Throughout the 1980s it was common for big-name television stars to spend their summers touring in theatre productions. Conrad Bain’s first notable TV role was as Dr. Arthur Harmon on Maude, but his best-known role was as Phillip Drummond in the sitcom Diff’rent Strokes.
In 1986 Bain passed through the Historic Elitch Theatre in the national tour of the comedy, Country Cops.
Bain’s bio from the Country Cops program:
CONRAD BAIN (Sharp) — is delighted to be back on stage, playing summer theatre. That’s where he started — in places like Marblehead and Cohasset, Massachusetts, and Tamworth, New Hampshire.
Television has been his principal field of work over the past fourteen years, including eight years as the star of Diff’rent Strokes on NBC and ABC. Before that, there was an exciting six- year stint on CBS as Dr. Arthur Harmon in the memorable comedy hit Maude.. Between seasons, Mr. Bain managed a film or two, including Child Bride of Short Creek, and a few stage appearances such as the highly acclaimed all-star production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya on Broadway directed by Mike Nichols, and The Owl and the Pussycat and The Last of the Red Hot Lovers in Palm Springs.
Before television beckoned him to Califor- nia, he spent many years as a New York resi- dent working on Broadway in Advise and Con- sent, Lost in the Stars, the original Candide, and Twigs, and off-Broadway, in The Iceman Cometh, Scuba Duba, Steambath, and The Kitchen, among others.
In repertory he played a season of Shakespeare in Stratford, Canada, and was a member of the company which opened the Seattle Repertory Theatre.
Mr. Bain’s wife, Monica is a fine artist who works in oils and acrylics. They have three grown children, Kent, Mark, and Jennifer.
1986 Country Cops program
Seasons at the Theatre
- 1986
Productions/Roles:
- Sharp in Country Cops: July 21 – August 2)
Notable Roles, Awards, and Other Work:
- Phillip Drummond in the sitcom Diff’rent Strokes.
- Dr. Arthur Harmon on Maude
Elitch Theatre Connections:
- Conrad Bain starred in the TV show Maude with Elitch alumna, Adrienne Barbeau
Wikipedia Link:
