Michael Cole, ‘The Mod Squad’ and ‘General Hospital’ star, dies at 84
As a cinema devotee with a deep appreciation for the golden age of television, I was saddened to learn about the passing of Michael Cole, who brought Pete Cochran to life in the iconic series “The Mod Squad”. Growing up in the turbulent 60s and 70s, this show was more than just a crime drama; it reflected the counterculture movement and the spirit of rebellion that defined the era.
Michael Cole, who starred as one-third of “The Mod Squad,” has died. He was 84.
In the renowned ABC crime series that broadcast from 1968 to 1973, the actor portrayed the character Pete Cochran. Regrettably, Cole passed away on Tuesday, a fact verified by his Atlanta-based talent representative, Christy Clark, to The Times.
Following a turbulent decade marked by the Vietnam War and the mid-century civil rights movement, “The Mod Squad” became a symbol of making crime-fighting appealing to the younger generation’s countercultural movement.
In 2018, TV critic Lorraine Ali remarked about a show with “one black, one white, one blonde” as its tagline: “Now, the rowdy group on the wrong side of the law became the law themselves.” That same year, the author Cole published a memoir titled “I Played the White Man,” which reflected his experience undercover as a cop.
Cole’s namesake nephew shared the news of his uncle’s passing on Facebook on Monday. “He inspired my journey into acting and supported me throughout my career,” he wrote. “He embodied passion as an artist, a storyteller, and an actor. But above all, he was my beloved Uncle.
Movies
Peggy Lipton, a renowned actress and ex-model whose career took off during the late ’60s with the hit counterculture cop show “The Mod Squad,” and who went on to grace our screens in “Twin Peaks,” passed away.
Cole spoke of the role in a 1999 interview with The Times.
“I was like a rebel with a cause,” he said.
Cole’s character Pete Cochran, Peggy Lipton’s character Julie Barnes, and Linc Hayes, portrayed by Clarence Williams III, were a group of young individuals entangled in legal issues. Captain Adam Greer, played by Tige Andrews, worked with them to keep them from serving jail time. This trio often became part of the crime scenes they were investigating, even mixing among the potential suspects.
As a diehard fan of the iconic series, I’ve been fortunate to maintain connections with my co-stars, Robin Lipton and Pete Williams, even after they departed in 2019 and 2021. Reminiscing about our times together often brings me back to the set of “The Mod Squad” revival from 1979, “The Return of the Mod Squad.” I believe this reboot truly encapsulated the camaraderie and compassion that lay at the core of our original series.
Among his notable performances, he played Harlan Barrett, a popular heartthrob on the daytime soap opera “General Hospital” in 1991. He continued to appear on this show for several months. Additionally, he made appearances on shows such as “ER,” “The Love Boat,” “Police Story,” and the 1990 miniseries of Stephen King’s novel “It.
Entertainment & Arts
Clarence Williams III, known for his role as the suave undercover cop Linc Hayes in the ’60s counterculture show “The Mod Squad,” passed away in Los Angeles.
Cole was born in Madison, Wisconsin, a working-class town, in 1940. In 1963, he left for Los Angeles as a struggling actor seeking fame. He shared this in a podcast interview from 2018. In LA, he enrolled in an acting workshop led by Estelle Harmon and eventually landed his major role in “The Mod Squad.” He attributed this success to simply being himself. After going through two divorces, he met his current spouse in 1989, who assisted him in overcoming addiction – a significant achievement that he mentioned.
Michael Cole is mourned by his wife Shelley Funes, daughter Jennifer, sisters Deborah and Colleen, along with his nephew who expressed, “As a family, we will always be connected.” He added, “I adore you, Uncle Mike.
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2024-12-11 15:31