Conrad Bain who stared on the comedy hit "Different Strokes" as dad Phillip Drummond has died at the age of 89. TMZ reported on Wednesday, Jan 16 that Bain passed away on Monday night at a retirement home located in Livermore, CA.
The celebrity news site confirmed the actors death by speaking with Conrad Bain's daughter Jennifer.
"He was an amazing person. He was a lot like Mr. Drummond, but much more interesting in real life. He was an amazing father."
Conrad Bain skyrocketed to popularity starring opposite Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges and Dana Plato on the iconic 80s series "Different Strokes." Bain also found work on television appearing in the soap opera Dark Shadows as the town innkeeper, Mr. Wells, during season 1 and 2. His character was killed off by werewolf Chris Jennings (Don Briscoe).
"Strokes" co star Todd Bridges is heart broken to hear of his TV adopted father's passing and stated he had last spoke with Bain last week and that he sounded fine at the time.
Todd Bridges said, "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."
"Different Strokes" first aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain) and his daughter Kimberly (Dana Plato), for whom their deceased mother previously worked.During the first season and first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds' housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett (who ultimately spun-off into her own successful show, The Facts of Life).
The show made huge stars out of child actors Coleman, Bridges, and Plato, and became known for the "very special episodes" in which serious issues such as racism, illegal drug use and child sexual abuse were dramatically explored. The lives of stars Coleman, Bridges, and Plato were later plagued by legal troubles and drug addiction, as the stardom and success they achieved while on the show eluded them after the series was canceled.
Conrad Bain is survived by his three sons and one daughter. He also has a surviving twin brother Bonar Bain.
R.I.P. Conrad Bain.
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