An actor known for his role as one of the three members of “The Mod Squad” has died.
Michael Cole was 84 years old.
His representatives said he died surrounded by loved ones Tuesday morning “after living a full and vibrant life,” Variety reported. His cause of death was not shared, The New York Times reported.
Cole was born on July 3, 1940, and in Madison, Wisconsin. His father left the family when he was born. He dropped out of high school and was married at the age of 16. After having two children, he was divorced by the age of 20. He left Wisconsin and moved to Las Vegas, working as a bartender and meeting Bobby Darin who told him to become an actor, the Times reported.
He was homeless at times pursuing his acting career, eventually taking acting classes, and finding a place to sleep at coach Estelle Harman’s workshop.
After appearing on shows such as “Gunsmoke” he had his big break in “The Mod Squad,” three people in trouble with the law but worked with police as undercover officers to avoid jail time. The show also starred Peggy Lipton as Julie Barns and Linc Hays as Clarence Williams III with Cole portraying Pete Cochran.
As the Times noted the show was “one of the first prime-time series to acknowledge the counterculture and an early example of multiracial casting.” It had the tagline, “One black, one white, one blonde,” which inspired Cole’s biography published in 2009 called, “I Played the White Guy,” Variety reported.
He was the last of the surviving main cast members with Lipton dying in 2019 and Williams in 2021, the Times reported.
After leaving “The Mod Squad” he appeared on “General Hospital” as Harlin Barrett for 64 episodes.
He also appeared on “The Love Boat,” “Murder She Wrote,” “ER” and several television movies.
Cole also appeared in plays including “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” Variety reported.
He leaves behind his wife, daughter, two sisters and his nephew, the Los Angeles Times reported.
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