Gary Cole

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Gary Cole

Cole at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival
Born Gary Michael Cole
September 20, 1956 (1956-09-20) (age 55)
Park Ridge, Illinois
Nationality American
Occupation Actor
Years active 1983–present
Spouse Teddi Siddall (m.1992)
Children Mary Cole

Gary Michael Cole (born September 20, 1956) is an American television and film actor. Born in Park Ridge, Illinois and a graduate of Illinois State University, Cole began his professional acting career on stage with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. On television, he had starring roles in the series Midnight Caller, American Gothic, and Crusade. On film, he appeared in supporting roles in The Brady Bunch Movie, Office Space, Dodgeball, and Talladega Nights.

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[edit] Early life

Cole was born in Park Ridge, Illinois. His father was a school administrator and his mother was a director of finance.[1] Cole attended Rolling Meadows High School, where his first dramatic appearance was as Snoopy in a high school production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He later attended Illinois State University, where he majored in theater alongside actors Laurie Metcalf and John Malkovich.

[edit] Career

Cole began his professional career in 1983 as a stage actor in Chicago, where he joined the ensemble of the famed Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. He also appeared in several off-Broadway productions in New York City. In addition to his film and television credits listed below, he has done voice work on several animated series (Family Guy; Kim Possible; Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law) and had a recurring role on the drama The West Wing as Vice President Bob Russell. He also starred as Captain Matthew Gideon on the short-lived Babylon 5 spin-off Crusade, and had notable guest appearances on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Arrested Development. He also played Joe Maxwell on DCOM Cadet Kelly and appeared as real-life astronaut Edgar Mitchell in HBO's recreation of Project Apollo, From the Earth to the Moon. One of his most notable roles in 1991 was as General Custer in the much acclaimed television film Son of the Morning Star.

Between 1988 and 1991, Cole became popular on TV for playing the part of Jack "Nighthawk" Killian in the series Midnight Caller. In 1999, Cole starred in the film Office Space, in which he portrayed office supervisor Bill Lumbergh. When asked about the oft-quoted character, Cole said:

Everyone in [Office Space] thought that this movie had died. So that's how I knew the movie was actually some kind of success because people were coming up doing some lines from the movie ... It never gets old because it reminds you that something you did had some impact. You could work your whole career and have nothing like that last that long.[2]


He played The Brady Bunch patriarch Mike Brady in the 1995 film The Brady Bunch Movie, the 1996 sequel A Very Brady Sequel, and the 2002 television film The Brady Bunch in the White House.

Cole starred as Lt. Conrad Rose on the TNT series Wanted, is the voice of the title character on the Adult Swim series Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, and starred as Sheriff Lucas Buck on the one season 1995 show, American Gothic. Cole also appeared in the films Talladega Nights, Forever Strong, and American Pastime.

Cole played Katherine Mayfair's ex-husband Wayne on Desperate Housewives[3] and has more recently played the dangerous drug lord Ted Jones in Pineapple Express with Seth Rogen and James Franco. He also appeared in an episode from the third season of the USA Network series Psych as S.W.A.T. commander Cameron Luntz. Cole also played Bill Owens, Sy Parrish's (Robin Williams) boss, in the film One Hour Photo.

Cole in January 2009

In 2008, Cole appeared on Chuck as Sarah's con-artist father (in "Chuck Versus the DeLorean"), a role which he reprised in 2011 (in "Chuck Versus the Wedding Planner"). He also appeared in the fifth season of HBO's Entourage playing Ari Gold's old pal Andrew Klein for a 3-episode story arc prior to joining the regular cast in the sixth season.

Cole has joined Fox's comedy pilot, Tagged.[4]

In 2011, Cole reprised his role as Bill Lumbergh for several State Farm Insurance commercials.

Cole will have a guest-appearance on the fourth season of the HBO hit series True Blood, playing Sookie Stackhouse's grandfather.

[edit] Personal life

Cole married actress Teddi Siddall on March 8, 1992.[5] His daughter Mary was diagnosed with autism at 28 months of age.[6][7][8]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Films

Year Film Role Notes
1985 To Live and Die in L.A. Man chased by Richard Chance Uncredited
1986 Lucas Assistant Coach
1993 In the Line of Fire Secret Service Presidential Detail Agent-In-Charge Bill Watts
1995 The Brady Bunch Movie Mike Brady
1996 A Very Brady Sequel Mike Brady
Indecent Seduction Peter Nash
1997 Cyclops, Baby Manks
Santa Fe Paul Thomas
Gang Related Richard Simms
1998 A Simple Plan Neil Baxter
I'll Be Home for Christmas Jake's Dad
1999 Office Space Bill Lumbergh
Kiss the Sky Marty
2000 The Gift David Duncan
2001 The Rising Place Avery Hodge
2002 One Hour Photo Bill Owens
I Spy Carlos
Cadet Kelly Sir
2004 Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! Henry Futch
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Cotton McKnight
Pop Rocks Jerry "Dagger" Harden
2005 The Ring Two Martin Savide
Mozart and the Whale Wallace
Cry Wolf Mr. Matthews
2006 Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Reese Bobby
2007 My Wife Is Retarded Doctor Heichman
Breach Rich Garces
American Pastime Billy Burrell
Goodnight Vagina Dr. Milstein
2008 Say Hello to Stan Talmadge Stan Talmadge
Conspiracy Rhodes
Pineapple Express Ted Jones
Forever Strong Coach Larry Gelwix
2009 Extract Bar Patron Uncredited
The Joneses Larry Commercially released in 2010
2010 Immortality Bites Dr. Levine
DC Showcase: The Spectre Jim Corrigan/The Spectre voice, animated short
2011 Hop Henry O'Hare
The Chicago 8 Bill Kunstler
2012 Gay Dude

