Lanny Lambert rarely makes headlines, although this may be true, his life became inextricably linked to one of Hollywood’s most heartbreaking stories. As a music producer who achieved success with chart-topping hits, Lanny Lambert’s career took an unexpected turn when he married “Diff’rent Strokes” actress Dana Plato. Their brief marriage produced a son, Tyler Lambert, but ended in divorce after just one year, leading to a contentious custody battle that Lanny Lambert ultimately won.
The aftermath proved devastating. Dana Plato died from a drug overdose in 1999 at age 34, and Tyler Lambert tragically committed suicide days before his mother’s 11th death anniversary. This article explores the untold story of Dana Plato’s ex-husband, the custody battle, and the tragic events that followed.
Who Is Lanny Lambert? From Music Producer to Dana Plato’s Husband
Born Lanny Bruce Lambert, the musician built his career in the United States music industry as a guitarist. His professional credentials included registration with ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) under two IPI numbers. Lambert worked alongside Bobby Flax, another figure in the music business during that era.
The guitarist’s personal life intersected with Hollywood when he married Dana Plato on April 21, 1984. The “Diff’rent Strokes” star was at the height of her fame when their relationship began. Their union produced one child during the marriage, though the partnership proved short-lived. The couple’s divorce became official on March 1, 1990, marking the end of a six-year marriage that had begun with promise but deteriorated amid personal struggles.
Details about Lanny Lambert’s life remain scarce compared to the extensive coverage of his former wife’s career and struggles. Some confusion exists in music industry circles about whether the guitarist who married Dana Plato is the same person as the songwriter Lanny Lambert who penned various pop and soul songs. This ambiguity speaks to how Lambert maintained a relatively low profile, even as his ex-wife’s life spiraled into public turmoil and tragedy.
The Marriage, Pregnancy, and Custody Battle That Changed Everything
Dana Plato’s pregnancy announcement in 1984 marked a turning point that derailed both her career and marriage. When producers discovered she was pregnant, they wrote her character off the show, with Kimberly Drummond departing to pursue fashion in Paris. Network sitcoms rarely wrote pregnancies into storylines for teenage characters at that time. Co-star Conrad Bain revealed that Plato deliberately became pregnant during the series, recalling her enthusiastic response about never being alone again once the baby arrived.
Tyler Edward Lambert was born on July 2, 1984, just months after his parents’ wedding. The marriage deteriorated rapidly. Dana separated from Lanny Lambert in January 1988, the same week her mother died of scleroderma. Financial devastation followed when she signed power of attorney to an accountant who disappeared with most of her money, leaving her with less than $150,000.
After struggling to make ends meet for four years, Dana willingly handed over Tyler to Lanny so he could raise him. Their divorce finalized in March 1990, with Lanny Lambert receiving full custody of Tyler. The court granted Dana only visitation rights, citing her addiction to drugs and alcohol as the deciding factor. This custody arrangement meant Tyler primarily grew up with his paternal grandmother, Joni Richardson.
The Tragic Aftermath: Dana Plato and Tyler Lambert’s Deaths
Nine years after losing custody, Dana Plato appeared on The Howard Stern Show on May 7, 1999, insisting she had been sober for over a decade. The next day, she died at age 34 in Moore, Oklahoma, while visiting the family of her fiancé Robert Menchaca. She had taken Lortab, a painkiller 10 times stronger than codeine, along with Valium before lying down in their RV. When Menchaca woke shortly before 9 p.m., he couldn’t wake her.
Police initially ruled the death accidental, but Oklahoma deputy state medical examiner Larry Balding changed the determination to suicide on account of the drug concentrations and Plato’s history of suicidal gestures. The timing proved eerily ironic, occurring just one day after she claimed sobriety on national radio.
Tyler Lambert was 14 when his mother died. He never recovered from the loss. His grandmother Joni Richardson told reporters he had been experimenting with drugs and alcohol, resulting in several rehab stints. On May 6, 2010, two days before the 11th anniversary of Dana Plato’s death, Tyler Lambert died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 25 years old.
Richardson found a note in his bedroom afterward that read: “The only moments of happiness for me are when I’m real high and don’t think about the past or I’m real drunk and not able to”.
Conclusion
Lanny Lambert’s story represents one of Hollywood’s most heartbreaking chapters. After winning custody of Tyler in 1990, he largely disappeared from public view, leaving behind a legacy forever tied to tragedy. The deaths of both Dana Plato and Tyler Lambert serve as stark reminders of how addiction and loss can devastate families across generations. Despite his career as a music producer, Lanny Lambert remains best known for his connection to this devastating sequence of events.
FAQs
Q1. Did Dana Plato lose custody of her son?Â
Yes, Dana Plato lost custody of her son Tyler Lambert. After their divorce in March 1990, Lanny Lambert received full custody while Dana was granted only visitation rights. The court’s decision was based on her struggles with drug and alcohol addiction at the time.
Q2. What happened to Dana Plato’s son Tyler Lambert?Â
Tyler Lambert tragically died by suicide on May 6, 2010, at the age of 25. He shot himself with a shotgun in Tulsa, Oklahoma, just two days before the 11th anniversary of his mother’s death. He had struggled with substance abuse and never fully recovered from losing his mother when he was 14 years old.
Q3. Who was Dana Plato’s ex-husband?Â
Dana Plato’s ex-husband was Lanny Lambert, a music producer and guitarist who worked in the United States music industry. They married on April 21, 1984, and had one son together, Tyler Lambert, before divorcing in March 1990 after a six-year marriage.
Q4. How did Dana Plato’s pregnancy affect her career on Diff’rent Strokes?Â
When Dana Plato became pregnant in 1984, the show’s producers wrote her character off the series. Her character, Kimberly Drummond, was sent to Paris to pursue fashion. Network sitcoms at that time rarely incorporated teenage pregnancy storylines, which effectively ended her role on the popular show.
Q5. What were the circumstances surrounding Dana Plato’s death?Â
Dana Plato died on May 8, 1999, at age 34 in Moore, Oklahoma, after taking Lortab and Valium. While police initially ruled it accidental, the medical examiner later changed the determination to suicide based on drug concentrations and her history of suicidal gestures. Her death occurred just one day after she appeared on The Howard Stern Show claiming to be sober.