meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Once Upon A Crime

Cursed Hollywood: Diff'rent Strokes

Once Upon A Crime

Esther Ludlow

Truecrime, History, True Crime, Crime, Criminals, Criminology, Society & Culture

4.65K Ratings

🗓️ 5 August 2019

⏱️ 46 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Three child actors become stars after being cast in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes in 1978.  But, all three would go on to live troubled adult lives including drug addiction, legal troubles and untimely death.  These are the stories of Todd Bridges, Dana Plato and Gary Coleman.  Resources: The Tragic Stars of Different Strokes, People Magazine, March 25, 1991 Gary Coleman dies at 42; child star of hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes by Dennis McClellan for The Los Angeles Times, May 29, 2010.   The Overdose Death of Dana Plato by Frank Wilkins for ReelReviews.com.  Todd Bridges book: Killing Wills: From Diff'rent Strokes to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted, Simon and Schuster, 2010. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This podcast details true crime cases.

0:03.0

It contains adult themes and may contain descriptions of violence.

0:06.8

It is not intended for children.

0:08.7

Listener discretion is advised.

0:15.7

Every year, hundreds, if not thousands of hopeful people,

0:19.6

block to Hollywood, California in search of a dream.

0:23.0

With stars in their eyes, aspiring actors, singers, dancers,

0:26.8

comedians, and other entertainers,

0:29.0

all come with the same goal in mind to become a Hollywood star.

0:33.6

But actually succeeding in the ultra competitive world of show business

0:37.1

is extremely difficult, and actually attaining celebrity status

0:41.4

is something only a very select few accomplish.

0:44.8

Celebrities live in a world of wealth,

0:47.0

fame, and privilege that most can't even imagine.

0:50.0

We may observe their lifestyles with awe or envy,

0:53.4

but their celebrity often comes with the price.

0:56.4

The glare of the spotlight, constantly being critiqued for your performance,

1:00.5

criticized for your personal life choices,

1:03.1

and the never-ending pressure of pleasing the fans in order to maintain popularity

1:07.6

can take its toll.

1:09.6

So while sad, it's not too surprising when we occasionally see a once promising star fall,

1:15.7

either due to drug and or alcohol addiction,

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Esther Ludlow, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Esther Ludlow and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.