Biography

Episode Description

Episode 12

Dana Plato

Chronicles the tragic life of the Diff'rent Strokes star who died of a drug overdose at 35. Born to an unwed, teenage mother, Plato was put up for adoption. She appeared in her first TV ad when she was just 7, and at age 14 she was hired for Diff'rent Strokes. Six years later she was forced to leave the show when she became pregnant. Plato then languished in the world of B-movies and even soft core pornography, all the while struggling with an addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol. Plato's rise and fall continues to have a haunting effect on the culture of child celebrity in Hollywood.

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Dana Plato - Full Biography (45:21)

Dana Plato - Full Biography

Best-known for playing Kimberly Drummond on "Diff'rent Strokes" as a teenager, Dana Plato was fired from the show and struggled with drugs and alcohol. She died of an overdose at the age of 35.

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Dana Plato - Robbery (0:36)

Dana Plato - Robbery

In February of 1991, Dana Plato made headlines when she stepped into a Las Vegas video store and robbed the cashier.

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Dana Plato - Motherhood (0:56)

Dana Plato - Motherhood

Dana Plato was just 19 years old when she gave birth to her son.

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Dana Plato - Out of Control (0:54)

Dana Plato - Out of Control

At the height of her fame, Dana Plato was making nearly 25 thousand dollars a week on "Different Strokes." But behind the scenes, her life was quietly spiraling out of control.

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