Actor Michael Cole, renowned for his role as undercover cop Pete Cochran in the ABC series “The Mod Squad,” passed away on December 10, 2024 in Tarzana, California. He was 84 years old.
Rachel Harris, Cole’s representative, announced that he died peacefully surrounded by family.
Born on July 3, 1940 in Madison, Wisconsin, Cole’s road to fame was far from typical. He left high school early, married his pregnant girlfriend at 16, and moved to Las Vegas. There, a chance meeting with singer Bobby Darin inspired his acting career. Cole then moved to Los Angeles, California, where he studied acting with Estelle Harman while living under freeways. Before turning 20, he divorced his wife, with whom he had two children.
Aaron Spelling, the producer, saw in Cole the spirit of youthful rebellion and cast him in “The Mod Squad” (1968-1973). The series followed three young undercover cops who infiltrated high schools and counterculture events to solve crimes.
The show was a pioneer in addressing contemporary social issues such as racism, abortion, the Vietnam War, and police brutality. Cole’s co-stars were Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III, who passed away in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
“The Mod Squad” was nominated three times in a row for best TV drama at the Golden Globes from 1970 to 1972. In 1979, Cole reunited with his former co-stars for the television movie “The Return of Mod Squad.”
After the series, Cole continued to work steadily on television, with roles in “Wonder Woman,” “The Love Boat,” “CHiPs,” “Murder, She Wrote,” and “7th Heaven.” In the early 1990s, he had a recurring role as Harlan Barrett in “General Hospital,” appearing in over 60 episodes.
Throughout his career, Cole dealt with personal hardships. He sought treatment for alcohol addiction at the Betty Ford Clinic in the early 1990s and later achieved sobriety with the help of his third wife, Shelley Funes.
In 2009, Cole released his memoir titled “I Played the White Guy,” where he shared his experiences in Hollywood. His last acting role was in the 2010 short film “Father’s Day.”
