After Diff'rent Strokes, Dana Plato really had not had another tv/movie break. She went into B-movies, soft-core pornography, and worked on video games (Night Trap for Sega-CD).

It was said of her that she faked prescriptions for drugs and apparantly robbed a store.

What happened to her after the show? Why do you think she became like this and died this way?

I always thought that Hollywood was a place of insanity because of the fame and fortune surrounding it, especially for the child stars and most couldn't handle it. Of course I didn't know the young lady or her upbringing and home life, but again being so young when she started out, I'm sure she was just another Hollywood victim who got all caught up in the "excitement" and "party" of Hollywood and just self distructed and lost all sense of reality.
I think I probably wouldn't have handled it well either. I grew up in a very strict and sheltered home and when I did leave home and got a taste of freedom, it damn near killed me so I know that I wouldn't have done much better if I lived as a child star in Hollywood, especially today! It was truely sad that she went down that path and unfortunetly there were and are so many doing the same thing. I read that Gary and Todd had their share of problems too.

Her down fall on DS was her pregnancy if she had gotten married comming back from France and then announced her Pregnancy that way that could have kept her working I mean it worked on the Cosby's plus if she did it 1985 on ABC that would have kepty the show on for another season

I think her Drug problem is what done her in. They can take over your life and completely ruin you. Thank the lord I kicked the habit.


JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS!

I remember seeing a few bits and pieces of the E! True Hollywood Story about DS, and I would concur that it seems the beginning of her downward spiral was her pregnancy.

From statements made by Conrad Bain, I got the impression that as Dana Plato matured physically, she had not done so emotionally. His reaction to the news of her pregnancy was one of shock, seeing as how he obviously thought she lacked the emotional maturity to handle it.

And then once she was let go by the producers, that only compounded her problems. I gather that she must not have managed her money well, either, seeing as how by the age of 25, she was broke.

I always had a soft spot for her and was deeply saddened by her untimely death and the circumstances surrounding it.

Her down fall on DS was her pregnancy if she had gotten married comming back from France and then announced her Pregnancy that way that could have kept her working I mean it worked on the Cosby's plus if she did it 1985 on ABC that would have kepty the show on for another season

Drugs was the problem. It was the root of everything going wrong in her life. Because she did not have the stardom she had with DS, doesn't mean her life had no meaning or value. Not every actor or actress can have fame 24/7. Some get that one chance at stardom and the choices they make during their fame will be the deciding factor on how the rest of their life ends up. If she had saved her $$$, not started with drugs, had made better choices as far as how was she going to survive if she never got another acting job, etc. those are the choices she needed to make but of course once someone chooses to do drugs, you are at the mercy of that drug.

i think it was a combination of all those things these guys have mentioned, not just one main thing. she was one of those child performers, who couldn't handle, nor deal with the fame and pressure and so because of that she turned to drugs as her way out. such a shame that her life ended so early, not just because she was still young but because she had so much promise and potential that dana could've gone onto bigger things after DS. alas, her fragile state of mind and emotional problems took its toll on her and because she didn't handle it well, it became the end of the road for her, sad to say

Thanks for the answers so far everyone. Did any of you ever hear the final interview she did on the Howard Stern radio show? She died a couple of weeks after it and Stern had a lot of unwanted attention (as usual) when people blamed him for causing or somehow being responsible for her death. That wasn't the case as Howard appeared to be not bias whereas the callers were the ones saying the mean spirited things.

It was the drugs, combined with being unable to handle the loss of her job that led to her demise, the poor young woman. So sad, especially for her son. I thought she was coming back from the drugs, but evidently not. I've heard the Stern interview. He actually defended her against the nasty callers. Still, he didn't have to allow those calls to come through. If someone like Julia Roberts was sitting in that chair, they would never allow those types of calls.

Actually Janice, Julia Roberts did appear on Howard Stern's radio show and there were some calls that were not so nice. Howard almost always does defend his guests. He had to reassure Julia as a matter of fact many times that he would not inquire abt her sexual life or anything of a sexual nature on his show if she appeared. She was worried abt appearing and she did great.

Howard did defend Dana when she appeared, but many times when people call in, they lie and say they are calling in to say one thing and end up saying something else. Happens many times on live radio shows.

I feel so bad that Dana's life took such a spiral turn downward. Gary Coleman should be happy he has not resorted to drugs and try and make things better in his life. He has had many chances to do so. Dana didn't.

I just never understood why the THS of Diffrent strokes has to deal with the personal life of Dana Plato and Todd Bridges. That has nothing to do with the actual show. That's why I can't watch it anymore because it's too depressing

THS began and always talks abt the personal issues and lives of celebs and famous people. That is the format. It isn't to talk abt only the show. This is E! entertainment channel, not a sitcoms channel.

