By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, TODAY
Actor Conrad Bain, perhaps best known for his role as kindly millionaire Phillip Drummond on "Diff'rent Strokes," has died at 89, his daughter, Jennifer, has confirmed to Access Hollywood.
Everett Collection
Conrad Bain, seen with the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes" in 1978, has died at age 89.
Bain had been hospitalized since Thursday, Jennifer Bain said, and wasn't suffering from an illness.?
"He just died of old age," she told Access Hollywood.
Bain also said that she and her brother were with their father when he died, and that she sang to him in his final moments.
Bain's daughter said she "adored" her father "as did many others that knew him. A whole generation of people saw him as a father, so I just want to share in their loss."
There will be no funeral or public memorial, she said.?
Bain had already played a major role on?the 1970s sitcom "Maude" when he was cast on "Diff'rent Strokes." He played a wealthy Park Avenue widower who adopted the two black sons of his deceased housekeeper. The show made a star out of young Gary Coleman, whose catchphrase "Whatchoo talkin' about, Willis?" became a national sensation. The show also produced a hit spin-off, "The Facts of Life."
But the show had its share of troubles.?Young stars?Coleman and Todd Bridges, who played Drummond's adopted sons, and Dana Plato, who played his daughter, would struggle with drugs and legal woes. Plato became pregnant during the show's filming and was dismissed from the program. She later committed suicide.
Coleman, whose growth was limited due to an autoimmune disorder, struggled financially and professionally, and died at age 42.
"Diff'rent Strokes" ran from 1978 to 1985 on NBC. It was canceled for low ratings and then picked up by ABC for one final season, ending in 1986.
On "Maude," Bain played title character Maude's neighbor, Dr. Arthur Harmon. Bain's own real-life twin brother once made an appearance as Harmon's brother.
?
blake griffin pau gasol marlins park marbury v. madison 2013 lincoln mkz burger king mary j blige google project glass
No comments:
Post a Comment