Dennis Cole

Dennis Cole

Cole in 1971.
Born July 19, 1940
Detroit, Michigan
Died November 15, 2009 (aged 69)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Occupation Actor
Years active 1961-2006
Spouse(s) Sally Bergeron (1960-1965)
Jaclyn Smith (1978-1981)
Marjorie Fritz (2004-2009)
Children Joe Cole (deceased)

Dennis Cole (July 19, 1940 – November 15, 2009)[1] was an American film and television actor.

Career

Before breaking into acting, Cole was a model for men's physique magazines. His first big acting break came when he landed a starring role in the ABC police drama Felony Squad, which ran from 1966 to 1969. He appeared for one season (1969–1970) as stuntman Davey Evans in Bracken's World. He then co-starred with Rod Taylor in the series Bearcats! (1971).

Cole continued to make guest appearances in numerous television series, such as Medical Center, Police Story, Charlie's Angels, The Feather and Father Gang, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Three's Company, and Murder, She Wrote. He played Lance Prentiss on The Young and the Restless (1981–82). Cole's last television appearance was a 1998 episode of Pacific Blue.

Personal life

All three of Cole's marriages ended in divorce. Cole's second wife was actress Jaclyn Smith; they were married from 1978 to 1981. Joe Cole, his only son from first wife Sally Bergeron,[2] was shot dead in a 1991 robbery attempt at the age of 30; the crime remains unsolved.[3][4]

After the death of his son, Cole turned against acting projects containing violence. This decision led to the death of his Hollywood career, said LA publicist, Edward Lozzi.[4] In point of fact, Cole continued to perform on TV and stage (as the "Narrator" in a production of Blood Brothers and the James Garner "King Marchan" role in the first national tour of the musical Victor/Victoria). Severe injuries suffered while performing in the latter show led to multiple surgeries, a three-year convalescence and a new direction. Cole remarried and relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he returned to school and opened up his own real estate company with his wife Marjorie. They owned Celebrity Realty, Inc.[5] He and Marjorie divorced in April 2008.

Death

Cole died at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 15, 2009, aged 69, from renal failure. He was survived by his older brother Richard.[6]

Cole also had two younger brothers, Eddie Wolf and Stanley Wolf. They were born in 1952 in Detroit, Michigan. Stanley remained in Detroit in later life, while Eddie moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. Both Eddie and Stanley died in 2008.

References

  1. ↑ Hevesi, Dennis (November 23, 2009). "Dennis Cole, ‘Felony Squad’ Actor, Is Dead at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  2. ↑ Roger Newcomb (17 November 2009). "Dennis Cole has passed away".
  3. ↑ Andy Carvin and Chris Crone. "Rollins Interview".
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Actor Dennis Cole dead at 69". 11 November 2009.
  5. ↑ "Business Profile for Fort Lauderdale, Florida". City-data. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  6. ↑ Notice of Dennis Cole's death

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dennis Cole.