Conrad Bain
Encyclopedia
Conrad Stafford Bain is a Canadian-American
actor
. His television credits include a leading role as Phillip Drummond in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes
and as Dr. Arthur Harmon on Maude
.
, Alberta
, the son of Jean Agnes Young and Stafford Harrison Bain, who was a wholesaler. He studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts
before serving in the Canadian Army
during World War II
. He then studied in New York
at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
, where his classmates included actor Charles Durning
and comedian Don Rickles
; he became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1946 before graduating in 1948.
Bain has three sons and a daughter with Monica Sloan, to whom he was married until her death in 2009. His identical twin brother is Bonar Bain
, who once played the brother of his Maude
character, Dr. Arthur Harmon.
Conrad Bain now lives in an independent living center in Livermore, California, called Heritage Estates.
, Bain had further success as a stage actor in the 1956 Broadway
revival of Eugene O'Neill
's The Iceman Cometh
. The New York Times
reviewer noted that his role was "especially well acted." Bain's other Broadway theatre
credits include Candide
, Advise and Consent
, An Enemy of the People
, Uncle Vanya
, and On Borrowed Time
. On Off Broadway, he appeared in the original run of Steambath
. While doing stage work in New York City
, Bain also found work on television appearing in the soap opera Dark Shadows
as the town inkeeper, Mr. Wells, during season 1 and 2. His character was killed off by werewolf Chris Jennings (Don Briscoe
).
In the early 1970s, Bain appeared in New York-based films like Lovers and Other Strangers
and Woody Allen
's Bananas
before achieving national recognition for his work in television. He is best known for his roles as Dr. Arthur Harmon, Bea Arthur's conservative nemesis, who married her best friend Vivian, in Maude (1972–78) and as Park Avenue millionaire, Phillip Drummond
in Diff'rent Strokes
(1978–86). In 1996, Bain reprised his role of Phillip Drummond on the series finale of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
Canadian-American
A Canadian American is someone who was born or someone who grew up in Canada then moved to the United States. The term is particularly apt when applied or self-applied to people with strong ties to Canada, such as those who have lived a significant portion of their lives in, or were educated in,...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. His television credits include a leading role as Phillip Drummond in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
and as Dr. Arthur Harmon on Maude
Maude (TV series)
Maude was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 12, 1972 until April 22, 1978.Maude starred Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay, an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York with...
.
Personal life
Bain was born in LethbridgeLethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, the son of Jean Agnes Young and Stafford Harrison Bain, who was a wholesaler. He studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts
Banff Centre
The Banff Centre, formerly known as The Banff Centre for Continuing Education, is an arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference complex located in Banff, Alberta...
before serving in the Canadian Army
Canadian Forces Land Force Command
The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He then studied in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
, where his classmates included actor Charles Durning
Charles Durning
Charles Durning is an American actor. With appearances in over 100 films, Durning's memorable roles include police officers in the Oscar-winning The Sting and crime drama Dog Day Afternoon , along with the comedies Tootsie, To Be Or Not To Be and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the last two...
and comedian Don Rickles
Don Rickles
Donald Jay "Don" Rickles is an American stand-up comedian and actor. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Rickles has acted in comedic and dramatic roles, but is best known as an insult comic....
; he became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1946 before graduating in 1948.
Bain has three sons and a daughter with Monica Sloan, to whom he was married until her death in 2009. His identical twin brother is Bonar Bain
Bonar Bain
Bonar Bain , a Canadian actor, is the identical twin brother of actor Conrad Bain who starred in Diff'rent Strokes as Phillip Drummond...
, who once played the brother of his Maude
Maude (TV series)
Maude was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 12, 1972 until April 22, 1978.Maude starred Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay, an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York with...
character, Dr. Arthur Harmon.
Conrad Bain now lives in an independent living center in Livermore, California, called Heritage Estates.
Career
After a stint at the Stratford (Ontario) Shakespeare FestivalStratford Festival of Canada
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival is an internationally recognized annual celebration of theatre running from April to November in the Canadian city of Stratford, Ontario...
