Conrad Bain Dead at 89; ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Star Remembered

Conrad Bain, who played the father of two adopted African-American brothers in the TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," died Monday.

The sitcom star died in Livermore, Calif. at the age of 89, according to his daughter Jennifer Bain who told People Magazine that her father "was a lot like his character in 'Diff'rent Strokes'. He had that warmth and stability. He was also a very intellectual person."

The show debuted on NBC in 1978. Bain, who was 55 years old at the time, played the role of Philip Drummond--a rich widower who adopts two children from his dead housekeeper. It became the role that made him famous.

The sitcom that also starred Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges and Dana Plato, lasted for six seasons on NBC and two on ABC.

"Diff'rent Strokes" gained popularity, voicing social themes like race, class and the archetypal experience of growing up.

But it was the adult scandals surrounding the child actors later on that brought attention to the show as well.

Coleman died in 2010, plagued with financial and legal issues as well as health problems that stunted his growth. Both Bridges and Plato went through drug addictions and run-ins with the police. Plato died of a drug overdose in 1999.

Bain had a hard time speaking about the child stars' troubles, his daughter told People Magazine.

"Dad was proud of his work on that show. And the problems the kids had in their lives later affected him. He felt terrible about," She said.

Bain went on to star in the TV comedy "Maude," which aired on CBS from 1972 to 1978.

"Dad had a kind hear," Jennifer Bain added about her father. "He was an open-hearted man."

He is survived by three sons and a twin brother. Bain's wife Monica Sloan died in 2009.