Best known for her roles in American Graffiti, One Day at a Time and The Disney Channel show, So Weird, Mackenzie Phillips is the quintessential troubled child star. Her drug abuse began very early, when her rock n’ roll father from the group, The Mamas and the Papas, taught her how to shoot up drugs. Later, Mackenzie and her father, John, would have a consensual, incestuous sexual relationship for 10 years. Her downward spiral lead her to embarrassing collapses and firings. Succumbing to multiple near-fatal overdoses and accruing many arrests due to her drug possession, Mackenzie checked herself into rehab to straighten out her life. Today Mackenzie works as a drug rehab counselor.

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the hit show that became a staple of the NBC 80s television line up. The Facts of Life was a female-centric spinoff of the popular show Diff’rent Strokes. It ran for nine seasons and became a cultural touchstone. This special Behind Closed Doors offers an inside look at the show that gave us Tootie, Blair, Natalie, Jo, and of course Mrs. Garrett. Cast members and the creatives behind the series—including the casting director, producers, writers, and its longtime director—offer a peak and how the show came together. From its initial concept, to its early unwieldly cast, to the painful decision to whittle that cast down, the early days of the series were tumultuous and success was by no means a given.

Drugs, crime, and death; the downward spiral of the child cast of Diff’rent Strokes is one for the ages. The once adored child actors Gary Coleman, Dana Plato, and Todd Bridges were brought to fame at an early age for their roles in the 80’s TV show. However, their individual endeavors after the show were defined by drug addiction, financial struggles, and arrests. Dana Plato robbed a dry cleaners, Gary Coleman divorced his parents and had anger issues, and Todd Bridges was a drug addict. Plato’s suicide in 1999 and Coleman’s death in 2010 have left the nation wondering how these beloved child actors could succumb to such a tragic turn of events.

On May 8, 1999, the world was saddened by the news that actor Dana Plato, died in Moore, Oklahoma. As a child star in Eighties TV show ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Dana had captured the heart of America playing everyone’s favourite older sister, Kimberley Drummond. It seemed nothing could stop her. But after riding high on the show’s success, her career dwindled and Dana suffered a series of crushing lows including the loss of her beloved adoptive mum as well as a marriage breakdown. As Dana’s life continued to unravel, she turned to alcohol and drugs to deal with her problems becoming a Hollywood pariah. Dana was found dead in her RV at the age of just 34. She had died of a multidrug overdose and her passing was originally reported as accidental but the autopsy report would later rule this death as suicide. There are those that remain convinced that the young mother with so much to live for would never take her own life. So what really happened? World renowned forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Hunter needs to analyze every detail of Dana’s autopsy, toxicology report and personal testimonies to find out more about her last days and whether Dana Plato really meant to commit suicide?

Gary Coleman soared to success as the diminutive star of classic eighties sit-com, Different strokes. His chubby cheeks, sharp wit and trademark catchphrase captured the hearts of millions. But at the height of his fame he was plagued by health problems and when his career stalled he hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. He gained a reputation as a notorious hot head and a series of highly publicized arrests followed. Then, on May 28th, 2010 Gary Coleman died in mysterious circumstance after an incident at his home in Utah. World renowned forensic pathologist Dr Michael Hunter scrutinizes all evidence to reveal why this much loved star died.

A deputy pursues a driver after he runs away while being searched; an officer questions a man for driving too aggressively; police stop a vehicle that is believed to be stolen; a suspected burglar is pursued.

A vehicle hits a cyclist during a routine traffic stop; a car is searched in a drug-infested neighborhood; a deputy responds to a 911 hang-up call and finds a man who went on a drug binge; a man accused of assaulting his girlfriend is questioned.

Police pursue a car that ran a stop sign and find drugs in the vehicle; a driver is questioned for an equipment violation; a speeding vehicle is pulled over and the driver arrested on drug charges; cops respond to a vehicle rollover.

Police pursue a man suspected of being involved in hit-and-run accident; cops arrest a man for driving a stolen car; a suspected drunk driver is stopped and questioned; a man accused of hitting a neighbor is questioned.

On Patrol: First Shift is the only place to catch what you missed — exclusive updates on stories, candid interviews with the officers on shift, and answers to your questions about On Patrol: Live.

A Live Series following Law Enforcement Officers On Patrol across the country – all live and in real time.

A Live Series following Law Enforcement Officers On Patrol across the country – all live and in real time.

The night of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight a woman pummels a nightclub security guard for an unusual reason. A man who claims to have served in the military confronts a Lieutenant and threatens fellow detainees in the holding cell. A “Pac-man” fan has a spat with his Mayweather-backing wife.

Officers transfer an over caffeinated suspect to isolation so he can unwind. A man arrested for DUI while doing donuts in a mall parking lot asserts he was robbed. A jaywalking Utah man claims someone hit him on the head. A disgruntled detainee lands a sucker punch on a fellow inmate.

A woman arrested 45 times gives advice to recently released drug users. Two Australian brothers can’t understand why playing a game of “footie” in a hotel hallway would land them in jail. A drunken nightclub security guard wrecks his scooter.

An intoxicated woman clashes with officers but later shows that good behavior pays off. An experienced prostitute gives solid advice to a younger woman and begs her to get out of the “game.” An angry woman smashes her cheating boyfriend’s windshield.

A homeless man punches a singing transient over a racist comment. An assailant hits a sleeping man with a brick over a money dispute. A sobbing young man insists he was falsely arrested. A bar fight sends a UFC fighter to the hospital and the bartender who slugged him to jail.

A party of three girls are brought in after having been arrested for possession at a nearby music festival. Drugs are found on the person of a music festival attendee during intake. A slightly older party goer is taken into custody for possession.

The night of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight a woman pummels a nightclub security guard for an unusual reason. A man who claims to have served in the military confronts a Lieutenant and threatens fellow detainees in the holding cell. A “Pac-man” fan has a spat with his Mayweather-backing wife.

Officers transfer an over caffeinated suspect to isolation so he can unwind. A man arrested for DUI while doing donuts in a mall parking lot asserts he was robbed. A jaywalking Utah man claims someone hit him on the head. A disgruntled detainee lands a sucker punch on a fellow inmate.

A woman arrested 45 times gives advice to recently released drug users. Two Australian brothers can’t understand why playing a game of “footie” in a hotel hallway would land them in jail. A drunken nightclub security guard wrecks his scooter.

An intoxicated woman clashes with officers but later shows that good behavior pays off. An experienced prostitute gives solid advice to a younger woman and begs her to get out of the “game.” An angry woman smashes her cheating boyfriend’s windshield.

A homeless man punches a singing transient over a racist comment. An assailant hits a sleeping man with a brick over a money dispute. A sobbing young man insists he was falsely arrested. A bar fight sends a UFC fighter to the hospital and the bartender who slugged him to jail.

A party of three girls are brought in after having been arrested for possession at a nearby music festival. Drugs are found on the person of a music festival attendee during intake. A slightly older party goer is taken into custody for possession.