, Bain had further success as a stage actor in the 1956 Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
revival of Eugene O'Neill
Eugene O'Neill
Eugene Gladstone O'Neill was an American playwright and Nobel laureate in Literature. His poetically titled plays were among the first to introduce into American drama techniques of realism earlier associated with Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, and Swedish...
's The Iceman Cometh
The Iceman Cometh
The Iceman Cometh is a play written by American playwright Eugene O'Neill in 1939. First published in 1940 the play premiered on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on 9 October 1946, directed by Eddie Dowling where it ran for 136 performances to close on 15 March 1947.-Characters:* Night Hawk-...
. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reviewer noted that his role was "especially well acted." Bain's other Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
credits include Candide
Candide
Candide, ou l'Optimisme is a French satire first published in 1759 by Voltaire, a philosopher of the Age of Enlightenment. The novella has been widely translated, with English versions titled Candide: or, All for the Best ; Candide: or, The Optimist ; and Candide: or, Optimism...
, Advise and Consent
Advise and Consent
Advise and Consent is a 1959 political novel by Allen Drury that explores the United States Senate confirmation of controversial Secretary of State nominee Robert Leffingwell who is a former member of the Communist Party...
, An Enemy of the People
An Enemy of the People
An Enemy of the People is an 1882 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen wrote it in response to the public outcry against his play Ghosts, which at that time was considered scandalous...
, Uncle Vanya
Uncle Vanya
Uncle Vanya is a play by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. It was first published in 1897 and received its Moscow première in 1899 in a production by the Moscow Art Theatre, under the direction of Konstantin Stanislavski....
, and On Borrowed Time
On Borrowed Time
On Borrowed Time is a 1939 film about the role death plays in life, and how humanity cannot live without it. It is adapted from Paul Osborn's 1938 Broadway hit play. The play, based on a novel by Lawrence Edward Watkin, has been revived twice on Broadway since its original run.Set in small-town...
. On Off Broadway, he appeared in the original run of Steambath
Steambath
Steambath is the second play by American author Bruce Jay Friedman. It was first performed Off-Broadway at the Truck and Warehouse Theater where it opened on June 30, 1970, closing on October 18, 1970 after 128 performances...
. While doing stage work in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Bain also found work on television appearing in the soap opera Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
as the town inkeeper, Mr. Wells, during season 1 and 2. His character was killed off by werewolf Chris Jennings (Don Briscoe
Don Briscoe
Cecil Donald "Don" Briscoe was an American soap opera actor, most notable for playing Tony Meritt on Days of Our Lives, and, from 1968–1970, for playing Chris Jennings, Tom Jennings, Timothy Shaw, and Chris Collins on Dark Shadows.Briscoe left Dark Shadows abruptly in 1970...
).
In the early 1970s, Bain appeared in New York-based films like Lovers and Other Strangers
Lovers and Other Strangers
Lovers and Other Strangers is a 1970 comedy film based on the play by Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna. The film features an ensemble cast including Richard Castellano, Gig Young, Cloris Leachman, Anne Jackson, Beatrice Arthur, Bonnie Bedelia, Michael Brandon, Harry Guardino, Anne Meara, Bob Dishy,...
and Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
's Bananas
Bananas (film)
Bananas is a 1971 comedy film written by Mickey Rose and Woody Allen, directed by Allen, and starring himself and Louise Lasser. Parts of the plot were based on the book Don Quixote, U.S.A. by Richard P. Powell. It was filmed on location in New York City, Lima , and various locations in Puerto...
before achieving national recognition for his work in television. He is best known for his roles as Dr. Arthur Harmon, Bea Arthur's conservative nemesis, who married her best friend Vivian, in Maude (1972–78) and as Park Avenue millionaire, Phillip Drummond
Phillip Drummond (character)
Phillip Drummond is a fictional character on the hit television series, Diff'rent Strokes, he was portrayed by Emmy Award nominee and Golden Globe winning television actor, Conrad Bain, who previously worked on Maude.-Fictional character biography:...
in Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
(1978–86). In 1996, Bain reprised his role of Phillip Drummond on the series finale of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
Actor
- 1996: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air .... Philip Drummond (1 episode, 1996)
- 1992: The Adventures of The Black Stallion ...Racing Legend (1 episode, 1992)
- 1990: Postcards from the EdgePostcards from the Edge (film)Postcards from the Edge is a 1990 American comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols. The screenplay by Carrie Fisher is based on her 1987 semi-autobiographical novel of the same title.-Plot:...
