More than four decades after Diff’rent Strokes first brought its young stars into American living rooms, the cast’s lives have taken turns few viewers could have predicted. Some continued acting, some struggled away from the spotlight, and one star’s story ultimately became a remarkable tale of survival.
When Diff’rent Strokes premiered in 1978, its young stars were part of one of television’s most recognizable families. The show became a major success and remained on the air for eight seasons, but the lives of its stars after the sitcom could hardly have been more different.
Before he became the warm, wealthy father figure Philip Drummond on Diff’rent Strokes, Conrad Bain had already spent decades building a serious acting career.
Conrad Bain Found Fame Before Becoming Mr. Drummond
Born in Lethbridge, Alberta, on February 4, 1923, Conrad was one of twin sons. He studied at Alberta’s Banff School of Fine Arts before serving in the Canadian Army during World War II and later training at New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
His stage career began in 1947, and he eventually appeared in Broadway and off-Broadway productions including The Iceman Cometh, Candide, Advise and Consent and Uncle Vanya. He also built an extensive repertory career before turning more heavily toward television.
Conrad Bain portrays Philip Drummond on the set of Diff’rent Strokes during the series’ run. Before landing the role, Bain had already built an extensive stage career, appearing in Broadway and off-Broadway productions including The Iceman Cometh, Candide, Advise and Consent and Uncle Vanya. | Source: Getty Images
Conrad found an important television break when Norman Lear cast him in Maude, where he played Arthur Harmon, the conservative doctor and husband of Rue McClanahan’s character. The role helped establish him as a recognizable television comedy actor, setting the stage for the part that would become his signature.
Conrad Bain as Arthur Harmon, Bill Macy as Walter Findlay, and Rue McClanahan as Vivian Harmon in a scene from Maude in December 1977. Bain’s role as Arthur helped establish him as a recognizable television comedy actor. | Source: Getty Images
When Diff’rent Strokes premiered, Conrad played Philip Drummond, the wealthy widower who adopted two African American brothers, Arnold and Willis, after their mother died.
The sitcom ran for eight seasons, ending in 1986, with Conrad providing the steady presence at the center of a cast dominated by its young stars.
During the sitcom’s run, Todd Bridges played Willis Jackson, Gary Coleman played Arnold Jackson and Conrad Bain played their adoptive father, Philip Drummond. The trio is pictured together during the series. | Source: Getty Images
But Conrad’s Career Didn’t End When the Sitcom Did
He continued returning to the stage, including a 1992 Broadway appearance in On Borrowed Time. He also appeared in films including Coogan’s Bluff, Bananas, The Anderson Tapes and Postcards from the Edge.
His television career continued as well. Conrad reprised Philip Drummond in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1996, and his final television appearance came as a priest on Unforgettable in 2011.
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Conrad Bain reprises his role as Philip Drummond in the Season 8 episode “Sam’s Big Brother,” which aired on January 24, 1986. The episode centers on Arnold’s jealousy when Sam begins spending more time with Willis. | Source: Getty Images
Conrad eventually retired from acting and moved into a retirement home in Livermore, California, in 2008. His wife, Monica Sloan, had died in 2009. Conrad died at the retirement home from natural causes on January 14, 2013, at 89, less than a month before his 90th birthday.
Conrad Bain and his wife, Monica Bain, attend the premiere of Welcome Home at the Academy Theater in Beverly Hills, California, on September 28, 1989. Bain later retired from acting and moved to a retirement home in Livermore, California, in 2008. After Monica died in 2009, Conrad died at the retirement home from natural causes on January 14, 2013, at 89. | Source: Getty Images
His daughter Jennifer remembered him fondly after his death, telling TMZ that, “He was an amazing person. He was a lot like Mr. Drummond, but much more interesting in real life. He was an amazing father.”
