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Dana Plato

Actor

Dana Plato

Born November 7, 1964 in Maywood, California, USADied May 8, 199920 films

Dana Michelle Plato (November 7, 1964 — May 8, 1999) was born in Maywood, California. Dana made an impact on the TV screen when she landed the role of Kimberly Drummond in the TV hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (1978) from 1978-1986. After the series ended, Dana had difficulty finding more acting work. Sometimes she would act in a made-for-TV movie or a low- budget silver-screen film. She was married for Lanny Lambert for seven years and they had a son.

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Plato was arrested in 1991 for robbing a Las Vegas video store and placed on probation; the next year she was arrested again, this time for forging a Valium prescription. She had just finished an interview with Howard Stern in the spring of 1999 when she and her fiancé, Robert Menchaca, were headed back to California. She hoped the interview would revive her stalled career. They stopped at his parents' house in Moore, Oklahoma for a Mother's-Day-weekend visit; on Saturday, May 8, 1999, Dana died of what appeared to be an accidental overdose of the painkiller "Loritab". On May 21, a coroner's inquest ruled her death a suicide because of the large amount of drugs in her body and her history of past suicide attempts. She was 34 years old.

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The best way into Dana Plato's work
California Suite posterFirst watchCalifornia Suite19785.9as JennyThe misadventures of four groups of guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Exorcist II: The Heretic poster4.5Exorcist II: The Heretic1977

Filmography

20 films as actor
  1. 2002Pacino is MissingProsecuting Attorney
  2. 1998TigerAndrea Baker
  3. 1998Different StrokesJill Martin
  4. 1998The HostageLeslie
  5. 1997Blade Boxer
  6. 1995Lethal CowboyElizabeth
  7. 1995Compelling EvidenceDana Fields
  8. 1995Millenium DayPacifica
  9. 1994Silent Fury
  10. 1992Night TrapKelly
  11. 1992Bikini Beach RaceJ.D.
  12. 1992DistortionsDeborah Nichols
  13. 1989Prime SuspectDiana Masters
  14. 1983High School U.S.A.Cara Ames
  15. 1982Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th AnniversaryDaughter
  16. 1980Schoolboy FatherDaisy Dallenger
  17. 1978California SuiteJenny
  18. 1977Return to Boggy CreekEvie Jo
  19. 1977Exorcist II: The HereticSandra Phalor (uncredited)
  20. 1975Beyond the Bermuda TriangleWendy