Michael Cole was known for playing Pete Cochran in The Mod Quad from 1968 to 1973, and recent reports from his publicist confirmed that the actor is dead at 84. The announcement stated that Cole passed peacefully and was surrounded by loved ones as he breathed his last.
Cole’s family has yet to disclose the cause of his death, which occurred at the Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, California. Their statement praised Cole’s warmth and generosity, including how he used to share lessons from his life experiences.
‘Mod Squad’ actor Michael Cole’s legacy
Cole was also famous for appearing as Harlan Barrett in the ‘90s on General Hospital, which is in its 61st season. Cole did so many TV series like The Eddie Capra Mysteries, Murder, She Wrote, Fantasy Island, Diagnosis: Murder, and It, but none stood out quite like The Mod Squad.
Cole admitted to passing on the offer to play Cochran at first because he hated having to portray an undercover cop who had to betray his friends. Another look at the script for Mod Squad changed Cole’s mind and it turned out to be the most successful series of his soap career.
Michael Cole’s life and death
Cole appeared as a guest star on multiple series, including ER, 7th Heaven, Diagnosis Murder, Murder She Wrote, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and Gunsmoke, during the course of his acting career. His last known role was in 2008’s Grave Misconduct, after which he released a memoir about his Hollywood experience, I Played The White Guy.
The father of three was not always in the public eye, especially in the latter part of his life, but he was addicted to alcohol, which he was introduced to as a young boy. With the help of his third wife, Shelley Funes, he joined the Betty Ford Center and applied other measures to wean himself off drinking.