Michael Cole, who played undercover police officer Pete Cochran on The Mod Squad, died December 10, 2024, at age 84. His representatives confirmed his death, according to contemporary reports; the Television Academy records the same date. Cole was the last surviving star among the show’s three principal cast members.
Who was Michael Cole on The Mod Squad?
Cole played Pete Cochran, one of three young people recruited to work undercover for the police in ABC’s The Mod Squad. The series ran from 1968 to 1973, with Cole starring alongside Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III. Contemporary coverage described the show as taking on issues including racism, drug use, police brutality and the Vietnam War.
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The Mod Squad: The Complete Collection | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Mod Squad - Season 1, Volume 1 | $11.98 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Mod Squad | $6.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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The Mod Squad | $7.98 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Mod Squad - Season 2, Volume 1 | $8.29 | Buy on Amazon |
Cole’s death made him the last surviving member of the show’s principal trio. Lipton died in 2019, and Williams died in 2021. That description refers to the three stars, not every person who worked on the production.
When did Michael Cole die, and how old was he?
Cole was born July 3, 1940, in Madison, Wisconsin, and died December 10, 2024, aged 84, according to the Television Academy’s biographical record. TheWrap reported that his representatives said he died “peacefully this morning, surrounded by loved ones, after living a full and vibrant life.”
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- all 124 episodes, Multiple Best TV Actress Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe award for Peggy Lipton
What was Michael Cole’s cause of death?
A cause of death was not established in the contemporary reporting cited here. TVLine reported on December 10, 2024, that no official cause had been released. There is no basis in those reports to attribute his death to a specific illness or circumstance.
What else did Michael Cole act in?
After The Mod Squad, Cole continued to work in television and film. He played Harlan Barrett on General Hospital and appeared in The Love Boat and ER. He also appeared in the 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King’s It.
The three principal stars reunited in the 1979 television movie The Return of the Mod Squad. Cole’s screen credits also included The Bubble, Chuka and The Last Child.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did Cole write about his career?
In 2018, Cole published the memoir I Played the White Guy, reflecting on his association with The Mod Squad and the fame it brought him. In a 1999 interview quoted by the Los Angeles Times, Cole described himself as “a rebel with a cause.”
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