Michael Cole — finest recognized for his function as Pete Cochran in “The Mod Squad” and Harlan Barrett in “General Hospital” — has died at 84.
Cole handed away peacefully “surrounded by his family members after dwelling a full and vibrant life,” his rep confirmed in a press launch on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
They didn’t reveal his reason behind demise.
“Cole’s expertise, mixed along with his magnetic presence, made him a defining determine of the period,” the assertion learn. “The Mod Squad not solely made him a family title but in addition broke limitations by addressing themes of racial and social justice, with Cole’s efficiency serving to to carry authenticity and coronary heart to the collection.”
His rep shared that “Michael Cole will likely be remembered for his heat and beneficiant spirit” and for “his wit, attraction, and boundless compassion, he introduced pleasure to each room he entered.
“A storyteller at coronary heart, he had a method of creating these round him really feel particular, usually regaling them with anecdotes from his Hollywood days or sharing knowledge from his outstanding journey,” the assertion continued. “While his loss is deeply felt, his contributions to the humanities and his enduring kindness guarantee his reminiscence will dwell on.”
Cole’s declare to fame was his function as Cochran within the Sixties police drama, during which he starred alongside Marion Ross, 96, and late stars like Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III and Tige Andrews.
“The Mod Squad” aired in 1968 and lasted 5 seasons on ABC till 1973.
The present adopted three “hippie” undercover cops with “checkered pasts to infiltrate the counterculture and nail the grownup criminals preying on clueless younger Southern Californians,” in accordance with the collection’ logline.
Each of the “youth squad” members represented mainstream tradition’s principal fears on the time: Peter (Cole) “whose rich dad and mom kicked him out of their posh Beverly Hills residence; Linc (Williams), a survivor of the ghetto; and Julie (Lipton), a former hooker arrested for vagrancy.”
The collection was forward of its time — tackling racial and social justice in addition to up to date social points. “The Mod Squad” earned six Emmy Award nominations and 4 Golden Globe nominations throughout its five-year run.
During his time on the present, Cole was concerned in a critical automobile accident that despatched him by way of the windshield. He needed to get 123 stitches, in accordance with The Hollywood Reporter.
After the collection wrapped, Cole went on to seem in exhibits like “Murder, She Wrote,” “The Love Boat,” “Wonder Woman” and “Fantasy Island.”
In the Nineteen Nineties, he starred as Henry Bowers within the mini-series adaptation of Stephen King’s “It” earlier than touchdown one other memorable function as Harlan Barrett on “General Hospital.”
He was featured because the crooked Barrett Industries chief engineer who was employed to kill Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers). Cole lasted 64 episodes earlier than his character was fatally shot by Bill Eckert (Anthony Geary).
The actor continued to star in smaller roles in the course of the early 2000s, together with an episode of “ER.”
Cole launched a memoir referred to as “I Played the White Guy” in 2009, which detailed his profession and experiences in Hollywood.
Cole is survived by his third spouse, Shelley, his youngsters and his “extensive circle of buddies, household, and admirers.”
