Dana Plato Trivias

Arrested for armed robbery in 1991.
Arrested for forging a valium prescription in 1992.
Died in Moore, Oklahoma in the home of her fiance Robert Menchaca where they had visited for Mother's Day. With Lanny Lambert, Dana Plato has a son born in 1985 named Tyler Lambert who lives in Tulsa.
Was offered the role of Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973)
Appeared on The Howard Stern show shortly before her suicide. Calls came in from Stern's fans to the show literally embarrassing Plato on the air. Stern also insulted her over the air.
Attended Sutter Jr. High in Winnetka, CA (1978)
Was adopted.
Birth mother's name is Linda Strain
Was fired from Diff'rent Strokes after the show's 7th season (1984), its last on NBC--it moved to ABC for its 8th & final season.
Childhood dream was to be an Olympic figure skater.
Wanted to accept the role of Regan in The Exorcist (1973) but turned it down due her adoptive mothers insistence that the content was not suitable. Linda Blair took the part and went on to become big. Dana had a role in the Exorcist sequel which turned out to be a flop.
Had breast implants done in 1994 in hopes of landing better film roles.
Won the part of Violet in the movie 'Pretty Baby', but turned it down, so she wouldn't be typecast in this type of role. Brooke Shields ended up playing the part.
Plato's older son, an aspiring actor himself, is represented by another former child actor, Johnny Whittaker.