[edit] Television

Year Show Role Notes
1983 Heart of Steel Lee Television film
1984 Fatal Vision Capt. Jeffrey MacDonald, MD Television miniseries
A Matter of Principle Man with Xmas tree Television film
1985 First Steps Manny Television film
The Twilight Zone Daniel Gaddis Single episode
1986 Vital Signs Dr. Hayward Television film
Miami Vice Jackson Crane Single episode
1987 Moonlighting Alan McClafferty Single episode
Echoes in the Darkness Jack Holtz Television film
1988–1991 Midnight Caller Jack 'Nighthawk' Killian 61 episodes
1989 Those She Left Behind Scott Grimes Television film
1990 The Old Man and the Sea Tom Pruitt Television film
1991 Son of the Morning Star George Armstrong Custer Television film
1993 The Switch Larry McAfee Television film
When Love Kills: The Seduction of John Hearn John Hearn Television miniseries
1994 A Time to Heal Jay Barton Television film
Rod Serling's Lost Classics James Television film
Fall from Grace Maj. Tom O'Neill Television film
1995–1996 American Gothic Sheriff Lucas Buck 22 episodes
1996 For My Daughter's Honor Pete Nash Television film
1997 Lies He Told Dave Television film
1998 Dead Man's Gun Travis Thornberry Single episode
The Outer Limits Detective Ray Venable Single episode
From the Earth to the Moon Ed Mitchell Single episode
1999 Crusade Capt. Matthew Gideon Thirteen episodes
Chicken Soup for the Soul Dad Single episode
1999–2004 The Practice Defense Attorney Solomon Tager Three episodes
2000 National Lampoon's American Adventure Chuck Television film
What About Joan Justin Single episode
Family Law Alan Single episode
Batman Beyond Zeta Single episode (voice only)
Touched by an Angel Charlie Radcliff Single episode
Frasier Luke Parker Single episode
2000–2007 Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Harvey Birdman 39 episodes (voice only)
2000–Present Family Guy Various characters 25 episodes (voice only)
2001 Neurotic Tendencies Television film
Justice League J. Allen Carter Single episode
2002 Cadet Kelly Joe Maxwell Television film
The Brady Bunch in the White House Mike Brady Television film
2002–2003 Family Affair William 'Bill' Davis Fifteen episodes
2002–2007 Kim Possible Dr. James Timothy Possible 38 episodes (voice only)
2003 Criminology 101 Roy Franks Television film
Hack Johnny Scanlon Single episode
Monk Dexter Larson Single episode
Karen Sisco Konner Two episodes
Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time Dr. James Timothy Possible Television film (voice only)
2003–2006 The West Wing Vice President Bob Russell 21 episodes
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Xander Henry Single episode
Pop Rocks Jerry "Dagger" Harden Television film
2005 Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama Dr. James Timothy Possible Television film (voice only)
Wanted Lieutenant Conrad Rose Thirteen episodes
King of the Hill Vance Gilbert Single episode (voice only)
2006 That Guy Gary Television film
Company Town Martin Amberson Television film
Arrested Development CIA Agent Single episode
2007 Shark Christian Chambers Single episode
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning Balladeer Television film (voice only)
Supernatural Brad Redding Single episode
2008 Good Behavior Dean West
12 Miles of Bad Road Jerry Shakespeare Six episodes
Desperate Housewives Wayne Davis Six episodes
Psych Commander Cameron Luntz Single episode
2008–2011 Chuck Jack Burton Two episodes
2008–2009 Entourage Andrew Klein Five episodes
2009 The Cleaner Davis Durham Single episode
Numb3rs Shepard Crater Single episode
The Good Wife Kurt McVeigh Four episodes
2010–2011 The Penguins of Madagascar Pervis McSlade, New York's Parks Commissioner Two episodes (voice only)
2010 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Fred Jones Sr. Voice only
The Good Guys Frank Savage Two episodes
The Closer Major Edward Dorcet Single episode
2011 True Blood Earl Stackhouse Single episode
Curb Your Enthusiasm Joe O'Donnell Single episode
Suits (TV series) Cameron Dennis Single episode

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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