Dana Plato's son commits suicide - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

spunkygirl · 05-12-2010, 07:05 PM

OMG so terribly sad:

Son of the Late Dana Plato Commits Suicide

Originally posted 05/12/2010 05:40PM

First Joni Richardson endured the death of her daughter-in-law, Diff'rent Strokes star Dana Plato, in 1999. Now almost exactly 11 years later, Plato's son, Tyler Lambert, committed suicide at the age of 25.

"It's a shame that such a talented human being would do this with his life," Richardson tells PEOPLE. "He had all the opportunities in the world and we just can't understand it."

According to Richardson, her grandson, a cameraman and amateur songwriter, had long struggled with his mother's premature death at age 36. Plato died of a prescription pill overdose on May 8, 1999. It was around the time of Mother's Day, Richardson notes, making the anniversary that much harder.

Lambert died of a gunshot wound to the head on May 6. At the time, Richardson claims, he had been experimenting with drugs and alcohol, a factor she believes contributed directly to his death.

"He was talking so sweet to me on the phone that morning," she says. "But you never can tell what's in their mind."

She adds that Lambert's body is being cremated, and there will be no memorial.

"Our lives have just been wrapped around him," Richardson says. "It's just devastating."

http://www.people.com/people/news/ca...aPlato,00.html

Pitooey · 05-12-2010, 07:50 PM

This is so sad. It reminds me of Anna Nicole Smith and her son. She never got over his death and it seems that Dana's son didn't either.

catlover79 · 05-12-2010, 08:04 PM

Oh no...and he was almost the exact same age as my brother as well. So, so sad.

Family Ties Forever! · 05-12-2010, 08:08 PM

So sad.

80sTrivia · 05-13-2010, 03:04 AM

What a terribly sad story...

comedyfreak · 05-13-2010, 05:18 AM

Why didn't someone get him some help? Common sense should have warned them since he lost his mom so young. Very tragic, he looked alot like his Mom.

OH Nuts! · 05-13-2010, 04:26 PM

Very sad and so sorry to hear about more tragedy in this family.

catlover79 · 05-13-2010, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

Why didn't someone get him some help? Common sense should have warned them since he lost his mom so young. Very tragic, he looked alot like his Mom.

I know...too sad...

Janice · 05-18-2010, 10:31 PM

This is terribly sad. His problems were bigger than he was. Rest in peace, Tyler. You and your Mother have been reunited.

Janice · 05-21-2010, 02:35 AM

http://www.popeater.com/2010/05/20/dana-plato-tyler-lambert-pure-hell/

Dana Plato's Suicidal Son Tyler Lambert Was in 'Pure Hell'

'Diff'rent Strokes' star Dana Plato's suicide left her son in a world of "pure hell," which ended in his tragic May 6 gunshot suicide, his grandmother tells PEOPLE.

Joni Richardson said her 25-year-old grandson (pictured above in 1999) struggled with drugs and alcohol for 10 years, desperately attempting to "drown out the pain." His mother took her life with prescription pills when he was just 14.

While there has been speculation Lambert was on drugs at the time of his death, the Tulsa, Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told PopEater toxicology tests could take two to three months.

"At 15, he started to get wild," Richardson said, adding that Lambert had problems with drugs and alcohol, resulting in several rehab stints. "These past 10 years have been pure hell."

Richardson says Lambert left a suicide note reading: "The only moments of happiness for me are when I'm real high and don't think about the past or I'm real drunk and not able to."

With the initial news of Lambert's death, Richardson told the National Enquirer, "Tyler wanted to be with his mother. His father Lanny (Lambert, Plato's ex-husband) is devastated."

Lambert's difficulty dealing with his mother's demise -- he took his life two days before the 11-year anniversary of her death -- led to a series of tattoos. "He had his mother's name on his hand, on his arm and right across his finger," Richardson says. "He was putting her ashes in with the ink. [That way] he could feel that he had part of her with him."

Dana Plato committed suicide in Moore, Oklahoma, with prescription pills on May 8, 1999. She was 36 years old. Plato had harbored a troubled past, including a 1991 arrest for robbing a video store in Las Vegas, earning her five years' probation. She received additional probation just a year later, for forging Valium prescriptions.

