Dana Plato

Biography

Dana Michelle Plato was a teen idol of the late 1970s and early 1980s, best known for her role as Kimberly Drummond in the TV hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes from 1978-1986. After the series ended, she struggled to find consistent acting work, appearing in low-budget films and made-for-TV movies. Her personal struggles with substance abuse and multiple arrests for forgery and robbery also overshadowed her acting career. She died at age 34 due to an accidental overdose in May 1999.