Sitcoms Online - Main Page / Message Boards - Main Page / News Blog / Photo Galleries / DVD Reviews / Buy TV Shows on DVD and Blu-ray

View Today's Active Threads (No Chit Chat/Chit Chat Only) / View New Posts (No Chit Chat/Chit Chat Only) / Mark All Boards Read / Chit Chat Board

Diff'rent Strokes Online / Diff'rent Strokes links and theme songs at Sitcoms Online / Diff'rent Strokes Photo Gallery / Diff'rent Strokes - Fan Fiction Board


Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete First Season

Buy Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete First Season on DVD
Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Second Season

Buy Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Second Season on DVD
Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Third Season

Buy Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Third Season on DVD
Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Fourth Season

Buy Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Fourth Season on DVD
Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Fifth Season

Buy Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Fifth Season on DVD
Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Sixth Season

Buy Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Sixth Season on DVD
Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Seventh Season

Buy Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Seventh Season on DVD
Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Final (Eighth) Season

Buy Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete Final (Eighth) Season on DVD

Sitcoms Online Message Boards - Forums  

Go Back   Sitcoms Online Message Boards - Forums > 1980s Sitcoms > Diff'rent Strokes
Register Community View Today's Active Threads (No CC/CC Only) Search Photo Galleries Calendar FAQ

Notices

SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Headlines Facebook X/Twitter Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube RSS

Remembering Legendary Sitcom Director James Burrows; The Audacity Season 2 Coming in 2027
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 22, 2026)
SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Agrees to Purchase Roku; Mickey Mouse Set to Star in Home Alone Remake
Apple TV Comedy Brothers Details; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Summer Guest Hosts
Still Hot in Cleveland Podcast with Valerie Bertinelli; Final Season of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Home Alone and Mickey Mouse Come Together; New Tubi Movie Starring Sophia Bush and Jerry O'Connell
Netflix's The Four Seasons Renewed for Season 3; Two Season Renewal for Apple TV Series


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)

11/04/25 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11/25 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11/25 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11/25 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02/25 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16/25 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16/25 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Search Sitcoms Online:



Donate

Please make a donation if you can help with Sitcoms Online's web hosting costs. Thanks for your support!

We receive a small commission on all DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Books, and any other items ordered through our Amazon.com links as an associate. Thanks for using our links for your online shopping!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 11-19-2001, 02:53 PM   #1
MarkyMark
Member
Forum Cub
 
Join Date: Nov 19, 2001
Location: buffalo,mn USA
Posts: 2
Post Dana

Did they ever find out for sure if Dana committed suicide or if she was murdered? I remember they were checking out her boyfriend.
MarkyMark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2001, 04:33 AM   #2
Baldeagle00
Banned
Banned!!
Occasional Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 25, 2001
Location: Florida
Posts: 31
Post

she died of a drug overdose in 1999
Baldeagle00 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2001, 03:37 PM   #3
DanaForever
Member
Frequent Poster
 
DanaForever's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 27, 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 121
Default

It was ruled a suicide by the coroner. However, I don't think Dana would have intentionally killed herself. She cared too much about her son to have done that. I think she was just so depressed after going on Howard Stern that she tried to drown her sorrows in drugs temporarily.
DanaForever is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2001, 03:57 PM   #4
DarleneIllyria
Gone
Forum Star
 
Join Date: Oct 15, 2000
Posts: 19,086
Default

Which it really is a shame. The minute Dana died they should've pulled that ******* off the airwaves.
DarleneIllyria is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2001, 06:12 PM   #5
Curtis3331
*Kimberly Rules!*
Frequent Poster
 
Curtis3331's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 13, 2001
Location: TX
Posts: 428
Default

Oh God......They played the E!True Hollywood story about Dana again. I know I sound like a broken record, but......my whole day has just been depressing after watching a little of it again. Man, it's sad.
Curtis3331 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2001, 07:58 PM   #6
AKA
Member
Forum Star
 
Join Date: Dec 17, 2001
Posts: 15,746
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by Jenny
Which it really is a shame. The minute Dana died they should've pulled that ******* off the airwaves.
Yes. Let's blame Howard Stern. After all, it was his fault that Dana Plato was a junkie. What a cruel, cruel man for killing her.

