Dennis Cole, a charismatic and physically imposing figure, was a prominent fixture on the small screen during the late 1960s and 1970s. With his chiseled features, rugged good looks, and athletic build, he was often likened to a young Robert Redford.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Cole's early life was marked by tragedy. His parents, both alcoholics, divorced when he was young, and his father later took his own life. Cole's introduction to the entertainment industry came through physique magazines, where he posed for photographers like Robert Henry Mizer and his Athletic Models Guild.
Paying his dues as a stuntman and occasional bit player, Cole eventually landed his first acting role on the short-lived daytime soap Paradise Bay in 1965. His breakthrough came with the nighttime police series The Felony Squad in 1966, where he played the role of rookie detective Jim Briggs.
Cole's success on The Felony Squad led to a string of short-lived series, including Bracken's World and Bearcats!, as well as numerous guest appearances on popular shows like Medical Center, Barnaby Jones, and Police Woman. He also made his Broadway debut in 1972 with the play "All the Girls Came Out to Play."
In 1978, Cole married actress Jaclyn Smith, with whom he had a tumultuous relationship that ended in divorce in 1981. The early 1980s saw Cole's career stall, as he struggled to transition from television to film. He appeared in a string of low-budget action movies, including Amateur Night and Death House.
Despite his professional setbacks, Cole continued to work in television, appearing in shows like Silk Stalkings, Murder, She Wrote, and Baywatch Nights. He also remained active in charity work, serving as an honorary chairman for the Cancer Society and supporting the Arthritis and Cystic Fibrosis foundations.
Tragedy struck Cole in 1991 when his only child, Joey, was murdered during a robbery attempt in Venice, California. Cole's personal and professional life was further devastated by a chronic alcohol problem and severe injuries sustained during a performance of the musical "Victor/Victoria."
Cole eventually turned his life around, returning to school and starting his own real estate company. He married his third wife, Marjorie, but the couple divorced in 2008. Cole died on November 15, 2009, at the age of 69, due to liver failure.
