Dana Plato’s life was filled with challenges from an early age, and heartbreakingly, her son experienced a similar path. Both mother and son faced struggles that led to tragic, untimely ends. Here’s a glimpse into the trials of the beloved actress’s life and the hardships her son endured after her loss.
Dana Plato would have celebrated her 60th birthday today. Rising to fame as a teenage star on the popular sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes,” which ran for eight successful seasons, she became a beloved teen idol.
Unfortunately, the pressures of fame led her into a downward spiral during her youth, leaving her with financial difficulties and even resulting in an arrest.
Dana’s childhood appeared bright, yet it was underpinned by instability. Her cousin, Kim Jaafil, described her as “always an outgoing, bubbly kid, very happy and well-adjusted,” but the TV star’s life was far from secure.
She was adopted at birth by Dean and Kay Plato after her biological mother, Linda Strain, then just 17, gave her up. Dana’s adoptive parents split before she turned four, and her father, Dean, had little involvement in her life thereafter, aside from a failed attempt in 1984 to obtain financial support from her.
Kay, who managed Dana’s career, was diagnosed with a rare blood disease shortly after adopting her and, according to Kim, “wanted to give Dana everything while she was still around.”
Dana’s career started at just six years old, with around 250 commercials under her belt before she landed her role on “Diff’rent Strokes” at 13. She played Kimberly Drummond from 1978 to 1984.
Her manager during those years, Sy Levin, shared insight into her emotional challenges, explaining, “She was always insecure … it was always Coleman, then it was Todd. Then it was her.,” referring to her co-stars on the show.
Despite her outward success, Dana’s childhood was marked by the insecurities of a young star grappling with fame and her place within it.
As Dana’s career progressed, troubling behaviors surfaced. At just 14, she overdosed on Valium, and by 15, she was arriving on set intoxicated, often appearing “in a daze, in a funk,” as “Diff’rent Strokes” producer Al Burton recalled in an interview.
She fell pregnant at a young age, which ended her role on the show. Co-star Conrad Bain voiced concern over her decision, noting she “deliberately got pregnant” and was enthusiastic about it, telling him, “When I get the baby, I will never be alone again.” For Dana, motherhood seemed to offer a sense of companionship that her life had been lacking.
Despite her hardships, the celebrity’s love for her son, Tyler Lambert, remained steadfast. Born in 1984 shortly after her marriage to musician Lanny Lambert, Dana later shared, “I would never trade Tyler for anything.”
After their divorce in 1989, however, custody went to Tyler’s father due to Dana’s ongoing struggles with substance abuse. Reflecting on the decision, she admitted, “I was making him crazy, so I sent him away.”
Yet, the California native always held onto hope of reuniting with her son, deeply desiring the “unconditional love” that only motherhood brought her.
Dana’s challenges escalated by 1991, leading her to a low-wage job at a dry cleaners. In a desperate attempt to make ends meet, she tried to rob a video store near her home, wearing only a hat and sunglasses as a disguise.
Store clerk Heather Dailey recognized her immediately but handed over $160 before calling 911, saying, “I’ve just been robbed by the girl who played Kimberly on “Diff’rent Strokes.” Police arrested Dana minutes later, retrieving her after she returned for a pair of glasses she’d dropped in 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 atmosphere and kept a low profile, with campers only gradually recognizing her as the actress from “Diff’rent Strokes.”
Dana formed a friendship with resident Charles Inman, even showing him a black choker she’d worn on the show. On May 1, that year, she and Robert left the campground, with the actress expressing hopes of reviving her career.
Just before her passing, Dana appeared on Howard Stern’s national radio show, where she faced ridicule and skepticism about her sobriety. Though she claimed to have been clean for a decade, one listener called in, saying she sounded “speedy” and accusing her of being high.
Howard asked if she missed drinking, to which she openly replied, “Yes, I do,” but emphasized that she now chose healthy outlets like going to the gym. Dana even offered to take a urine test, remarking that while she didn’t owe it to anyone, she didn’t mind proving her sobriety.
When another caller questioned her personal life, she defended herself, saying, “I’m tired of defending my character. I know who I am. What you see is what you get.”
The TV star also shared that she had left city life and previously dedicated time to community service, including feeding the homeless three times a week in Los Angeles. After her honest and emotional appearance on Howard’s show, Dana seemed to seek solace by reconnecting with loved ones.
During a Mother’s Day visit to Oklahoma with her boyfriend and manager, Robert, she unfortunately fell ill after taking Valium and Lortab to relieve pain.
She slept in their RV, where Robert later joined her, noticing she felt cold and sweaty. When he woke up, he found her unresponsive. Despite efforts by his mother, a nurse technician, to revive her with CPR, Dana passed away on May 8, 1999.
Dana’s death deeply impacted her son, Tyler, who was only 14 at the time. According to his grandmother, Joan Richardson, he struggled for years to cope, turning to drugs and alcohol to numb his pain.
“These past 10 years have been pure hell,” Joan shared in a 2010 interview, explaining that Tyler’s grief was overwhelming. He tragically took his own life that year, leaving behind a note saying 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 revealed the lasting impact of her mom’s passing, but throughout her life, Dana had people who sought to support her and offer stability.
Her former mother-in-law, Joan, was one of them, always ready to welcome the star into her Tulsa home. “I was very fond of her,” said Joan, noting, “We were her only family.”
Dana Plato’s life was marked by early fame and profound personal struggles that left an enduring impact on those who loved her. Her legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges young stars can face behind the scenes, often hidden beneath the glimmer of Hollywood.