Get a dose reality, folks.
AKA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2001, 08:25 PM   #7
DarleneIllyria
Gone
Forum Star
 
Join Date: Oct 15, 2000
Posts: 19,086
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by AKA


Yes. Let's blame Howard Stern. After all, it was his fault that Dana Plato was a junkie. What a cruel, cruel man for killing her.

Get a dose reality, folks.
Look, when Dana was on the show all the viewers called in and treated her like ****. If she hadn't been on the show and been violated to all the ****, she could still be here today. I think she was trying to get off the drugs, but when she went on his show it just all happened. Who knows?

Last edited by DarleneIllyria; 12-18-2001 at 09:00 PM.
DarleneIllyria is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2001, 01:19 AM   #8
Kristina
Member
Forum Fanatic
 
Join Date: Mar 27, 2001
Location: CaLiFoRnIa, UsA
Posts: 8,890
Default

I feel so bad about that... She was so good on Diff'rent Strokes, HS is a ****er!
Kristina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2001, 01:28 AM   #9
Curtis3331
*Kimberly Rules!*
Frequent Poster
 
Curtis3331's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 13, 2001
Location: TX
Posts: 428
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by AKA


Yes. Let's blame Howard Stern. After all, it was his fault that Dana Plato was a junkie. What a cruel, cruel man for killing her.

Get a dose reality, folks.

It would be pretty dumb not mention Howard Stern especially in this circumstance. I would have to say even the name Howard Stern brings up contraversy especially when someone dies right after being on his show.......and it's a suicide! Hmmmm....I don't know about you AKA, but that definately gives me chills behind my back. Do I think he's a cold blooded murderer? No. But I do think he had some part to do with it. And it's not just him, it's the show, and the people around the show, especially the callers. Dana had been going through many troubles before going on the show. IMO, I SPECULATE that it was being on that show----that ultimately put her over the edge. And I bet it was pretty humilating and I know what the Stern show is about, I have not seen the Dana Plato interview or have heard it on the internet NOR do I want to.

But part of this tragedy deals with just treating people how you would want to be treated, similar to the Columbine shootings. If we just learn to respect and help others, this sort of thing will won't happen or well, at least not so often. Dana went through so much hell in her life. The last thing she needed was someone to break her heart. It's just not worth it.

That's why I think Jenny,some of the others in this board, and me personally feel that way about Stern. I'm sure he is a nice guy, but.......it's too little too late. We can't bring Dana back.......


From what I have heard, Dana was one of the most kindest human beings, she always gave autographs to those who wanted one, and was just a flat out sweetheart. Like, Wayne Newton said, "she was born with beauty and talent." It's just terrible that we have to talk about her like this. I would feel a lot better, if she just died happy. It's terrible, just terrible how her life ended........
Curtis3331 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2001, 07:46 AM   #10
JethroSimpson
Member
Senior Member
 
JethroSimpson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 01, 2001
Location: England,UK
Posts: 1,080
Default

I'm really interested to find out more about Dana's life, the True Hollwood Stroy is in the post to me at the moment so I'm looking forward to seeing it.
JethroSimpson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2001, 11:24 AM   #11
DanaForever
Member
Frequent Poster
 
DanaForever's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 27, 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 121
Default

I agree with Curtis' statements and just wanted to say that I don't think Howard Stern killed Dana, but I do think her appearance on his show put her over the edge. I don't think Stern was mean to her, but the type of callers his show attracts are jerks. There was no reason for those people to slam Dana.

Jethro, you might want to check out a story written by Kitt Flynn. He has posted messages on here. You should email him and check out his story. He had the great pleasure of meeting Dana several years ago.
DanaForever is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2001, 12:43 PM   #12
JethroSimpson
Member
Senior Member
 
JethroSimpson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 01, 2001
Location: England,UK
Posts: 1,080
Default

Thanks, I already read Kit Flynn's story, he sent it to me a while ago, I thought it was very interesting and sad, now I'm just interested to watch some interviews etc.

