Television actor Michael Cole, best known for his role as Pete Cochran on the ABC series “The Mod Squad,” passed away on December 10, 2024, in Tarzana, California. He was 84 years old.
According to his representative, Rachel Harris, Cole died peacefully in the presence of family members.
Cole was born on July 3, 1940 in Madison, Wisconsin, and took an unconventional route to stardom. He dropped out of high school to marry his pregnant girlfriend at age 16 and relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada. A random meeting with singer Bobby Darin inspired him to pursue acting, leading him to study under coach Estelle Harman in Los Angeles, California, where he lived under freeways while chasing his dream. He divorced his first wife before turning 20, leaving him a father of two.
Cole was selected by producer Aaron Spelling to play a role in “The Mod Squad” (1968-1973), a series that sought to reflect the rebellious spirit of the youth culture of the time. The show centered around three young undercover officers who infiltrated high schools and counterculture events to solve crimes.
“The Mod Squad” was pioneering in its approach to addressing key social issues of the era such as racism, abortion, the Vietnam War, and police misconduct. Cole’s co-stars were Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III, who passed away in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
The series earned three consecutive Golden Globe nominations for best TV drama from 1970 to 1972. In 1979, Cole joined his former co-stars in “The Return of Mod Squad,” a TV movie.
After “The Mod Squad,” Cole continued to appear on television in shows like “Wonder Woman,” “The Love Boat,” “CHiPs,” “Murder, She Wrote,” and “7th Heaven.” In the early 1990s, he took on a recurring role as Harlan Barrett in “General Hospital,” featuring in over 60 episodes.
Cole faced personal struggles throughout his career. He sought treatment for alcohol addiction at the Betty Ford Clinic in the early 1990s and achieved sobriety with the help of his third wife, Shelley Funes.
In 2009, Cole shared his experiences in Hollywood in his memoir, “I Played the White Guy.” His final acting credit was in the 2010 short film, “Father’s Day.”
