Conrad Bain, the character actor best remembered for his role as the wealthy patriarch with a heart of gold on the sitcom Diff’rent Strokes, died on Monday in Livermore, CA, according to Bain’s family via TMZ. No cause of death was given. He was 89.
Born on February 4, 1923, in Alberta, Canada, Conrad Bain studied acting at the esteemed American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York (comedian Don Rickles was a classmate). After becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen a few years later, Bain took his acting skills and kicked around Broadway theatrical productions for a while before landing successful roles in the 1970s. After appearing in a few comedies like Woody Allen’s Bananas and the film Lovers and Other Strangers, he found success as the erudite rich doctor, who was the constant thorn in Bea Arthur’s side in the sitcom Maude. That adult-themed sitcom was a smash hit for CBS during 1972 to 1978, and Bain was a constant and consistent highlight of the program.
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