.... Grandpa - 1988: Mr. PresidentMr. President (TV series)Mr. President was a United States television series starring George C. Scott that premiered on May 3, 1987. It was part of the Fox Broadcasting Company's premiere season of prime time entertainment, alongside Married... With Children, The Tracey Ullman Show, and Duet.-Cast:*George C. Scott ... ...
.... Charlie Ross (24 episodes, 1987–1988) - 1985: The Love BoatThe Love BoatThe Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
.... Charles Custers / ... (3 episodes, 1978–1985) - 1981: Child Bride of Short CreekChild Bride of Short CreekChild Bride of Short Creek is a dramatization of the lives of the people of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, United States, collectively known as "Short Creek," a community made up of members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Mormon separatist group...
(TV) .... Frank King - 1979: C.H.O.M.P.S .... Ralph Norton
- 1979: The Facts of LifeThe Facts of Life (TV series)The Facts of Life is an American sitcom that originally ran on the NBC television network from August 24, 1979 to May 7, 1988. A spin-off of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, the series' premise focused on Edna Garrett as she becomes a housemother at the fictional Eastland School, a prestigious...
.... Philip Drummond (1 episode, 1979) - 1979: A Pleasure Doing Business .... Herb
- 1978: Grandpa Goes to WashingtonGrandpa Goes to WashingtonGrandpa Goes to Washington is an American sitcom that aired on NBC on Tuesday night from September 7, 1978 to January 16, 1979.-Plot:The series centered on Joe Kelley, a political science teacher who was forced to retire when he turned 66, who then got himself elected to the U.S senate.-Cast:*Jack...
.... Robert Green (1 episode, 1978) - 1978: The Waverly WondersThe Waverly WondersThe Waverly Wonders was a short-lived TV sitcom, starring retired pro football star Joe Namath, that lasted less than a month on NBC in 1978....
.... Tate Sr. (1 episode, 1978) - 1978: Diff'rent StrokesDiff'rent StrokesDiff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
.... Philip Drummond (189 episodes, 1978–1986) - 1972: MaudeMaude (TV series)Maude was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 12, 1972 until April 22, 1978.Maude starred Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay, an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York with...
.... Dr. Arthur Harmon (118 episodes, 1972–1978) - 1975: TwigsTwigs (play)Twigs is a play by George Furth, with incidental music by Stephen Sondheim.It consists of four vignettes involving three sisters and their mother, each focusing on one of the women as she confronts various issues with the man in her life. Emily is a recent widow, relocating to a new apartment, who...
(TV) .... Swede - 1972: Up the SandboxUp the SandboxUp The Sandbox is a 1972 American comedy film directed by Irvin Kershner.Paul Zindel's screenplay, based on the novel by Anne Roiphe, focuses on Margaret Reynolds, a young New York City wife and mother who, neglected by her husband and bored with her daily existence, slips into increasingly bizarre...
.... Dr. Gordon - 1972: A Fan's NotesA Fan's NotesA Fan's Notes is a novel by Frederick Exley, first published in 1968. Subtitled "A Fictional Memoir" and categorized as fiction, the book is somewhat autobiographical. In a brief "Note to the reader" in the opening pages Exley asserts...
.... Poppy - 1971: Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name?Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name?Who Killed Mary What's Er' Name? is a 1971 film starring comedian and actor Red Buttons and featuring Conrad Bain, Sylvia Miles, Alice Playten and Sam Waterston. Ernest Pintoff was the director, and Gary McFarland wrote the soundtrack music.The plot centers around the murder of a prostitute in a...
.... Val - 1971: The Anderson TapesThe Anderson TapesThe Anderson Tapes is a 1971 crime film. It was directed by Sidney Lumet and stars Sean Connery, Dyan Cannon, Martin Balsam, and comedian Alan King. The screenplay was written by Frank Pierson, based upon a best-selling 1970 novel of the same name by Lawrence Sanders...