Althogh I probably can't judge an acurate opinion till I've seen it, I think she looked really lovely in Diffrent Strokes.

Last edited by JethroSimpson; 12-19-2001 at 12:45 PM.
JethroSimpson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2001, 07:02 PM   #13
AKA
Member
Forum Star
 
Join Date: Dec 17, 2001
Posts: 15,746
Default

I've read your replies and you all have valid points, but here's what I think:

Dana went onto The Howard Stern Show. She should have expected for him, his entourage, and his callers to either treat her like **** for her drug problems and/or video store incident, ask her to take off her top, or all of the above. That's just the kind of show he has.

If the things Howard and his ilk were saying to her during the show was enough to make her go back on drugs, she either:

a.) was lying about having cleaned up on the '98 E! True Hollywood Story,

b.) relapsed somewhere between the THS and her death, or

c.) had very weak willpower.

Howard is famous for not being a courteous host, and I highly doubt Dana didn't expect to be barraged with negative comments.

Any way you slice it, Dana's death was incredibly tragic, especially considering her age, and while I feel slightly sorry for her, I feel very sorry for her son and those who loved her.

And while I don't think it was a suicide, I do think that ultimately, she did kill herself. The only person responsible for Dana's death is Dana.

We can point fingers in many directions of people Dana crossed paths with from birth to death, but when you get to the bottom of the jar, Dana made a lot of bad choices in her life and taking drugs is one of them.

From all accounts I've heard, Dana was a very wonderful person with a heart of gold, but the profession she delved into at a young age, along with the lack of parental guidance, was just too much for her. But the fact remains Dana and Dana alone made the choice to take drugs. It's incredibly sad.

I'm not sure if there's an afterlife, but if there is, I hope she's found peace.

Thank you very much for reading,
AKA

Last edited by AKA; 12-19-2001 at 07:11 PM.
AKA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2001, 11:16 PM   #14
Kitt
James Dean
Forum Veteran
 
Kitt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 16, 2001
Location: California Dreamin'
Posts: 6,115
Default

To AKA:
The profession she delved into at a young age? That's right. She was inserted into the profession at the age of about 6. I would hardly call that her choice alone. She had been subjected to alcohol and other drugs at such a young age that she can't reasonably be held solely responsible for the choice. AA and NA and programs like those are centered around support groups. They are of the opinion that anyones battles with addictions are hard fought and shouldn't be fought alone. Why don't you quit beating up on Dana alone and hold the damn society responsible for some of the tragedies that are repeated again and again. She was exploited by the entertainment industry among others. Sure it all comes down to each individual in the proverbial perfect world but we don't live in one of those. So, I have no hesitation in spreading the blame around to people such as Stearn. Some of us are more sensitive than others. I know myself, public ridicule the likes of which she was subjected to, I would have a very difficult time brushing it aside. I'd be overcome with lonliness and heartache. It's easy to say from the outside how she should have responded. But just try to really imagine yourself being humiliated like she was, and then be honest about how you might feel.
Kitt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2001, 10:04 AM   #15
TJ
Site Owner
Administrator
Forum Star
 
TJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 03, 2000
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 10,669
Default

She had been on his show before and I believe she called him her friend or the other way around. While she should have expected that kind of treatment from Howard Stern himself, he should have put an end to the calls immediately. He should have seen how emotional she was and stopped them. If Dana really felt bad about the show though, why did she call him and thank him for letting her be on the show afterward?? There is so much more to this story than what you've read, the truth may or may not come out at some point but it was never a suicide.
TJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:44 AM.


Although the administrators and moderators of the Sitcoms Online Message Boards will attempt to keep all objectionable messages off this forum, it is impossible for us to review all messages. All messages express the views of the author, and neither the owners of the Sitcoms Online Message Boards, nor vBulletin Solutions Inc. (developers of vBulletin) will be held responsible for the content of any message. The owners of the Sitcoms Online Message Boards reserve the right to remove, edit, move or close any thread for any reason.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, vBulletin Solutions Inc.