Introduction
Lanny Lambert is best known as the rock guitarist who married Diff’rent Strokes star Dana Plato in the 1980s and later raised their son, Tyler. Many people searching his name want an answer to one question in particular: is Lanny Lambert still alive?
Unlike his former wife, Lambert never became a public figure himself. He has not built a showbiz career in the spotlight, and he has given very few interviews. Most of what is known about him comes from reporting on Dana Plato’s life and on the death of their son in 2010.
This profile sets out what reliable sources confirm about Lanny Lambert, including his marriage, his role as a father and what is known about him today. Where details have never been made public, we say so rather than guessing.
Contents
Lanny Lambert Quick Bio
| CATEGORY | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Name | Lanny Lambert |
| Known for | Ex-husband of actress Dana Plato |
| Profession | Rock guitarist |
| Date of birth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Age | Not publicly confirmed |
| Nationality | American |
| Former wife | Dana Plato (married 1984, divorced 1990) |
| Wedding date | 24 April 1984 |
| Separation | January 1988 |
| Divorce | 1990 |
| Child | Tyler Lambert (1984–2010) |
| Custody | Awarded custody of Tyler in the divorce |
| Still alive? | No credible report of his death has been published |
| Current partner | Not publicly confirmed |
| Social media | No confirmed public accounts |
| Net worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Is Lanny Lambert Still Alive?
This is the most searched question about him. There is no credible news report of Lanny Lambert’s death. Major outlets that covered Dana Plato and her son have not reported that he has died, and no official obituary in his name has been linked to the Plato family by any reputable source.
Because he lives privately, there is also very little news about him at all. The safest answer is that, based on everything publicly reported, there is no evidence that Lanny Lambert has died. If that changes, it would almost certainly be reported by the same entertainment outlets that followed the Plato story.
Be careful with websites that claim to know his exact age, address or current job. Many of these pages copy each other and give no source. None of those details has been confirmed by Lambert himself or by reputable media.
Who Is Lanny Lambert?
Lanny Lambert is an American rock guitarist. He met Dana Plato in the early 1980s, while she was one of the best-known young actresses on American television thanks to her role as Kimberly Drummond in Diff’rent Strokes.
In December 1983, Plato moved in with Lambert. The relationship moved quickly. The couple married on 24 April 1984, and their son was born a few months later, on 2 July 1984.
His music career did not bring him fame in his own right, and there is no reliable public record of the bands he played with or any albums he released. His public profile comes almost entirely from his marriage and from his role as Tyler’s father.
Lanny Lambert and Dana Plato
The Marriage
Dana Plato’s pregnancy had a direct effect on her career. She became pregnant during the run of Diff’rent Strokes, and her character was written out of the show as a regular. She later returned in guest appearances, but the change marked the start of a very difficult period in her professional life.
The marriage itself lasted only a few years. Plato separated from Lambert in January 1988, the same week her mother died of scleroderma. It was a hard time for her personally, and reports from that period describe her as struggling with money and with her career.
The Divorce and Custody
The couple’s divorce was finalised in 1990. Lambert was given custody of their son, while Plato received visitation rights. This was an important decision for Tyler’s future: from that point on, he was raised mainly by his father.
After the divorce, Plato’s life became more turbulent. She faced legal trouble and money problems through the 1990s, and her story was widely covered by the press. Lambert stayed out of that coverage and did not use the media to talk about his former wife.
Dana Plato’s Death
Dana Plato died on 8 May 1999, at the age of 34, after an overdose. Her death was later ruled a suicide. According to those close to Lambert, he struggled to come to terms with her death. He did not give public interviews about it.
Lanny Lambert’s Son, Tyler Lambert
Tyler Lambert was Lanny Lambert and Dana Plato’s only child. He was born on 2 July 1984 and grew up mainly with his father after the 1990 divorce.
Tyler was 14 when his mother died. In May 2010, he died by suicide in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 25. His death came just days before Mother’s Day and almost exactly eleven years after his mother’s death. Police in Tulsa confirmed his death to the media, and it was reported by ABC News and other outlets.
Lambert has never spoken publicly in detail about losing his son. His silence is understandable, and this profile does not speculate about his private feelings or family life.
If this story has affected you, Samaritans can be contacted free in the UK and Ireland on 116 123, at any time of day or night.
Where Is Lanny Lambert From?
Lanny Lambert is American. His exact birthplace and hometown have not been confirmed by a reliable source. He and Dana Plato lived in California during their relationship, when she was working in Hollywood, and his son was later living in Oklahoma at the time of his death. That does not confirm where Lambert himself lives today.
Lanny Lambert Age
Lanny Lambert’s date of birth has not been published by any reputable source, so his exact age is not publicly confirmed. For context, Dana Plato was born in 1964 and was 19 when they married, but no reliable source gives Lambert’s own birth year.
Lanny Lambert Career
Lambert is consistently described as a rock guitarist. Beyond that, very little is on record. He does not appear to have released music under his own name that reached a wide audience, and no reputable source names a well-known band he belonged to.
After his divorce, he lived away from the entertainment industry. There is no confirmed information about what work he did later in life.
Is There a Lanny Lambert Wikipedia Page?
No, Lanny Lambert does not have his own English Wikipedia page. He is mentioned on Dana Plato’s Wikipedia page, which covers their relationship, their 1984 wedding, the birth of their son, the 1988 separation, the 1990 divorce and custody arrangement, and Tyler’s death in 2010.
Most other “Lanny Lambert Wikipedia” style pages online are written by third-party sites. Treat any detail they give that is not on the Dana Plato page or in reputable news reports with caution.
Lanny Lambert Wife and Family
Lambert’s only confirmed marriage is to Dana Plato. Whether he remarried later is not publicly confirmed. He has kept his personal life private, and no reliable source names a later wife or partner.
His only confirmed child is Tyler Lambert. There are no confirmed reports of other children.
Lanny Lambert Social Media
Lanny Lambert has no confirmed public social media accounts. Some profiles online use his name, but none has been verified as belonging to Dana Plato’s former husband.
Lanny Lambert Net Worth
Lanny Lambert’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. Figures quoted on celebrity net worth sites are estimates with no clear source. As a private person, his finances have never been reported by reputable outlets.
Conclusion
Lanny Lambert is a rock guitarist whose name is known mainly because of his marriage to Dana Plato. The pair married in 1984, had their son Tyler that same year, separated in 1988 and divorced in 1990, when Lambert was given custody. He later lost both his former wife and his son, and he has chosen to stay out of the public eye ever since.
As for the most common question, there is no credible report that Lanny Lambert has died. Beyond the facts covered here, his life remains private.
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FAQs
Is Lanny Lambert still alive?
There is no credible report of his death. Reputable outlets that covered Dana Plato and her son have not reported that he has died.
Who was Lanny Lambert married to?
He was married to actress Dana Plato, known for Diff’rent Strokes, from April 1984 until their divorce in 1990.
What does Lanny Lambert do?
He is described as a rock guitarist. No reliable source confirms details of his later career.
Did Lanny Lambert and Dana Plato have children?
Yes, one son, Tyler Lambert, born on 2 July 1984. Lambert was given custody of Tyler after the divorce.
What happened to Lanny Lambert’s son?
Tyler Lambert died by suicide in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in May 2010, aged 25, almost eleven years after his mother’s death.
How old is Lanny Lambert?
His date of birth has not been publicly confirmed, so his exact age is not known.