.... Dr. Rubicoff - 1971: BananasBananas (film)Bananas is a 1971 comedy film written by Mickey Rose and Woody Allen, directed by Allen, and starring himself and Louise Lasser. Parts of the plot were based on the book Don Quixote, U.S.A. by Richard P. Powell. It was filmed on location in New York City, Lima , and various locations in Puerto...
.... Semple - 1971: Jump .... Lester Jump
- 1971: Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger StoryMen of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger StoryMen of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story is a short film directed by Woody Allen in 1971. The film was a satirization of the Richard Nixon administration made in mockumentary style....
(TV) - 1970: The Edge of NightThe Edge of NightThe Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
TV series .... Dr. Charles Weldon #1 (unknown episodes, 1970) - 1970: I Never Sang for My FatherI Never Sang for My FatherI Never Sang for My Father is a 1970 American film, based on a play by the same name, which tells the story of a college professor who wants to get out from under the thumb of his aging father yet still has regrets about his plan to leave him behind when he marries a younger woman and moves to...
.... Rev. Sam Pell - 1970: Lovers and Other StrangersLovers and Other StrangersLovers and Other Strangers is a 1970 comedy film based on the play by Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna. The film features an ensemble cast including Richard Castellano, Gig Young, Cloris Leachman, Anne Jackson, Beatrice Arthur, Bonnie Bedelia, Michael Brandon, Harry Guardino, Anne Meara, Bob Dishy,...
(uncredited) .... Priest in confessional - 1969: Last SummerLast SummerLast Summer is a 1969 coming-of-age movie about adolescent sexuality. Director Frank Perry filmed at Fire Island locations: the stars of the film are Catherine Burns, Barbara Hershey, Bruce Davison and Richard Thomas. The memorable performance by Burns brought her an Academy Award nomination for...
(uncredited) .... Sidney - 1966: Dark ShadowsDark ShadowsDark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
.... Hotel Clerk / ... (4 episodes, 1966–1968) - 1968: Coogan's BluffCoogan's Bluff (film)Coogan's Bluff is a 1968 American Universal film directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood, Lee J. Cobb, Don Stroud, and Susan Clark...
.... Madison Avenue Man - 1968: Star! (uncredited) .... Second Salesman at Cartier's
- 1968: A Lovely Way to DieA Lovely Way to DieA Lovely Way to Die is a 1968 American drama film directed by David Lowell Rich and starring Kirk Douglas, Sylva Koscina Eli Wallach and Kenneth Haigh. A police officer resigns from the force, and takes up a role as a bodyguard to the wife of a wealthy man...
.... James Lawrence - 1968: MadiganMadiganMadigan is a 1968 American thriller film directed by Don Siegel and starring Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda.The screenplay, originally titled Friday, Saturday, Sunday, was adapted by two writers who had been blacklisted in the 1950s, Abraham Polonsky and Howard Rodman , based on a novel titled The...
.... Hotel clerk - 1967: N.Y.P.D. .... Manager (1 episode, 1967)
- 1967: The Borgia StickThe Borgia StickThe Borgia Stick, is a 1967 American TV film starring Don Murray, and Inger Stevens, featuring Fritz Weaver, Barry Nelson, Barnard Hughes, Conrad Bain and Sorrell Booke in support, and directed by David Lowell Rich. Shot in New York City, the film was one of the highest rated events of the...
(TV) .... Lawyer - 1965: The Trials of O'BrienThe Trials of O'BrienThe Trials of O'Brien was a 1965 television series starring Peter Falk as a seedy Shakespeare-quoting lawyer and featuring Elaine Stritch as his secretary and Joanna Barnes as his ex-wife. Falk often said that he actually liked this financially unsuccessful series much better than his later...
.... District Attorney (1 episode, 1965) - 1961: The Defenders (1 episode, 1961)
- 1956: Studio OneStudio OneStudio One is one of Jamaica's most renowned record labels and recording studios, having been described as "the Motown of Jamaica." One online review of "Respect to Studio One" released by Heartbeat adds "Stax-Volt" to the American R&B comparison and describes Studio One's founder Clement...
.... Evans (1 episode, 1956)