Conrad Bain 1923-2013

[Zoneboy]

Conrad Bain, a veteran stage and film actor who became a star in middle age as the kindly white adoptive father of two young African-American brothers in the TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," has died.

Bain died Monday of natural causes in his hometown of Livermore, Calif., according to his daughter, Jennifer Bain. He was 89.

The show that made him famous debuted on NBC in 1978, an era when television comedies tackled relevant social issues. "Diff'rent Strokes" touched on serious themes but was known better as a family comedy that drew most of its laughs from its standout child actor, Gary Coleman.

Bain played wealthy Manhattan widower Philip Drummond, who promised his dying housekeeper he would raise her sons, played by Coleman and Todd Bridges. Race and class relations became topics on the show as much as the typical trials of growing up.

In the show's heyday, Bain didn't mind being overshadowed by the focus on the show's children. He praised Coleman and Bridges as natural talents without egos.

But "Diff'rent Strokes" is remembered mostly for its child stars' adult troubles.

Coleman, who died in 2010, had financial and legal problems in addition to continuing ill health from the kidney disease that stunted his growth and required transplants. Bridges and Dana Plato, who played Bain's teenage daughter, both had arrest records and drug problems, and Plato died of an overdose in 1999 at age 34.

Bain said in interviews later that he struggled to talk about his TV children's troubled lives because of his love for them. After Bridges started to put his drug troubles behind him in the early 1990s, he told Jet magazine that Bain had become like a real father to him.

Bain went directly into "Diff'rent Strokes" from another comedy, "Maude," which aired on CBS from 1972 to 1978.

As Dr. Arthur Harmon, the conservative neighbor often zinged by Bea Arthur's liberal feminist, Bain became so convincing as a doctor that a woman once stopped him in an airport seeking medical advice.

At a nostalgia gathering in 1999, he lamented the fading of situation comedies that he said were about something.

"I think they got off the track when they first hired a standup comic to do the lead," he said. "Instead of people creating real situations, you get people trying to act funny."

Before those television roles, Bain had appeared occasionally in films, including "A Lovely Way to Die," "Coogan's Bluff," "The Anderson Tapes," "I Never Sang for My Father" and Woody Allen's "Bananas." He also played the clerk at the Collinsport Inn in the 1960s television show "Dark Shadows."

A native of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Bain arrived in New York in 1948 after serving in the Canadian army during World War II. He was still studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts when he acquired his first role on television's "Studio One."

A quick study who could play anything from Shakespeare to O'Neill, he found work in stock companies in the United States and the Bahamas, making his New York debut in 1956 as Larry Slade in "The Iceman Cometh" at the Circle in the Square.

With his plain looks and down-to-earth manner, he was always cast as a character actor.

It was an audition for a role in the 1971 film "Cold Turkey" that led Bain to TV stardom. He didn't get the part but "Cold Turkey" director Norman Lear remembered him when he created "Maude."

Conrad Stafford Bain attended high school in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, deciding on his life's work after an appearance as the stage manager in a high school production of "Our Town."

He married artist Monica Sloan in 1945. She died in 2009. He is survived by three children: Jennifer, Kent and Mark.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118064723/

[JamesG]

That's sad, I've been watching "DS" season four on DVD.

I wasn't aware that he came out of retirement briefly for an episode of "Unforgettable" in 2011.

[Wildchats]

Originally Posted by JamesG

That's sad, I've been watching "DS" season four on DVD.

I wasn't aware that he came out of retirement briefly for an episode of "Unforgettable" in 2011.

Very sad news. We must all keep in mind, this decade 2010-2020 will most likely see the final passings of TV Mom's/Dad's who were in their late 50s-early 60s during the 1970s/1980s. Such a great performer and TV Dad Conrad was.


With his passing, he leaves other TV Mom's and Dad's of the 1970s and 1980s, those played by actors Bill Macy, Betty White, George Gaynes, Jean Stapleton and Charlotte Rae, just to name a few who are still with us today who starred in sitcoms from the 1970s-1980s..THE BEST TWO DECADES FOR SITCOMS.

[Mr. Television]

One of the great sitcom Dads of all time. He was also great in Maude. R.I.P. Conrad.

[Wildchats]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

One of the great sitcom Dads of all time. He was also great in Maude. R.I.P. Conrad.

Does anyone else know which other actors are still around who played TV Mom's and Dads from the 1970s-1980s that were around Conrad's age or older at the time? I named a few. Not sure if there are many more left.