Conrad Bain and his wife, Monica Bain, attend the Sixth Annual People’s Choice Awards at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California, on January 24, 1980. After his death, Bain’s daughter Jennifer remembered him as an amazing father who was much more interesting in real life than his Diff’rent Strokes character, Mr. Drummond. | Source: Getty Images
For another cast member, Charlotte Rae, Diff’rent Strokes was supposed to be another television role. Instead, her character became the beginning of an entirely new chapter.
Charlotte Rae Turned a Supporting Role Into Another Hit
Charlotte was already a veteran stage and television actress when Norman Lear brought her into Diff’rent Strokes as Edna Garrett, Gary Coleman’s housekeeper. She quickly became popular enough that the character was spun off into The Facts of Life in 1979.
Charlotte Rae portrays Edna Garrett in the Diff’rent Strokes episode “Movin’ In.” Her character became popular enough to lead to the successful spinoff The Facts of Life in 1979. | Source: Getty Images
The new sitcom became another major success, with Charlotte serving as the maternal center of a boarding-school story involving teenage girls.
She remained on The Facts of Life for years and left the series in 1986, reportedly because of a health issue. Charlotte continued working after leaving television. Her later credits included Tom and Jerry: The Movie, stage productions, cabaret appearances, and the 2008 comedy You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.
Charlotte Rae, pictured as Mrs. Edna Ann Garrett, joins the cast of The Facts of Life in the episode “Grand Opening,” which aired on September 28, 1985. The spinoff became a major success, with Rae serving as the maternal center of the boarding-school story before leaving the series in 1986. | Source: Getty Images
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Charlotte Rae Faced Heartbreak Before Her Final Years
She also opened up about a deeply personal chapter of her life. In an interview and memoir material reported by Us Weekly, Charlotte recalled learning after 25 years of marriage that her husband, composer John Strauss, was gay and had cheated on her.
“First came the shock of what he had done behind my back, then the sting of being deceived for years,” Charlotte wrote, describing the emotional impact of the revelation.
She later said the two remained supportive friends until he died in 2011. Charlotte also spoke candidly about aging, saying she embraced her wrinkles and continued working in Hollywood.
Charlotte Rae and Mindy Cohn attend The Actors Fund’s 2017 Looking Ahead Awards honoring the youth cast of NBC’s This Is Us at Taglyan Complex in Los Angeles on December 5, 2017. Rae later revealed that her husband, John Strauss, was gay and had cheated on her during their 25-year marriage, but the two remained supportive friends until his death in 2011. | Source: Getty Images
An Entertainment Tonight interview included discussion of her career, her experiences with alcohol addiction and the pressures placed on young actresses regarding their weight. In 2017, Charlotte revealed that she had been diagnosed with bone cancer, seven years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
At 91, she said she was determined to keep living, telling The Hollywood Reporter that she loved life and wanted to choose treatment. Charlotte died at her Los Angeles home on August 5, 2018. She was 92.
Charlotte Rae attends the premiere of “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on May 28, 2008. She continued working in Hollywood while speaking openly about aging and her struggles with alcohol addiction before later revealing her cancer diagnoses. | Source: Getty Images
Then there was Gary Coleman, whose Arnold Jackson became the face of Diff’rent Strokes.
Gary Coleman Went From Television’s Biggest Child Star to a Troubled Adulthood
Gary had already appeared in commercials and television shows before landing the role, but the sitcom transformed him into one of the biggest child stars on television. His kidney condition had stunted his growth, and he underwent two kidney transplants before turning 16. The effects of his medical treatment ultimately left him at 4 feet, 8 inches tall.
Gary Coleman relaxes on the set of Diff’rent Strokes circa 1980 in Los Angeles, California. Coleman became one of television’s biggest child stars as Arnold Jackson, with his kidney condition and multiple transplants affecting his growth. | Source: Getty Images
As Arnold, Gary delivered the show’s most recognizable catchphrase — “What’chu talkin’ about, Willis?” — and became a fixture on talk shows, television movies and other projects.
