In a 1994 Times interview, O'Grady said she had long suffered from
severe panic attacks, which led to her abusing prescription drugs and
alcohol for more than a decade.
16 January 2002: According to toxicology tests, she died of a drug
overdose, with fatal levels of Vicodin and Prozac in her
bloodstream.
Born Lanita Rose Agrati, she changed her name to Lani O'Grady after
landing her role in Eight Is Enough (1977), a comedy-drama that starred Dick Van Patten as the
newspaper columnist father of eight children. The series ran from 1977
to 1981.
Lani was working as a talent agent (like her mother, Mary Grady, who was one of Hollywood's top children's agents) at the time of her death.
Found dead in her home in Valencia, California. (September 25, 2001)