Trivia

She was the mother of Tyler Lambert. Lambert committed suicide via a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on May 6, 2010, two days before the 11th anniversary of his mother's death.

Was fired from Arnold et Willy (1978) at the end of the 1983-1984 season due to her pregnancy. The producers were unwilling to write the pregnancy into the show, but she was able to return for guest appearances after her son was born.

Childhood dream was to be an Olympic figure skater.

She played the same character (Kimberly Drummond) in three different series: Arnold et Willy (1978), Hello, Larry (1979) and Drôle de vie (1979).

Arrested for armed robbery in 1991.

Danny Cooksey, who played Sam on Diff'rent Strokes, was a pallbearer at Dana's funeral.

Was adopted.

• Won the part of Violet in the movie La petite (1978), but turned it down so she

wouldn't be typecast in this type of role. Brooke Shields ended up playing the part. The same thing happened again in Le lagon bleu (1980). She was offered the role of Emmeline Lestrange

• Auditioned for the role of Regan MacNeil in L'Exorciste (1973)
• Tested for the role of Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars: Épisode IV - Un nouvel espoir (1977).

Appeared in a softcore erotica movie titled Different Strokes, which is intentionally linked to her famous series that was spelled Diff'rent Strokes.

Arrested for forging a valium prescription in 1992.

Had breast implants done in 1994 in hopes of landing better film roles.

Dana had an uncredited bit in Burt Reynolds Suicidez-moi docteur (1978) with Kristy McNichol. Dana later appeared as a guest star (twice) on McNichol's TV series Family (1976).

Although she didn't get the part of Regan in The Exorcist that famously went to Linda Blair, she did appear alongside Blair in a scene from The Exorcist 2.

Was #91 on VH-1's 100 Greatest Kid Stars (2005).

Has a younger sister, Heidi Plato.

By age seven, she had already appeared in over 100 commercials as a child actor.

Before unexpectedly passing, she had completed an interview with Howard Stern. Despite passing away at an early age, she earned over 30 acting credits throughout her career.

Attended Sutter Jr. High in Winnetka, CA (1978).

Friends with Todd Bridges.

Birth mother's name is Linda Strain.

Auditioned for the role of Regan MacNeil in L'Exorciste (1973).

Tested for the role of Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars: Épisode IV - Un nouvel espoir (1977).