I know the parents on shows like Growing Pains and Family ties are a lot younger. But those who looked like Grandparents during the 1970s-1980s, how many are left? Did I get that list complete?

It's sad, because all the legends are almost gone. We know there is a decade or less left before all the TV Mom's and Dads are gone from the 1970s-1980s who were "grandparent-like" in their looks and characters back then. Conrad lived a long life. Such a shame how he has to now join Gary and Dana, they should have lived long lives. He knew there was always trouble on the set as he used to state in interviews. I'm sure they're together today though, all hugging and having a good time in heaven Sad there's only Willis left now from the original Pilot cast...and Mrs. G.


Other classic sitcom stars such as Russel Johnson, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Al Molinaro, and a few others tat are around or older than Conrad was are also still with us today, too.

[Marvo301]

Another Canadian actor who found fame and fortune south of the boarder is now plying his trade in that great theater in the sky! Mr. D was one of my favorite TV Dads. Conrad Bain

[Wildchats]

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Another Canadian actor who found fame and fortune south of the boarder is now plying his trade in that great theater in the sky! Mr. D was one of my favorite TV Dads. Conrad Bain

I read on his IMDB a few weeks ago that he was a twin. My prayers are with his family and his brother, and his surviving co-stars.

[Hughsgirl]

Very sad news indeed! He sounds like he was a stand up guy too.

[catlover79]

Here are some words from his DS co-star, Shavar Ross (Dudley):

"Mr. Bain was such a warm and caring man, very much like his character on the show — my sincerest condolences to the Bain family…HE WILL BE MISSED!!

: ("

http://shavarross.com/2013/01/16/dif...nd-dies-at-89/

[Wildchats]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Here are some words from his DS co-star, Shavar Ross (Dudley):

"Mr. Bain was such a warm and caring man, very much like his character on the show — my sincerest condolences to the Bain family…HE WILL BE MISSED!!

: ("

http://shavarross.com/2013/01/16/dif...nd-dies-at-89/

Shavar Ross is really cool. He was the first person to ever e-mail me back of any celeb I wrote to before I moved to Los Angeles. In fact, he was the only one, really. I didn't write to anyone but him since he had his e-mail available for fans of his/Diff'rent Strokes. That's what Conrad's daughter described him as...a lot like Mr. Drumond in real life.


RIP Conrad

[Pavan]

Very sad news. He will be deeply missed. We will have a tribute tomorrow on the blog and more details on marathons. Antenna TV will pay tribute to him with a marathon:

Antenna TV’s “Tribute to Conrad Bain”
Saturday, January 19, 2013
1-4p ET Maude
4-8p ET Diff'rent Strokes

[Larenz09]

So sad to hear this!!

My condolences to his family.

He was a great one, and he'll be missed by all!!!

I never knew that he had a twin brother!!!

[DarkDante]

Very classy and underrated actor. As someone else said one of the greatest TV dads of all time. Although I primarily know him from his work on DS, just from that series alone you could tell that Conrad Bain had incredible range able to handle both comedy and drama with aplomb.

Perhaps the thing that sticks out most in my mind about Conrad Bain is his keen observation around the time of DS as to how young actors were coming up in the industry expressing his dismay at their need to be catered to, noting and sadly accurately predicting the troubles that would befall the young cast of that show.

RIP Conrad. You will be missed and fondly remembered.

[Mr. Television]

http://www.tmz.com/2013/01/16/todd-b...#ixzz2IAmausfP

Todd Bridges
'Deeply Saddened'
By Conrad Bain Death






Diff'rent Strokes" star Todd Bridges is inconsolable in the wake of Conrad Bain's death -- telling TMZ, he just spoke to Bain last week and everything seemed fine.

Bridges tells us, "I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Conrad as we were looking forward to celebrating his 90th birthday next month."

He added, "In addition to being a positive and supportive father figure both on and off-screen, Conrad was well-loved and made going to work each day enjoyable for all of us. He will be missed, but never forgotten."




TMZ broke the story ... Bain -- who played Phillip Drummond on the iconic show -- passed away Monday at a retirement home in Livermore, CA. He was 89.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Pavan

Very sad news. He will be deeply missed. We will have a tribute tomorrow on the blog and more details on marathons. Antenna TV will pay tribute to him with a marathon:

Antenna TV’s “Tribute to Conrad Bain”
Saturday, January 19, 2013
1-4p ET Maude
4-8p ET Diff'rent Strokes

Thanks for the headsup, Pav. I figured ATV would do a marathon since they carry both shows.