Dana Plato’s life was marked by difficulties from a young age, and sadly, her son faced similar challenges. Both mother and son endured struggles that ultimately led to their tragic, premature deaths. This summary highlights the hardships of the actress’s life and the struggles her son faced after her passing.
Dana Plato would have turned 60 today. She rose to fame as a teen star on the hit sitcom Diff’rent Strokes, which ran for eight seasons, earning her a beloved status as a teen idol. However, the pressures of fame took a toll on her, leading to a troubled period in her life, including financial struggles and an arrest.
Dana’s childhood seemed promising, but it was marked by instability. Her cousin, Kim Jaafil, described her as a happy and outgoing child, well-adjusted despite the challenges. Dana was adopted at birth by Dean and Kay Plato after her biological mother, Linda Strain, gave her up at the age of 17. However, her adoptive parents separated before she was four, and her father, Dean, had little involvement in her life, only making a failed attempt to get financial support from her in 1984.
Kay, who managed Dana’s career, was diagnosed with a rare blood disease shortly after adopting her. According to Kim, Kay was determined to give Dana everything she could while she was still alive. Dana’s career began at the age of six, starring in around 250 commercials before landing her iconic role as Kimberly Drummond on Diff’rent Strokes at 13. She played the character from 1978 to 1984.
Dana’s emotional struggles were evident, as her manager Sy Levin explained that she was often insecure, constantly comparing herself to her co-stars, Coleman and Todd. Despite her success, she wrestled with her place in the spotlight.
As Dana’s career continued, troubling behaviors emerged. At just 14, she overdosed on Valium, and by 15, she was often intoxicated on set, appearing “in a daze” as producer Al Burton recalled.
Her pregnancy at a young age led to her departure from Diff’rent Strokes. Co-star Conrad Bain expressed concern over her decision, noting that Dana seemed to deliberately seek pregnancy, saying it would ensure she would “never be alone again.” For Dana, motherhood appeared to offer the companionship she had longed for throughout her tumultuous life.
Despite the challenges she faced, Dana’s love for her son, Tyler Lambert, remained unwavering. Born in 1984 shortly after Dana’s marriage to musician Lanny Lambert, she later expressed, “I would never trade Tyler for anything.”
However, after their divorce in 1989, custody was granted to Tyler’s father due to Dana’s ongoing struggles with substance abuse. Reflecting on the situation, she admitted, “I was making him crazy, so I sent him away.”
Nonetheless, Dana never lost hope of reuniting with her son, yearning for the “unconditional love” that motherhood had always given her.
By 1991, Dana’s struggles had deepened, and she was working a low-wage job at a dry cleaners. In a desperate attempt to make ends meet, she tried to rob a nearby video store, disguising herself with just a hat and sunglasses.
The store clerk, Heather Dailey, recognized Dana right away but still handed over $160 before calling 911, saying, “I’ve just been robbed by the girl who played Kimberly on Diff’rent Strokes.” Dana was arrested minutes later when she returned to the store to retrieve a pair of glasses she had dropped during her escape.
In the final months of her life in 1999, Dana found a brief sense of peace while staying at Magnolia Beach Campground in Florida with her boyfriend, Robert Menchaca. She enjoyed the quiet surroundings, keeping a low profile, and only gradually being recognized as the actress from Diff’rent Strokes.
During her time there, she formed a friendship with resident Charles Inman, even showing him a black choker she had worn on the show. On May 1, Dana and Robert left the campground, with Dana expressing hopes of reviving her career.
Before her passing, Dana made an appearance on Howard Stern’s national radio show, where she faced skepticism about her sobriety. Although she claimed to have been clean for a decade, a listener called in, accusing her of being high, as she sounded “speedy.”When Howard Stern asked if she missed drinking, Dana openly replied, “Yes, I do,” but stressed that she had chosen healthier outlets, like going to the gym, instead. She also offered to take a urine test to prove her sobriety, noting that while she didn’t owe it to anyone, she didn’t mind showing that she was clean.
Dana also shared that she had left city life behind and had dedicated time to community service, including feeding the homeless three times a week in Los Angeles. After her candid and emotional appearance on Howard Stern’s show, she seemed to seek comfort by reconnecting with loved ones.
During a Mother’s Day visit to Oklahoma with her boyfriend and manager, Robert Menchaca, she tragically fell ill after taking Valium and Lortab to manage pain. She slept in their RV, where Robert later joined her and noticed she felt cold and sweaty. When he woke up, he found her unresponsive. Despite efforts from his mother, a nurse technician, to revive her with CPR, Dana passed away on May 8, 1999.
When another caller questioned her personal life, Dana defended herself, stating, “I’m tired of defending my character. I know who I am. What you see is what you get.”
Dana’s death had a profound impact on her son, Tyler, who was just 14 at the time. According to his grandmother, Joan Richardson, Tyler struggled for years to cope with the loss, turning to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain.
In a 2010 interview, Joan shared that the grief was overwhelming, and Tyler’s life became increasingly difficult. Tragically, Tyler took his own life that year, leaving behind a note expressing that he only felt happy when he was “real high” or “real drunk.” To keep his mother close, he had even incorporated her ashes into tattoos on his arm and hand, hoping to carry a part of her with him.
Tyler’s struggles highlighted the lasting impact of Dana’s passing, but throughout her life, she had people who tried to offer support and stability.
Joan, Dana’s former mother-in-law, was one of the people who consistently offered support, always ready to welcome Dana into her Tulsa home. “I was very fond of her,” Joan said, adding, “We were her only family.” Joan’s love and care provided a sense of stability for Dana, especially in her later years.
Dana Plato’s life was defined by early fame and deep personal struggles, leaving a lasting impact on those who loved her. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges young stars often face behind the scenes, hidden beneath the glitter of Hollywood. Her legacy underscores the complexities of fame and the personal toll it can take on those who navigate it.
Dana Plato’s life was defined by early fame and deep personal struggles, leaving a lasting impact on those who loved her. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges young stars often face behind the scenes, hidden beneath the glitter of Hollywood. Her legacy underscores the complexities of fame and the personal toll it can take on those who navigate it.
