 7, 1964, in Maywood, California, to Linda Strain, a teenager who was already caring for an 18-month-old child. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The 25-year-old Tyler was Plato's son with Lanny Lambert. After Steven, the couple sired eight more children, and lived with them on welfare in an apartment above a shop. Another acclaimed actor who never got old, or even middle-aged, was River Phoenix, whose death of an accidental overdose at 23 sent a bolt ofsadness through Hollywood. What Really Happened to the Class of '65? Oops, we were unable to send the email. So while Linda Blair went on to huge stardom, Dana was left with roles in flicks like 1975's "Beyond the Bermuda Triangle." Plato made her film debut at the age of 13, appearing as Sandra Phalor in the horror film Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), for which she was uncredited, and also starred as Evie Joe in the horror film Return to Boggy Creek in the same year;[15] both films were received negatively by critics. Grandson of Linda Strain. That same year, she was defrauded by her accountant, who was never prosecuted. "I've never been happier. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. She chose the latter, and landed her big break in Hollywood playing Kimberly Drummond on the NBC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. Please reset your password. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. Tyler was born a year later. She then starred in the 1975 made for television film Beyond the Bermuda Triangle. EU Users: Click here to revoke your choice, California Notice / Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It was a cool moment.". It's Me, Margaret (2023) - Movie Review, Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979) - Blu-ray Review, Joaquin Phoenix 911 Call - River Phoenix - Viper Room. Plato died of a drug overdose in May 1999. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. And then I was, like, 'I don't live too far from here. Plimpton, meanwhile, is an example of an actress who's enjoying the fourth decade of her career after getting her start as a kid. Plato violated the terms of her probation, however, by forging prescriptions for Valium. She came to fame as a child star but found out soon enough that early fame often has its own pitfalls. Plato and Lanny Lambert married in 1984 and divorced in 1990. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Lanny's romantic association with actress Dana Plato is over but Lanny is still remembered as Dana Plato's husband. She turned plenty of heads with her scintillating performance in the 1997 straight-to-video epic "Different Strokes." On May 7, 1999, Plato made an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, where she announced that she was engaged to 28-year-old Robert Menchaca, and that he was managing her career. So she gave me a ride to my pad. Dana Plato was born on November 7, 1964, in Maywood, California. And when the toxicology reports come in, I'm sure they will show something.". Dana was priming the pump for another shot at the big time that included an interview with Howard Stern. The Tulsa, Okla., office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to ABCNews.com that Lambert died last week from a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. "It's a shame that such a talented human being would do this with his life," his paternal grandmother, Joni Richardson, who had helped raised him, told People at the time. All rights reserved. Which 'Stranger Things' Character Are You? speaks out against the above mentioned and. He didn't study his lines. Following Diff'rent Strokes, she worked sporadically in independent film and B movies, and led the horror game Night Trap (1992) as Kelli Medd. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,.css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}contact us! The iconic entertainer, who was 17 when she starred inThe Wizard of Oz, died of a barbiturate overdose at 47. There was an error deleting this problem. I probably shouldn't say that, but, yeah, I was doing that. So she had some friends that came over. Tyler tried to get over losing his mum at such a young age, but he also became a victim of his mother's death. Is. There was a problem getting your location. This was the only way he felt he could have a part of her with him. She revealed her new, mature image in a 1989 Playboy photo shoot, but no big Hollywood offers came as a result of the magazine spread. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). True Hollywood Story. Fans of Renfro were understandably outragedwhen he wasn't included in the Oscars' in memoriam tribute that year. Actress Dana Michelle Strain was born on November 7, 1964, in Maywood, California. We had a moment. "I think he was the best. Sorry! But his financial troubles, including a bankruptcy filing in 1999, continued to be notorious, and he worked as much as he couldand shows were usually happy to have him, such as when he was on The Hughleys in an episode called "Whatchoo Stalkin' About, Willis?" Dana was helped by Las Vegas singer, Wayne Newton, who posted the $13,000 bail for her. "But he could just do stuff like that, and he was young. "I am what I am. Astrological Sign: Scorpio, Death Year: 1999, Death date: May 8, 1999, Death State: Oklahoma, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Dana Plato Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/dana-plato, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: September 15, 2022, Original Published Date: April 3, 2014. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In the days leading up to Lambert's suicide, a long-time family friend told Whitaker that Lambert had "become very withdrawn and hadn't talked to anybody for three or four days." "I took an 11-year break back to Canada," Haim sarcastically explained his absence from acting to GQ in 2008. He was 42 and had lived a fraught life since the peak of hisDiff'rent Strokes fame, buoyed by his endlessly parroted catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?". 1 child. He recalled being raped at 3 by the brother of his father's not-so-secret girlfriend. Oops, something didn't work. [31] She had breast implants and modeled for a June 1989 Playboy pictorial. She also started her career very early. Granato, Pontbriand, and Sorrentino are both musically active in South Florida. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. In 2006, he sued her fianc in a wrongful death lawsuit. Family members linked to this person will appear here. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? "I remember sitting in hotel rooms, opening capsules, emptying out the drugs, and filling the capsules with sugar. ", "My life is so good now," she added. Lanny Lambert is a rock guitarist who is famous as the former partner of Dana Michelle Plato, an American actress who is an influential "teen idol" of the late 1970s and 1980s. Suggest an edit or add missing content. What you see is what you get. Coleman, 42, has had a number of health emergencies this year, including a seizure he suffered on the set of "The Insider" in February. After his death from what turned out to be acute multiple drug toxicity, including cocaine and heroin, the image of him changed toanother former child actor whose life went recklessly off the railsbut those close to himsaw a young man in pain, anatural at acting who wasn't dealing healthily with the ramifications of fame. Plato married the father of her child, rocker Lanny Lambert, in April of that year. [10][11], Plato separated from Lambert in January 1988, the same week her mother died of scleroderma. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Dino added that his brush with Plato will be included in his upcoming book, which he is "slowly" working on. Stann performs in Edison, NJ with the artist Southside Johnny. Meanwhile, legal and substance abuse problems plagued the actress. In June 1965, the seven-month-old Dana was adopted by Dean Plato, who owned a trucking company, and his wife Florine "Kay" Plato. Following her appearance in the film, in the same year, Plato appeared in a cover story of the lesbian lifestyle-magazine Girlfriends. Songfacts: The songwriters Lanny Lambert and Bobby Flax composed this tale of an imminent breakup at the hands of a manipulative girlfriend. With her pregnancy, they eventually wrote her character out of the "Diff'rent Strokes" series. Dana never made an impact on the TV screen until she landed the role of Kimberly Drummond in the TV hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (1978) from 1978 . (she had said in more recent interviews that she was not a lesbian and was only experimenting). Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. She also could've been Regan inThe Exorcist, but Plato's mother didn't think it would've been an appropriate working environment for a child. I will never forget you and love you forever. 2023 E! After the mid '70s they became a successful pop disco songwriting duo. Lanny Lambert and Dana Plato were married for 5 years. Her first excursion into the film world occurred when she was 11 in the television film Beyond the Bermuda Triangle (1975). the alien came thru the airshaft; that's where it shoved the body." Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. (April 21, 1984 - March 15, 1990) (divorced) (1 child) In December 1983, Plato moved in with her boyfriend, rock guitarist Lanny Lambert. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Tyler was a cameraman and amateur songwriter. In 1981, Plato appeared in the television special A Step in Time,[27] which earned her a second Young Artist Award nomination. She fell into drug addiction and died of an overdose in 1999. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. But Renfro would still manage todrinkat night. Lambert, 25, committed suicide on May 6, just days before Mother's Day and the 11th anniversary of Plato's 1999 death from a drug overdose. Dana Plato at the Video Software Dealers Association Convention on July 24, 1994 in Las Vegas | Photo: Getty Images. Dana Plato died in this RV outside the home of her fiancee's parents in Moore Oklahoma. He had been out that night with his girlfriend Samantha Mathis, who he had just co-starred with in The Thing Called Love, and his then 19-year-old brother Joaquin Phoenix. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. To cope with the pressures of their newly found fame, Plato and her young co-stars began living a hedonistic lifestyle off-set, indulging in pot and cocaine after hours. She was let off easy, facing no jail time and only five years of probation. "I did say, 'You know your mother had a problem, which means you may have a problem because it is a family disease,'" said Whitaker, a former child actor who played Jody on "Family Affair" and is now a certified drug counselor. He'd say things like, 'Nobody can put up with me 'cause I'm too hot to handle.'" Dana Plato on the set of "Letting Go" | Photo: Getty Images. In January of 1992 she was arrested for forging Valium prescriptions. "I'm not just saying that nowI said that before he died. The two married in April 1984 but separated in January 1988, a week after her adoptive mother's death. She was released from her contract later that year. