From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Jump to: navigation, search

Plato as she appeared as Kimberly Drummond in the late '70s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes.Dana Michelle Plato (November 7, 1964 – May 8, 1999) was an American actress who became famous playing the role of Kimberly Drummond in the U.S. television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. Plato was born in Maywood, California and grew up in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles.

Plato was dismissed from Diff'rent Strokes when she became pregnant as it wouldn't have suited her character, but she returned to the show for several cameo appearances after her pregnancy. Her career slumped after the show, with appearances in low-budget films, including some soft-core pornography, and in some minor roles in made for TV movies. She had a starring role in the pioneering and wildly controversial live action video game Night Trap in 1992. She also had repeated drug and alcohol problems.

Plato appeared partially nude in Prime Suspect (1988), Compelling Evidence (1995), and Different Strokes: The story of Jack and Jill... and Jill (1998), a softcore movie unrelated to her TV series. She was also the feature of a Playboy pictorial in 1989.

Her one year marriage to Lanny Lambert produced a son, Tyler Lambert (born 1985). She was arrested in 1991 for robbing a video store in Las Vegas, but was placed on probation. The following year Plato was arrested again, this time for forging a prescription for Valium.

In 1999 she and Robert Menchaca, her fiancé, were returning to California following Plato's appearance on the Howard Stern show, hoping to revive her stagnant career. They stopped at Menchaca's mother's home in Moore, Oklahoma for a Mother's Day visit. She died there of an overdose from Vanadom and Vicodin. Her death was subsequently ruled a suicide.

 
Different Strokes (1998) .... Jill Martin
... aka Different Strokes: The Story of Jack & Jill...and Jill (USA: complete title)
... aka Kiss (UK)
The Hostage (1998)
Blade Boxer (1997) (V) .... Rita
Tiger (1997/II) .... Andrea Baker
Lethal Cowboy (1995) (V) .... Elizabeth
Compelling Evidence (1995) .... Dana Fields
Millenium Day (1995)
Night Trap (1992) (VG) .... Kelli Medd
Bikini Beach Race (1992) .... J.D.
... aka The Sex Puppets
The Sounds of Silence (1992)

Prime Suspect (1989) .... Diana Masters
... aka Trauma (UK: video title)
High School U.S.A. (1983) (TV) .... Cara Ames
Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary (1982) (TV) .... Daughter
... aka Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary (USA: short title)
A Step in Time (1981) (TV)
Schoolboy Father (1980) (TV) .... Daisy Dallenger

"Diff'rent Strokes" (1978) TV Series .... Kimberly Drummond (1978-1984)
California Suite (1978) .... At the Airport - Jenny
... aka Neil Simon's California Suite
Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) (uncredited) .... Sandra Phalor
Return to Boggy Creek (1977) .... Evie Jo
Beyond the Bermuda Triangle (1975) (TV) .... Wendy
... aka Beyond This Place There Be Dragons (USA)
The Bionic Woman (1975) (TV) .... Tennis Fan
... aka The Six Million Dollar Man: The Bionic Woman (USA: complete title)