There are so many celebs, many of them child stars, who just can't handle the downside to fame. Dana was one of them, and I don't think anyone will ever really know why.

THS began and always talks abt the personal issues and lives of celebs and famous people. That is the format. It isn't to talk abt only the show. This is E! entertainment channel, not a sitcoms channel.


Well then it needs to stop including sitcoms and just focus on celebs. It kind of misleading when you think u will hear about the show and it's something completely different

Actually Janice, Julia Roberts did appear on Howard Stern's radio show and there were some calls that were not so nice. Howard almost always does defend his guests. He had to reassure Julia as a matter of fact many times that he would not inquire abt her sexual life or anything of a sexual nature on his show if she appeared. She was worried abt appearing and she did great.

Howard did defend Dana when she appeared, but many times when people call in, they lie and say they are calling in to say one thing and end up saying something else. Happens many times on live radio shows.
I saw one Julia Robert's interview, on tv, and she was treated like a queen, royalty. A couple of joke remarks were made in a couple of phone calls about her ex-boyfriends, but nothing even remotely like what was allowed with Dana. Not even close. Julia was laughing.

If you listen to the callers that were allowed through with Dana, they were allowed to bash her. It was awful. Howard's got a cut off button, and he didn't use it as he should have, and as he would if it as someone else. I don't hold him responsible for Dana's death one bit, but no, he didn't protect her that day. He pretended to, but he didn't.

I saw one Julia Robert's interview, on tv, and she was treated like a queen, royalty. A couple of joke remarks were made in a couple of phone calls about her ex-boyfriends, but nothing even remotely like what was allowed with Dana. Not even close. Julia was laughing.

If you listen to the callers that were allowed through with Dana, they were allowed to bash her. It was awful. Howard's got a cut off button, and he didn't use it as he should have, and as he would if it as someone else. I don't hold him responsible for Dana's death one bit, but no, he didn't protect her that day. He pretended to, but he didn't.
I can't argue that. I think it is like anything in life, those who are weak will be mocked, made fun of, bashed and bullied. Those who stand up for themselves and delegate what they will and won't put up with get the respect they demand. Howard certainly has no part in Dana's death. He should have put a stop to the degrading calls. I am a fan of Howard, I don't always agree with what he does or says, but nonetheless I am a fan. I was taken aback by how she was treated. It is something that has occurred many times on his show. It even occurred with the late Anna Nicole. Someone who I really liked and felt deeply sorry for.

I can't argue that. I think it is like anything in life, those who are weak will be mocked, made fun of, bashed and bullied. Those who stand up for themselves and delegate what they will and won't put up with get the respect they demand. Howard certainly has no part in Dana's death. He should have put a stop to the degrading calls. I am a fan of Howard, I don't always agree with what he does or says, but nonetheless I am a fan. I was taken aback by how she was treated. It is something that has occurred many times on his show. It even occurred with the late Anna Nicole. Someone who I really liked and felt deeply sorry for.
I like Howard Stern too. When I worked, and had a 50-minute commute, I listened to him every morning. I'd be laughing at red lights, by myself, lol. I'd listen to him from the moment I got up, in my room while putting on make-up, etc. I don't go for his toilet humor or hooker trash, but I love Stern's rap.

You're right about certain people being mocked, and I'm not surprised that it happened with Anna Nicole too. She was an easy target for those with that mindset. Same with Paris Hilton. She's a human being with feelings, yet Letterman treated her like dirt on his show, to the point of tears. Take another celebrity with a DUI (Keifer Sutherland perhaps, there are many), and he wouldn't act that way. It's that way in life. I see it on this site. Certain members can't defend themselves for whatever reason, so they're easy targets for certain creeps. That makes me wild.

You got me to thinking how Hugh Grant was not degraded nor pushed to the edge with his arrest for being with a hooker. It was like, "He's a man who needed it." :rolleyes: Men can get away with being so wrong and immoral. Pitiful.

^ It's true, Irene. Double standards do exist, that much is sure.

You got me to thinking how Hugh Grant was not degraded nor pushed to the edge with his arrest for being with a hooker. It was like, "He's a man who needed it." :rolleyes: Men can get away with being so wrong and immoral. Pitiful.
I love how Jay Leno greeted Hugh after that ordeal...:rofl: Remember that?

I love how Jay Leno greeted Hugh after that ordeal...:rofl: Remember that?
"WHAT were you thinking?????" :rofl:

"WHAT were you thinking?????" :rofl:
:brent They've shown that clip on numerous TV specials since then...and rightfully so!!

