Chicago blogger reports: Actor Conrad Bain — who famously played father figure Phillip Drummond on “Diff ‘rent Strokes” — has passed away at the age of 89.
His daughter says Bain died Monday of natural causes in his hometown of Livermore, Calif. He was 89.
The show that debuted on NBC in 1978 was most noticed for its child actors, especially Gary Coleman, who played the younger brother. Bain often was straight man to Coleman’s comic.
Before “Diff’rent Strokes,” Bain played conservative neighbor Dr. Arthur Harmon on the feminist sitcom “Maude.” He also was a journeyman actor on stage, screen and television.
Only Todd Bridges, who played his adopted son Willis Jackson, remains.
When reached for comment, Bridges’ manager had not yet heard of Bain’s reported passing.
