Child Star Dies of Overdose

Former child star Dana Plato died of a drug overdose on Saturday 8th May at her fianc home in Oklahoma City. Plato, 34, made her debut in the science fiction flick Beyond the Bermuda Triangle (1975) before gaining stardom as the privileged Kimberly Drummond in the hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. After leaving 'Stokes in 1984 she appeared in low-budget films including Bikini Beach Race and Diff'rent Strokes: A Story of Jack and Jill...and Jill (1997). Although results of the post-mortem toxicology report have yet to be released, it is believed the actress's death was accidental. Plato, who recently denied accusations of drug addiction while appearing on the Howard Stern Show, shared misfortune with her Diff'rent Stokes co-stars, Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman. She was arrested in 1991 after robbing a video store, while Bridges was acquitted of shooting a drug dealer in 1990 and the diminutive Coleman fought a bitter legal battle with his parents over his earnings.