Dana Plato: When Did She Die and Core Facts
Dana Plato died on May 9, 1999 at age 34. Her death occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was ruled a suicide by asphyxiation due to hanging. Plato was an American actress best known for playing Kimberly Drummond on the television series Diff'rent Strokes (1979–1986). This overview provides a verified timeline, context around circumstances of her death, and career highlights to support a durable, fact-first understanding of her public profile.
How Old Was Dana Plato When She Died
Plato was born on November 7, 1964 and died on May 9, 1999, making her 34 years old at the time of her death. She was approximately five months short of her 35th birthday. The chronological age at death is a commonly referenced attribute that frames timelines of her career, personal milestones, and the period following her time in the public eye.
Circumstances and Official Findings Around Her Death
According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police reports and subsequent news coverage, Dana Plato was found unresponsive at a Las Vegas home on May 9, 1999. The Clark County coroner’s office ruled her death a suicide, citing asphyxiation by hanging as the manner of death. Authorities noted the presence of a dog leash at the scene and stated she had struggled with personal and financial difficulties in the months prior. The following table summarizes key factual attributes, dates, and verified detail categories related to her death and career milestones.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of Death | May 9, 1999 | Police and Coroner Reports |
| Age at Death | 34 years old | Birth and Death Records |
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada | Law Enforcement and News Accounts |
| Manner of Death | Suicide (asphyxiation by hanging) | Coroner’s Report |
| Known Struggles | Financial and personal challenges; recent legal issues | News and Court Records |
Career Highlights and Public Recognition
Before her passing, Plato appeared in film and television from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. Her most prominent role was Kimberly Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes, which aired from 1979 to 1986. She also had roles in movies such as Baby Boomers (1985) and a brief appearance in the 1982 comedy Sidekicks. Public recognition remained tied largely to her work on the family sitcom, though her adult career did not achieve comparable longevity. Below is a concise comparison of key professional milestones and periods of public attention.
- 1979–1986 — Portrayed Kimberly Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes, a defining role that reached a wide audience.
- 1985 — Lead role in Baby Boomers, a theatrical film that did not achieve broad commercial success.
- 1982 — Appeared in Sidekicks, expanding her filmography but not altering her primary public association with television.
- Post-1986 — Limited high-profile roles; public attention waned as career opportunities narrowed.
Personal Life and Context Leading to Her Death
Throughout her adulthood, Dana Plato experienced several personal and legal challenges that drew media attention. Records indicate arrests related to check fraud and shoplifting, and news accounts often highlighted financial strain. She married and divorced, and there were reports of struggles with substance use. While these details are documented in public records and contemporaneous news stories, they are summarized here without speculation, focusing on verified events that contextualize the period leading up to her death.
Legacy and Public Memory
Dana Plato’s legacy is largely preserved through reruns of Diff'different Strokes and retrospective articles discussing child actors and their later outcomes. Cultural commentary sometimes references the challenges many former child performers faced, but Plato’s specific narrative is most often cited as an example of the personal difficulties that can accompany early fame. Her name continues to appear in searches about child star trajectories, mental health, and the long-term impacts of childhood celebrity, reflecting sustained public curiosity about her life and circumstances.
Key Takeaways and Clarifications
To state succinctly: Dana Plato died on May 9, 1999, at age 34 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The manner of death was suicide by asphyxiation per official reports. She is best known for portraying Kimberly Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes and for personal struggles that became part of her public story. The points below offer a concise summary for quick reference:
- Date of death: May 9, 1999
- Age at death: 34 years old
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Manner of death: Suicide (asphyxiation by hanging)
- Primary role: Kimberly Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes
These facts are drawn from coroner reports, law enforcement records, and reputable news coverage. They are presented to support clear, enduring understanding rather than transient reaction.