Conrad Bain
Conrad Bain | |
|---|---|
Bain as Arthur Harmon in Maude, 1975 | |
| Born | Conrad Stafford Bain February 4, 1923 Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | January 14, 2013 (aged 89) Livermore, California, U.S. |
| Education | Banff School of Fine Arts |
| Alma mater | American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1952–1996; 2011 |
| Known for | Dr. Arthur Harmon on Maude, Phillip Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes |
| Television | Diff'rent Strokes, Maude |
| Spouse |
Monica Sloan
(m. 1945; died 2009) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Bonar Bain (twin brother) |
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.[1][2] He first appeared in a play in his senior year of high school, which sparked his interest in theatre.[3]
Conrad studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts before serving in the Canadian Army during World War II.[4] Bain became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1946.[4][3] In 1948, he graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York; one of his classmates was comedian Don Rickles.[5]
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.[4] The New York Times reviewer noted that his role was "especially well acted."[6] He performed in Candide at the Martin Beck Theatre from 1956 to 1957.[4] In 1961, he performed in Advise and Consent.[3] He performed in Hogan's Goat in 1965, The Kitchen in 1966, and Scuba Duba in 1967.[7] In 1970, he performed in the original Off Broadway run of Steambath.[7] In 1971, he performed in An Enemy of the People and in 1973, he performed in Uncle Vanya.[3]
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.[7]
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.[8][9] Bain served as the credit union's first president.[7]
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[3] as Dr. Arthur Harmon, Bea Arthur's title character's conservative nemesis, who married her best friend, Vivian, in Maude (1972–1978).[2][5]
Based on his success in Maude,[5] 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.[4] In 1979, he played Phillip Drummond in an episode of The Facts of Life.[4] 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.[4]
In 1987, Bain starred in Mr. President, a political sit-com.[5] In 1991 and 1992, he performed in On Borrowed Time, his last Broadway theatre production.[5][3]
Death
Bain died from a stroke on January 14, 2013, in Livermore, California, at the age of 89.[10] 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.[4]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | The Borgia Stick | Lawyer | TV movie, Uncredited |
| 1968 | Madigan | Hotel Clerk | |
| A Lovely Way to Die | James Lawrence | ||
| Star! | Salesman at Cartier's | Uncredited | |
| Coogan's Bluff | Madison Avenue Man | ||
| 1969 | Last Summer | Sidney | Uncredited |
| 1970 | Lovers and Other Strangers | Priest in Confessional | |
| I Never Sang for My Father | Rev. Sam Pell | ||
| 1971 | Fury on Wheels | Lester Jump | Alternate title: Jump |
| A New Leaf | Professor Heinrich | Uncredited | |
| Bananas | Semple | ||
| The Anderson Tapes | Dr. Rubicoff | ||
| Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? | Val Rooney | ||
| Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story | President Richard M. Nixon | Short film | |
| 1972 | A Fan's Notes | Poppy | |
| Up the Sandbox | Dr. Gordon | ||
| 1975 | Twigs | Swede | TV movie |
| 1979 | C.H.O.M.P.S. | Ralph Norton | |
| A Pleasure Doing Business | Herb | ||
| 1981 | Child Bride of Short Creek | Frank King | TV movie |
| 1990 | Postcards from the Edge | Grandpa |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Studio One in Hollywood | Dr. Caldwell | Episode: "The Hospital" |
| 1956 | Evans | Episode: "Family Protection" | |
| 1961 | Naked City | Miller | Episode: "The Day the Island Almost Sank" |
| The Defenders | D.A. Fred Monahan | Episode: "Gideon's Follies" | |
| 1965 | The Trials of O'Brien | District Attorney | Episode: "Dead End on Flugel Street" |
| 1966 | Dark Shadows | Hotel Clerk | Episodes #1.1, #1.11, #1.61 |
| 1967 | N.Y.P.D. | Manager | Episode: "Shakedown" |
| 1968 | Dark Shadows | Mr. Wells | Episode #1.632 |
| 1970 | The Edge of Night | Dr. Charles Weldon #1 | Unknown episodes |
| 1972–1978 | Maude | Dr. Arthur Harmon | Main cast (121 episodes) |
| 1978 | The Waverly Wonders | Tate Sr. | Episode: "Tate vs. Tate" |
| Grandpa Goes to Washington | Robert Green | Episode: "Kelley at the Bat" | |
| The Love Boat | Les | Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part-Maybe/Locked Away/Chubs" | |
| 1978–1986 | Diff'rent Strokes | Philip Drummond | Main cast (189 episodes) |
| 1979 | Hello, Larry | Episode: "The Trip: Part 2" | |
| The Facts of Life | Episode: "Rough Housing" | ||
| Hello, Larry | Episode: "Feudin' and Fussin': Part 2" | ||
| Episode: "Thanksgiving Crossover: Part 2" | |||
| 1980 | The Beatrice Arthur Special | Himself | TV special, Uncredited |
| CHiPs | Episode: "The Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party: Part 2" | ||
| 1985 | The Love Boat | Leslie Campbell | Episode: "Instinct/Unmade for Each Other/BOS" |
| Charles Custers | Episode: "A Day in Port" | ||
| 1987–1988 | Mr. President | Charlie Ross | Main cast (24 episodes) |
| 1993 | The Adventures of the Black Stallion | Tobias Doyle | Episode: "Legends Never Die" |
| 1996 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Philip Drummond | Episode: "I, Done: Part 2" |
| 2011 | Unforgettable | Priest | Episode: "Trajectories", (uncredited and final appearance) |
References
- ^ Fisher, Luchina (January 16, 2013). "'Diff'rent Strokes' Actor Conrad Bain Dies at 89". ABC News.
- ^ a b Marks, Scott (January 16, 2013). "Dig a hole: Conrad Bain". San Diego Reader.
- ^ a b c d e f Bernstein, Adam (January 16, 2013). "Conrad Bain, 'Diff'rent Strokes' dad, dies at 89". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hayward, Anthony (January 17, 2013). "Conrad Bain obituary". The Guardian.
- ^ a b c d e "Diff'rent Strokes actor Conrad Bain dies at 89". CBC News. January 16, 2013.
- ^ Atkinson, Brooks (May 9, 1956). "O'Neill Tragedy Revived". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c d Simonson, Robert (January 16, 2013). "Conrad Bain, Everyman Player of Stage and TV, Dies". Playbill.
- ^ "Our Leadership". Actors Federal Credit Union.
- ^ Morrison, David (February 7, 2007). "Actors FCU's ATM Policy is Just One Effort to Serve Unique Acting Population". Credit Union Times.
- ^ Yardley, William (January 16, 2013). "Conrad Bain, Actor on 'Diff'rent Strokes,' Dies at 89". The New York Times.
External links
- Conrad Bain at IMDb
- Conrad Bain at the TCM Movie Database
- Conrad Bain at the Internet Broadway Database
- Conrad Bain at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)