Michael Cole, who played Pete Cochran, one of the three hip young cops on “The Mod Squad,” died Tuesday. He was 84.
Cole’s reps said he died “peacefully this morning, surrounded by loved ones, after living a full and vibrant life.”
Born on July 3, 1940, in Madison, Wisc., Cole guested on shows like “Gunsmoke” before breaking through on “The Mod Squad.” The ABC series aired from 1968 to 1973, co-starring Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III. Cole’s character Pete Cochran had been a troubled son of wealthy Beverly Hills parents, who found redemption through his work as an undercover officer on the squad. The show often tackled contemporary social issues including abortion, domestic violence and police brutality.
“Mod Squad” marked one of the first reflections of a changing mid-century culture on television, with Cole as a delinquent, Lipton as a runaway from her prostitute mother’s home and Williams as a man who was arrested during the Watts riots. The three were given a chance to work as undercover officers instead of serving time, with the show’s premise being that they would be better able to relate to the trouble-making hippies and druggies of the late 1960s.
After “The Mod Squad,” Cole continued to work on shows including “Murder, She Wrote,” “Fantasy Island,” “Wonder Woman” and “The Love Boat.” He also played the adult Henry Bowers in Stephen King’s 1990 “It” mini-series and appeared on “General Hospital” as Harlan Barrett. He appeared in movies like “The Bubble,” “Nickel Mountain,” “Mr. Brooks” and his final film role was in 2008’s”Grave Misconduct.”
Cole also appeared onstage, starring in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and other plays.
His 2009 memoir was called “I Played the White Guy,” and offered a candid and heartfelt account of his experiences in Hollywood.
He is survived by his wife Shelley and his children.
English (US) ·