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [13], Plato made her television acting debut at the age of 10, making a brief appearance on the NBC television show The Six Million Dollar Man. In 1991 she was arrested attempting to rob a video store at gunpoint, and the following year she was arrested for forging a Valium prescription. "Tyler wanted to. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. In 1993, she spent a month in a drug and alcohol rehab center in Las Vegas - one of several times she went into rehab. "I've been around a lot of addicts and alcoholics, and I remember thinking at the time, this is one of the worst cases I've ever seen," Clark said. He made the complaint in Clark County, Nevada, three days before the seventh anniversary of her death. The couple married on April 24, 1984, and their only child, Tyler Edward Lambert, was born on July 2, 1984. [12], At a very young age, Plato began attending auditions with her mother, and at seven years old had appeared in over 100 television commercials. "Dana Plato, 34, Star of 'Diff'rent Strokes', "Diff'rent Strokes' Todd Bridges Remembers Dana Plato on What Would've Been Her 55th Birthday: 'You're Free My friend', "The Most Heartbreaking Teen Star Tragedies", "AmIAnnoying.com - VH-1's 100 Greatest Kid Stars", "Inside the Most Heartbreaking Teen Star Tragedies", "Tragic Story behind 'Diff'rent Strokes' Star Dana Plato's Death That Greatly Affected Her Son", "Dana Plato's son, Tyler Lambert, commits suicide 11 years after 'Diff'rent Strokes' star overdosed", "Growing Pains: The Trials and Tribulations of 1980s TV Child Stars", "Late 'Diff'Rent Strokes' Star Dana Plato Once Revealed That Mom Kept Her in a 'Plastic Bubble', "Exorcist director says sequel is 'one of the worst films I've ever seen', "California Suite (1978) - Financial Information", "Dana Plato About This Person Movies & TV", "Stars of yesterday team with those of today", "Stars who struggled to find success after being on a hit TV show", "The Making Of Night Trap, The World's Most Famous Video Game Nasty", "Corey Haim and 10 Other Troubled 1980s Child Stars", "Controversial '90s Game 'Night Trap' Coming to Nintendo Switch", "Different Strokes: The Story of Jack & Jill and Jill (1998)", "20 Actor Mamas Who Were Written Out Due To Their Pregnancies", "Dana Plato's final interview with Howard Stern", "VIDEO VAULT: Child actress Dana Plato robs a Vegas video store in 1991", "Stern: Dana Tried Desperately To Dodge Drug Test", "Death of 'Diff'rent Strokes' Actress Ruled A Suicide", "Death of Actress Dana Plato in Oklahoma Ruled a Suicide", "Doctor rules Dana Plato's death suicide", "Long Island News From the Long Island Press", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dana_Plato&oldid=1152510895, Actresses from Los Angeles County, California, American people convicted of drug offenses, Articles with dead external links from October 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2023, Turner Classic Movies person ID same as Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Best Young Actress in a Television Special, This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 17:39. The Most Cringe-Worthy Red Carpet Looks From 2002. Dana Plato was a child actress on the television show Diff'rent Strokes. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends). He was cremated with no memorial service. According to CBS News, a rep for Price didn't refute that claim, only saying that she was indeed in need of money. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. "He wasn't ready to work on it.". She had stolen $164. Within three years, he was using and selling crack cocaine and methamphetamine, partly to numb himself from the memory of being molested by his former publicist. At the end of the film, where Bridges and Coleman appear, they stand near Plato's grave. Add to your scrapbook. During an appearance on a recent episode of "The Ex-Man" podcast, FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares recounted an encounter he had in 1985 or 1986 with former child actress Dana Plato, who played Kimberly Drummond on the 1980s television show "Diff'rent Strokes", while he was working at a sandwich shop in Los Angeles. This is a carousel with slides. She was 34 when she died. Tyler Lambert was born on 2 July 1984 in California, USA. Having landed the role of Kimberly Drummond in "Diff'rent Strokes" in 1978, she quickly became a child star of the '80s. Former Child Stars Nominated for Emmy Awards, Reality TV Curse: 23 Divorces That Came After Cameras Invaded, The Sad, Public Struggles of Etika and More Shocking YouTube Star Tragedies, Inside the Endlessly Bizarre Aftermath of Brittany Murphy's Sudden Death, Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images, Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images, speaking out on behalf of those who didn't. But he also said Lambert thought he had a closer relatonship with his mother than he really did. An influential "teen idol" of the late 1970s and early 1980s,[4][5] Plato was recognized for her television work, for which she was included on VH1's list of "100 Greatest Kid Stars".[6]. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. [41] During her March 1990 divorce, Plato lost custody of her son to Lambert and was given visitation rights. I just saw the whole movie going down the drain.". Lanny Lambert. "Dana passed away because of the disease. He got Plato pregnant in 1984 and the producers felt teen pregnancy did not fit into the show's image. Was a cameraman and amateur songwriter. She married spouse, Lanny Lambert from 1984 to 1990. In 1991, she was arrested attempting to rob a video store at gunpoint, and the following year she was arrested for forging a Valium prescription. Plato was only 34 years old at the time of her passing. According to vocalist Ernie Sorrentino, he was asked to provide a lead vocal for the Lanny Lambert and Bobby Flax song, "White Lies, Blue Eyes," which had been recorded with studio instrumentalists some weeks before with Flax and Lambert singing harmony vocals. Dana landed roles on over 100 TV commercials as a child, including appearances for KFC, Arco and Dole bananas. Johnny Whitaker, Plato's former manager and a friend of the family, told ABCNews.com he once tried to intervene in Lambert's drug use. Dana Plato. She was also featured in more than a dozen movies, including some soft pornography roles. Platoposed nude forPlayboy in 1989 and dabbled in soft-core adult entertainment, anything perhaps to reboot her career. Career Difficulties After the birth of her son, Tyler, Plato had a difficult time establishing a career that . He was a very natural actor. May 13, 2010— -- Tyler Lambert once aspired to follow his famous mother, "Diff'rent Strokes" actress Dana Plato, into show business. While there, she complained of tiredness and the need to rest. By the age of 7, Dana was appearing in television commercials and films, as well as training to be a figure skater. I know her. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Contribute to this page. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. ", "As River grew, he did become more and more uncomfortable being the poster boy for all good things," mom Heart Phoenix toldEsquire in 1994. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Search above to list available cemeteries. His grandmother also found a note among his belongings. Plato attempted to establish herself as a serious actress, but found it difficult to achieve success. "If I hadn't gotten caught, it could have been the worst thing that happened to me because I could have died of a drug overdose," she said in an interview. (Dana did grab a small part in "Exorcist II: The Heretic," a film that has been voted one of the worst of all time. After their divorce in 1990, Lambert took custody of their son, who later suffered from depression and shot himself in the head. Plato had a son, Tyler, with her former husband, rock guitarist Lanny Lambert. Gary Coleman poses for a portrait with co-stars Dana Plato and Todd Bridges while studying on the set of his show 'Diff'rent Strokes' in February 1980 in Los Angeles | Photo: Getty Images. Nov 1983 - Mar 1990. Her death was a tragic coda to what was unarguably a hard life, fleeting perks of fame aside. After their divorce in 1990, Lambert took custody of their son, who later suffered from depression and shot himself in the head. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Life took a turn for the worse in 1988, when her mother died the same week that she and her husband split up. John knew us and asked us to be part of Bullet along with Sorrentino and a drummer named Mike Micara. "I don't know if that was true, but I remember him saying that. She was later married to actor and producer Scott Atkins (Scotty Gelt) in Vancouver for one month before the marriage was annulled. Micara went on to record and tour with Gary U.S. Bonds and play drums on film soundtracks before changing careers to public-school teaching. Try again later. [44] Entertainer Wayne Newton posted her $13,000 bail,[43] and Plato was given five years' probation. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Children. advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. She was found dead in her RV, which she shared with fiancee Robert Menchaca, during a visit with family in Oklahoma. I was to call my father or someone elseNEVER an ambulance because it would get into the press.". Drafted 25th overall in the second round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, Lambert played 283 games in the NHL for the Quebec Nordiques, New York Rangers, and Detroit Red Wings between 1983 and 1989. Plato subsequently appeared in the horror films Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) and Return to Boggy Creek (1977), playing Sandra Phalor and Evie Jo, respectively. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Son of actress Dana Plato & musician Lanny Lambert.Tyler was a cameraman and amateur songwriter.He is survived by his father, Lanny Lambert and Grandmother, Joni Richardson.He was cremated with no memorial service.Cause of Death:Self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. [14][24] She made a one episode appearance on season 8 episode 12 of "The Love Boat". Her acting career began with numerous commercial appearances, and her television debut came at the age of 10 with a brief appearance on the television series The Six Million Dollar Man (1975). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52311945/tyler-edward-lambert. Dana Plato Age + Biography + Death. 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