DIFF'RENT STROKES ACTOR CONRAD BAIN AKA PHILLIP DRUMMOND IS DEAD AT THE AGE OF 89

ACTOR CONRAD BAIN IS DEAD AT THE AGE OF 89

Actor Conrad Bain, best remembered as the paternal Park Avenue millionaire who adopted two African-American brothers on the 1980s comedy "Diff'rent Strokes," died Monday night in California. He was 89.

His daughter, Jennifer Bain, said the actor died of natural causes.

"I can't imagine having a more interesting, loving and dynamic father," she told the Daily News Wednesday.

The Canadian-born Bain may have been best known for a sitcom, but he was actually a Shakespearean actor by training. Later, he came to New York to perform on Broadway, earning rave reviews for his work in a 1956 revival of Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh."

He also appeared in the campy 1960s ABC soap opera "Dark Shadows."

For some fans, he’ll always be remembered for a small, but vital, role in Woody Allen’s film “Bananas,” playing an American official involved in the plot to make Allen’s character, Fielding Mellish, the head of a Latin American country, San Marcos.

But it was his TV roles that made Conrad Bain a household name.


TODD BRIDGES (L) CONRAD BAIN (M) GARY COLEMAN (R)

First, he had an iconic role as the conservative Dr. Arthur Harmon in the groundbreaking feminist CBS sitcom "Maude."

Then he achieved legendary status in TV land for his portrayal of wealthy widower Phillip Drummond, who rears Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges and Dana Plato on "Diff'rent Strokes" from 1978 through the mid ’80s.

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

"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," Bridges added. "He will be missed, but never forgotten."

COLEMAN, BAIN AND BRIDGES AT THE TV LAND AWARDS IN 2003

For Jennifer Bain, her dad was not just a TV dad.

She recalled growing up in a rented apartment on W. 72nd St. in Manhattan that was always filled with fascinating friends.

"My dad was doing theater every night, and there were always different actors in the house having interesting discussions," she said. "It was just a Bohemian collection of fun people gathering in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood with opera pouring out of every window."

She said her dad encouraged her and her two brothers to be "free thinkers."

"It was a very open-minded household. He only expected us to be what we wanted to be," she said. "When I saw 'Diff'rent Strokes,' I would see a lot of his genuine paternalistic character. The warmth and love he portrayed on TV was very close to home."

Bain is survived by his three sons and the daughter. He also has a surviving twin brother Bonar Bain.