Editing Dana Plato (section)

== Aftermath ==
Plato became a subject of the national debate surrounding troubled child stars, particularly given the difficulties of her ''Diff'rent Strokes'' co-stars Todd Bridges and [[Gary Coleman]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 11, 2015 |title=VIDEO VAULT: Child actress Dana Plato robs a Vegas video store in 1991 |url=https://news3lv.com/features/video-vault/video-vault-child-actress-dana-plato-robs-a-vegas-video-store-in-1991 |access-date=January 4, 2020 |work=[[KSNV]] News}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sporkin |first=Elizabeth |date=March 25, 1991 |title=Diff'rent Strokes, Fallen Stars |url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-diffrent-strokes-fallen-stars-vol-35-no-11/ |access-date=August 3, 2020 |magazine=People |language=en}}</ref> 

In 2000, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] broadcast a television movie based on Plato, titled ''After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped''. The film was focused on her life and work after the show, including her death. It featured actors who at the time were unknown, as well as Bridges, who made a cameo appearance.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.longislandpress.com/| title=Long Island News From the Long Island Press| newspaper=[[Long Island Press]]| language=en-US|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> In 2006, NBC aired the television film ''Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Diff'rent Strokes'', which was based on the lives of the child stars who had worked on the show. Bridges and Coleman appear at the end of the film standing near Plato's grave.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.recordonline.com/article/20060904/LIFE/609040312| title=Refried nostalgia, overcooked comedy| last=McDonough| first=Kevin| newspaper=[[Times Herald-Record]]| location=Middletown, NY| language=en| date=September 4, 2006| access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref>

On May 6, 2010, two days before the eleventh anniversary of Plato's death, her son Tyler committed suicide with a gunshot wound to the head. He was 25 years old.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Gaskell |first=Stephanie |date=13 May 2010 |title=Dana Plato's son, Tyler Lambert, commits suicide 11 years after 'Diff'rent Strokes' star overdosed |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/dana-plato-son-tyler-lambert-commits-suicide-11-years-diff-rent-strokes-star-overdosed-article-1.449314 |access-date=January 3, 2021 |website=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Growing Pains: The Trials and Tribulations of 1980s TV Child Stars |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dana-platos-son-tyler-lambert-commits-suicide-mom/story?id=10629167 |access-date=2022-02-09 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>

On November 7, 2019, on what would have been Plato's 55th birthday, Bridges commented on [[Twitter]] about their friendship,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cordero|first=Rosy|date=2021-12-08|title='Live In Front Of A Studio Audience' Smoothly Revisits 1970s-80s Twins, 'Diff'rent Strokes' And 'The Facts Of Life'|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/live-in-front-of-a-studio-audience-facts-of-life-diffrent-strokes-recap-1234886445/|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> leaving a tribute to Plato:<ref name=":1">{{cite news| url=https://people.com/tv/todd-bridges-remembers-diffrent-strokes-dana-plato-55th-birthday/|title=Diff'rent Strokes' Todd Bridges Remembers Dana Plato on What Would've Been Her 55th Birthday: 'You're Free My friend'| magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]| first=Steve| last=Helling| language=en| access-date=January 4, 2020}}</ref> "You were the one person I could always talk to. You were one of my best friends. I will never forget you and love you forever. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dana Plato R.I.P you are free my friend."<ref>{{cite web |date=November 7, 2019 |title=@ToddBridges |url=https://mobile.twitter.com/ToddBridges/status/1192444714420588544 |access-date=January 4, 2020 |website=Twitter}}</ref>