In 2006, a 21-year-old Lambert filed a $20,000 wrongful death lawsuit against Plato's former fiance, claiming he contributed to Plato's death by "not giving immediate medical assistance or contacting medical personnel," according to court documents.

05-12-2010, 07:05 PM	#1
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	Dana Plato's son commits suicide OMG so terribly sad: Son of the Late Dana Plato Commits Suicide Originally posted 05/12/2010 05:40PM First Joni Richardson endured the death of her daughter-in-law, Diff'rent Strokes star Dana Plato, in 1999. Now almost exactly 11 years later, Plato's son, Tyler Lambert, committed suicide at the age of 25. "It's a shame that such a talented human being would do this with his life," Richardson tells PEOPLE. "He had all the opportunities in the world and we just can't understand it." According to Richardson, her grandson, a cameraman and amateur songwriter, had long struggled with his mother's premature death at age 36. Plato died of a prescription pill overdose on May 8, 1999. It was around the time of Mother's Day, Richardson notes, making the anniversary that much harder. Lambert died of a gunshot wound to the head on May 6. At the time, Richardson claims, he had been experimenting with drugs and alcohol, a factor she believes contributed directly to his death. "He was talking so sweet to me on the phone that morning," she says. "But you never can tell what's in their mind." She adds that Lambert's body is being cremated, and there will be no memorial. "Our lives have just been wrapped around him," Richardson says. "It's just devastating." http://www.people.com/people/news/ca...aPlato,00.html

05-12-2010, 07:50 PM	#2
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	This is so sad. It reminds me of Anna Nicole Smith and her son. She never got over his death and it seems that Dana's son didn't either.
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

05-12-2010, 08:04 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Oh no...and he was almost the exact same age as my brother as well. So, so sad.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

05-12-2010, 08:08 PM	#4
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	So sad.
	__________________ Jenny

05-13-2010, 03:04 AM	#5
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	What a terribly sad story...
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05-13-2010, 05:18 AM	#6
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Why didn't someone get him some help? Common sense should have warned them since he lost his mom so young. Very tragic, he looked alot like his Mom.
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05-13-2010, 04:26 PM	#7
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Very sad and so sorry to hear about more tragedy in this family.

05-18-2010, 10:31 PM	#9
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	This is terribly sad. His problems were bigger than he was. Rest in peace, Tyler. You and your Mother have been reunited.

05-21-2010, 02:35 AM	#10
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	http://www.popeater.com/2010/05/20/dana-plato-tyler-lambert-pure-hell/ Dana Plato's Suicidal Son Tyler Lambert Was in 'Pure Hell' 'Diff'rent Strokes' star Dana Plato's suicide left her son in a world of "pure hell," which ended in his tragic May 6 gunshot suicide, his grandmother tells PEOPLE. Joni Richardson said her 25-year-old grandson (pictured above in 1999) struggled with drugs and alcohol for 10 years, desperately attempting to "drown out the pain." His mother took her life with prescription pills when he was just 14. While there has been speculation Lambert was on drugs at the time of his death, the Tulsa, Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told PopEater toxicology tests could take two to three months. "At 15, he started to get wild," Richardson said, adding that Lambert had problems with drugs and alcohol, resulting in several rehab stints. "These past 10 years have been pure hell." Richardson says Lambert left a suicide note reading: "The only moments of happiness for me are when I'm real high and don't think about the past or I'm real drunk and not able to." With the initial news of Lambert's death, Richardson told the National Enquirer, "Tyler wanted to be with his mother. His father Lanny (Lambert, Plato's ex-husband) is devastated." Lambert's difficulty dealing with his mother's demise -- he took his life two days before the 11-year anniversary of her death -- led to a series of tattoos. "He had his mother's name on his hand, on his arm and right across his finger," Richardson says. "He was putting her ashes in with the ink. [That way] he could feel that he had part of her with him." Dana Plato committed suicide in Moore, Oklahoma, with prescription pills on May 8, 1999. She was 36 years old. Plato had harbored a troubled past, including a 1991 arrest for robbing a video store in Las Vegas, earning her five years' probation. She received additional probation just a year later, for forging Valium prescriptions. In 2006, a 21-year-old Lambert filed a $20,000 wrongful death lawsuit against Plato's former fiance, claiming he contributed to Plato's death by "not giving immediate medical assistance or contacting medical personnel," according to court documents.