Dana Michelle Plato was born in Maywood, California on the 7th of November, 1964 and was educated at the Sutter Jr. High in Winnetka, CA. Her 16-year-old unwed mother gave her up for adoption after she was born. Dean and Florine Kay Plato were the ones who adopted her and they treated her like a real daughter.

She did more than 100 TV commercials when she was still a child. She was chosen to portray the lead role in The Exorcist but her mother did not permit her to appear in a movie such as that. Later on, Dana Michelle Plato appeared in the film Beyond the Bermuda Triangle. She has also accepted a small role in Exorcist II: The Heretic.

Dana Michelle Plato was spotted by a producer when she appeared on The Gong Show. She was cast on the TV series Diff’rent Strokes as Kimberly and she appeared on the show from 1978 to 1986. In 1983, Dana moved in with rock guitarist Lanny Lambert. In 1984, they landed in a wedding which gave them a son named Tyler Edward Lambert. Because of her pregnancy, Dana was released from Diff'rent Strokes after the 1983-1984 season but she made a comeback on the final season.

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