Conrad Bain

Conrad Stafford Bain (February 4, 1923 – January 14, 2013) was a Canadian-American actor. His television credits include a leading role as Phillip Drummond in the sitcom ''Diff'rent Strokes'' (1978–1986), as Dr. Arthur Harmon on '' Maude'' (1972–1978), and as Charlie Ross in '' Mr. President'' (1987–1988).

Biography

Early life

Conrad Bain was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, the son of Jean Agnes (née Young) and Stafford Harrison Bain, who was a wholesaler. He was an identical twin with actor Bonar Bain. He first appeared in a play in his senior year of high school, which sparked his interest in theatre.

Conrad studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts before serving in the Canadian Army during World War II. Bain became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1946. In 1948, he graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York; one of his classmates was comedian Don Rickles.

Career

After a stint at the Stratford Festival in Canada, Bain had further success as a stage actor in the 1956 revival of Eugene O'Neill's '' The Iceman Cometh''. ''The New York Times'' reviewer noted that his role was "especially well acted." He performed in ''Candide'' at the Martin Beck Theatre from 1956 to 1957. In 1961, he performed in ''Advise and Consent''. He performed in '' Hogan's Goat'' in 1965, '' The Kitchen'' in 1966, and '' Scuba Duba'' in 1967. In 1970, he performed in the original Off Broadway run of '' Steambath''. In 1971, he performed in ''An Enemy of the People'' and in 1973, he performed in ''Uncle Vanya''.

Bain also found work on television; in 1966 he appeared in the cult supernatural soap opera ''Dark Shadows'' as the town innkeeper, Mr. Wells, during seasons 1 and 2, before his character was killed.

In 1962, Bain was one of the principal organizers of the Actors Federal Credit Union, inspired by an actor who could not obtain credit at a local department store. Bain served as the credit union's first president.

In 1970, Bain appeared in the film ''Lovers and Other Strangers'' and in 1971, he appeared in Woody Allen's ''Bananas''.

He was cast by producer Norman Lear as Dr. Arthur Harmon, Bea Arthur's title character's conservative nemesis, who married her best friend, Vivian, in '' Maude'' (1972–1978).

Based on his success in '' Maude'', Bain was cast in ''Diff'rent Strokes'' (1978–1986) as Park Avenue millionaire Phillip Drummond, who adopted two African-American orphaned boys from Harlem, Willis and Arnold, to live with him and his daughter, Kimberly, and housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett. In 1979, he played Phillip Drummond in an episode of '' The Facts of Life''. In 1996, Bain reprised his role of Phillip Drummond alongside Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson on the series finale of ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air''.

In 1987, Bain starred in Mr. President, a political sit-com. In 1991 and 1992, he performed in ''On Borrowed Time'', his last Broadway theatre production.

Death

Bain died from a stroke on January 14, 2013, in Livermore, California, at the age of 89. His body was cremated.

Personal life

Bain had two sons and a daughter with Monica Sloan (1923–2009), to whom he wed in 1945; they remained married until her death in 2009.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bain, Conrad Stafford 1923 births
2013 deaths
20th-century American male actors
20th-century Canadian male actors
American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni
American male comedians
American twins
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity alumni
Canadian Army personnel of World War II
Canadian emigrants to the United States
Canadian male comedians
Canadian male film actors
Canadian male television actors
Canadian twins
Comedians from Alberta
Comedians from California
Identical twin male actors
Male actors from Alberta
Naturalized citizens of the United States
People from Lethbridge
People from Livermore, California
Western Canada High School alumni