Had a woman done that, she would not have been held in the same regard as Hugh. If a female celeb had been arrested for having sex with a male street prostitute, she'd be hung by her heels. :eek:

Not only double standards but their popularity and reputation with the public also weighs in on how people react to their "scandals".

Keifer Sutherland is known as a "tough guy", is quite popular with his show 24, and the people love him. Hugh Grant at least at the time was a popular heart throb and also had a huge fanbase.

Dana Plato unfortunately was as you call a "has-been" and was at the time known for her drug episodes and the things she did because of it. Paris Hilton is not quite liked by the general public; due to her lacking of talent, diva-like behavior, and snob attitude. Anna Nicole Smith was seen as nothing more than a Playboy bunny who married some old dude for his money.

Have to think about that too. It's how famous and liked you really are that also weigh in on how the media and the public handle scandalous behavior that you have done.

Call it what you want James, but there is still a thing called "respect" and it seems that even MALE HAS-BEENS don't get the shaft like their female counterparts.

Anna Nicole married an old man with money, so what? He wasn't senile. He wanted what he wanted from her and she got from him what he gave her. It is not anyone else's money, so it shouldn't bother anyone. May Anna rest in peace.

As for Dana, her downfall was drugs and it spiraled into other behavior, some of which was criminal. Drugs don't pick and choose who their victims are. Robert Downey Jr. did some pretty weird stuff (including breaking and entering someone's home) while doing drugs, but he still has a great movie career. Again, it is abt how males are treated in the industry vs. females.

Call it what you want James, but there is still a thing called "respect" and it seems that even MALE HAS-BEENS don't get the shaft like their female counterparts.

Anna Nicole married an old man with money, so what? He wasn't senile. He wanted what he wanted from her and she got from him what he gave her. It is not anyone else's money, so it shouldn't bother anyone. May Anna rest in peace.

As for Dana, her downfall was drugs and it spiraled into other behavior, some of which was criminal. Drugs don't pick and choose who their victims are. Robert Downey Jr. did some pretty weird stuff (including breaking and entering someone's home) while doing drugs, but he still has a great movie career. Again, it is abt how males are treated in the industry vs. females.

very true. there have been ex- drug users or people who have suffered from alcohol abuse- who have managed to pick themselves up and turned their lives around. it is all about having the mental strength to come out of the other end, unscathed and moving forward with their lives. if one doesn't have the support, the will or mentality to change their ways, then the chances are life isn't going to get any easier for them, especially in the long run. for dana however, she probably didn't have that mental strength, not to mention she was an emotional wreck

I'm not so sure it's male and female, across the board. It's just that certain people get respect, while others are ridiculed. Gary Coleman gets ridiculed, as does Gary Busey. He gets accused of attacking Jennifer Garner on the red carpet, which was an outright lie. I saw it. He had a buzz going, and wanted to give her a peck on the cheerk. Compare that to Joe Namath slobbering over the female reporter on the field. He threw himself in rehab and it was over. Some celebrities get a pass, while others do not.

Regarding Paris Hilton, sorry, but a successful Reality Show, a great modeling career early on, a couple of Best Sellers, a Billboard hit (#6), a successful perfume, jewelry and fashion line. This is a person who didn't have to work a minute in her life, yet has become a successful businesswoman. Lots of people are buying her products, or she wouldn't be earing millions on her own. She had a DUI, which of course is wrong, but she was strung up as if she killed someone. Anyone remember Kelsey Grammar's escapes? Today he's well-respected, and is treated like royalty on talk shows and in the press in general.

It's the haters who make it seem that people like Paris and Anna are sub-human. It's because the haters are the loudest and most obnoxious. The ones who, when a thread is made about just about anyone, they swarm in like locust with the insults. Not just this site, but all over the Web. Haters need to hate to make them feel better about themselves. Who knows, but this is a society of haters. It never used to be this way, or certainly not as bad. The Rat Pack was a riot with the things they did.

You're spot on about Anna Nicole, Irene. Seems some haters can't drop the hate even when the person is dead. Death isn't even enough. Too bad we can't bring them back to life and kill them again.

I can say abt Gary Coleman, it gets tiring hearing his same old sob story abt how he doesn't want a damn thing with show business yet, there he is appearing on those stupid gossip shows talking bad abt the business, his personal life, etc. all the same stuff he continues to yack abt. I can understand not having the skills to get another career or job, make a living, etc. but Gary is bitter. He has several chips on his shoulders and he needs to either knock those chips off or get some help to get rid of them. It is like Gary continues to open the door to his private life even though he wants to be left alone. I could go on and on, but that is just the tip of the iceberg with Gary.


