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Plato was fired when she became pregnant and her career slumped after the show, with appearances in low-budget films including some soft-core pornography. She also appeared in some minor roles in made for TV movies.
Plato was married to Lanny Lambert for a year and it produced a son, Tyler Lambert (born 1985). She was arrested in 1991 for robbing a video store in Las Vegas, but was placed on probation. The following year Plato arrested again, this time for forging a prescription for Valium. In 1999 she and Lambert were returning t California following Plato's appearance on the Howard Stern show, hoping to revive her stagnant career. They stopped at Lambert's mother's home in Moore, Oklahoma for a Mother's Day visit.
Following many years of problems with drugs and alcohol she died of a prescription drug overdose near Tulsa, Oklahoma and her death was subsequently ruled a suicide. Of the child stars on Diff'rent Strokes, Plato got into the most trouble, while Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges are still alive.
She appeared partially nude in Prime Suspect (1988), Compelling Evidence (1995), and Different Strokes (a.k.a. Different Stroke: The story of Jack and Jill... and Jill) (1997).