Michael Cole — finest identified 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 loved ones after living a full and vibrant life,” his rep confirmed in a press launch on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
They didn’t reveal his reason for dying.
“Cole’s talent, combined with his magnetic presence, made him a defining figure of the era,” the assertion learn. “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.”
His rep shared that “Michael Cole will be remembered for his warm and generous spirit” and for “his wit, attraction, and boundless compassion, he introduced pleasure to each 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 assertion continued. “While his loss is deeply felt, his contributions to the arts and his enduring kindness ensure his memory will live on.”
Cole’s declare to fame was his function as Cochran within the Sixties police drama, by 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 adult criminals preying on clueless young Southern Californians,” in accordance with the sequence’ logline.
Every of the “youth squad” members represented mainstream tradition’s principal fears on the time: Peter (Cole) “whose wealthy parents kicked him out of their posh Beverly Hills home; Linc (Williams), a survivor of the ghetto; and Julie (Lipton), a former hooker arrested for vagrancy.”
The sequence was forward of its time — tackling racial and social justice in addition to modern social points. “The Mod Squad” earned six Emmy Award nominations and 4 Golden Globe nominations throughout its five-year run.
Throughout his time on the present, Cole was concerned in a severe automotive accident that despatched him by the windshield. He needed to get 123 stitches, in accordance with The Hollywood Reporter.
After the sequence wrapped, Cole went on to look in reveals like “Murder, She Wrote,” “The Love Boat,” “Wonder Woman” and “Fantasy Island.”
Within 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 Invoice Eckert (Anthony Geary).
The actor continued to star in smaller roles through the early 2000s, together with an episode of “ER.”
Cole launched a memoir known 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 kids and his “wide circle of friends, family, and admirers.”
