We are saddened to announce the death of Dana Plato, an actress and model who passed away on May 8th, 1999 at the age of 34. Dana Plato was born Dana Michelle Strain in Maywood, California. After appearing in numerous commercials, she gained stardom as a teenager when she was cast as Kimberly Drummond in the sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes” (1978–1986). Her portrayal of the character made her a well-recognized figure of American pop culture at the time. After Diff’rent Strokes ended, she continued to pursue a career in acting and appeared in TV shows and films such as “ California Dreams” (1992), “Silk Stalkings” (1993) and “Phoenix” (1998). In addition to her professional career, Plato was also notable for her personal life. She was engaged to Lanny Lambert and became a mother at the age of 18, with the birth of her son Tyler Edward Lambert. While Dana’s life was short-lived, her legacy as a talented actress and pop culture figure will remain in the minds of her fans around the world. She will surely be missed by her family, friends, and all of those she has touched.