Michael Cole, the actor best known for starring in television shows like The Mod Squad and General Hospital, died on Tuesday. He was 84 years-old.
Cole Passes Away
Cole’s rep confirmed that he died peacefully “surrounded by his loved ones after living a full and vibrant life.” No cause of death has been revealed at this time.
“Cole’s talent, combined with his magnetic presence, made him a defining figure of the era,” Cole’s rep stated. “The Mod Squad not only made him a household name but also broke barriers by addressing themes of racial and social justice, with Cole’s performance helping to bring authenticity and heart to the series.”
Cole’s rep went on to say that “Michael Cole will be remembered for his warm and generous spirit” and for “his wit, charm, and boundless compassion, he brought joy to every room he entered.”
“A storyteller at heart, he had a way of making those around him feel special, often regaling them with anecdotes from his Hollywood days or sharing wisdom from his remarkable journey,” the rep added. “While his loss is deeply felt, his contributions to the arts and his enduring kindness ensure his memory will live on.”
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The Mod Squad
Born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1940, Cole made his way to Hollywood in his 20s. He got his big break when he was cast as Pete Cochran on The Mod Squad in 1968. He was one of the three young hippies-turned-cops on the show. The other two were Julie (Peggy Lipton) and Link (Clarence Williams III).
The official log-line for the series states that it was about three “hippie” undercover cops with “checkered pasts to infiltrate the counterculture and nail the adult criminals preying on clueless young Southern Californians.”
Produced by Aaron Spelling, The Mod Squad was a huge hit. It ran on ABC for five seasons, from 1968 until 1973. It earned six Emmy Award nominations and four Golden Globe nominations during its five-year run. Surprisingly, Cole nearly didn’t take the role of Cochran when it was offered to him.
“I resisted taking the part when Spelling offered it, telling him, ‘[The show] sounds stupid and I hope it never gets on the air,’” Cole later said. “I didn’t want to play some guy who ratted on some other troubled kids.”
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Cole’s Later Career
After The Mod Squad came to an end, Cole later had guest appearances on shows like Murder, She Wrote, The Love Boat, Wonder Woman, and Fantasy Island.
In the 1990s, Cole had a memorable role as Harlan Barrett on the soap opera General Hospital. The character was the crooked Barrett Industries chief engineer who was hired to kill Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers). Cole’s General Hospital run lasted for 64 episodes before Harlan was fatally shot by Bill Eckert (Anthony Geary).
Cole retired from acting in 2010. The year before that, he published his memoir “I Played the White Guy.” The book chronicled his Hollywood career and his personal journey in life.
Cole is survived by his beloved wife Shelley and his children. He’s also survived by a “wide circle of friends, family, and admirers.”
Rest in peace, Michael Cole.
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