Yep, you are right abt Kelsey and his DUI issues. I am sure we can come up with a huge list of celebrity men that have had DUI's and drug arrests. Remember Mel Gibson?

I loathe the hate towards Anna. She did what she needed to do to support her son, maintain a home in Studio City, she had the highest rated reality show on E! (up until that point), she was beautiful, she was probably one of thee most loving mothers I have ever seen publically. She showed more love and affection towards Daniel than Queen Elizabeth has ever shown towards all her children in all her life. Dana Plato's life was similar to Anna's in that she did what she felt she needed to do to support herself, even if it meant a soft-porn film. What man out there can say he has never see one?

Dana, Anna and many others who have been forgotten :rip:

I can say abt Gary Coleman, it gets tiring hearing his same old sob story abt how he doesn't want a damn thing with show business yet, there he is appearing on those stupid gossip shows talking bad abt the business, his personal life, etc. all the same stuff he continues to yack abt. I can understand not having the skills to get another career or job, make a living, etc. but Gary is bitter. He has several chips on his shoulders and he needs to either knock those chips off or get some help to get rid of them. It is like Gary continues to open the door to his private life even though he wants to be left alone. I could go on and on, but that is just the tip of the iceberg with Gary.

I loathe the hate towards Anna. She did what she needed to do to support her son, maintain a home in Studio City, she had the highest rated reality show on E! (up until that point), she was beautiful, she was probably one of thee most loving mothers I have ever seen publically. She showed more love and affection towards Daniel than Queen Elizabeth has ever shown towards all her children in all her life. Dana Plato's life was similar to Anna's in that she did what she felt she needed to do to support herself, even if it meant a soft-porn film. What man out there can say he has never see one


There's not a thing new you could tell me about Coleman. My point is that some people are given a pass, while others are treated like dog crap. He has issues, no doubt about that, but so don't some of Hollywood's royalty, who are given the red carpet treatment. Many who have done far less than Coleman.

Regarding Anna, she loved her son, but she was a terrible mother. That boy saw more and went through more than anyone should have to. I know the hurt and devastation that drug abuse has on the children of drug abusers. Anna's demons were bigger than her, and I don't pass judgement, but a great mother she was not. It takes more than to just love your children. She was flying just about every time I saw her in public. I can only imagine what went on in private.

She showed more love and affection towards Daniel than Queen Elizabeth has ever shown towards all her children in all her life.

Well, Queen Elizabeth and her children are still alive, no? They didn't spiral out of control with drugs like Anna and Daniel did. Daniel had to see first-hand what drugs does to people. A great mother Anna was not, sorry. She might have loved her son, no doubt about that, but she was very irresponsible.

Well, Queen Elizabeth and her children are still alive, no? They didn't spiral out of control with drugs like Anna and Daniel did. Daniel had to see first-hand what drugs does to people. A great mother Anna was not, sorry. She might have loved her son, no doubt about that, but she was very irresponsible.
I stated she showed more love and affection, I did not say she was the best mother nor she was a great mother. My point was regardless of her drug use and other issues, she loved him. A lot of drug mothers put their kids on the backburner or they leave them with their parents to raise, sometimes the father. Anna did what she had to do in life to have a roof over her child's head. Her family was nowhere around until AFTER SHE DIED. Daniel appeared to love his mother deeply. She did the best she could. My only point was you mentioned her name and only stated how she married for money and was nothing more than a playboy model. She was more than that.

What else was she known for, honestly? That's what the majority of people (the public) know her as doing. She was a Playboy bunny who married a man 60 years her senior who was rich. Is she known for anything else than that? It certainly wasn't her movie career, that's for sure.

She did have a high-ranking reality show. Any person could have that really. While her show might have started out great, its ratings dropped little by little each week until it was canned.

What else was she known for, honestly? That's what the majority of people (the public) know her as doing. She was a Playboy bunny who married a man 60 years her senior who was rich. Is she known for anything else than that? It certainly wasn't her movie career, that's for sure.

She did have a high-ranking reality show. Any person could have that really. While her show might have started out great, its ratings dropped little by little each week until it was canned.
I am not talking abt what she was known for IN THE PUBLIC'S EYE, I was referring (again) to your statement that she was only a playboy model and married a man "for his money". I mentioned her love for her son because she meant more to him than anyone in the public ever will. I could care less what she did for the public or as a career, she was somebody's mother.

Which brings us back around, it's how famous and liked you really are on how people handle your scandals. It doesn't matter if you are a male or a female. Granted yes, she was somebody's mother; but in the public Anna Nicole wasn't seen as much. That's why she was/is constantly spoofed.