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Dennis Cole
Age: 69
Height: 6' 2"
Birth Place: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Born: Jul. 19th, 1940
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Dennis Cole's Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: A virile, beefcake blond of the late 60s and 70s small screen, actor Dennis Cole certainly had it all going for him. A rugged TV version of Robert Redford (I), his tan, chiseled, surfer-fit looks were ideally suited for crime action and adventure stories and he gained ground by appearing everywhere -- daytime soaps, prime-time series, mini-movies -- you name it.
The Detroit-born stunner was first noticed on the pages of physique magazines serving the likes of Bob Mizer and his Athletic Models Guild as well as other photographers. Paying his dues as a motion picture and television stuntman, he also appeared in an occasional bit film part and in the background of a few movie musicals. His photogenic appeal could not be denied for long and eventually he took a front-and-center position launching his acting career on the short-lived daytime soap "Paradise Bay" (1965) as a spoiled rich boy type who causes tongues to wag after falling for a Mexican girl. But it was the subsequent night time program series "Felony Squad" (1966) alongside veterans Howard Duff (I) and Ben Alexander (I) (from "Dragnet" fame) that set his TV career in high gear. As the hunky rookie detective Jim Briggs, Dennis was able to ride high on the fame his two-and-a-half season series offered.
With this success came two very short-lived series: the glossy ensemble drama "Bracken's World" (1969) and opposite Rod Taylor (I) as a trouble-prone stud in the more adventurous "Bearcats!" (1971). Female audiences couldn't get enough of Cole and his athletic skills had males idolizing from afar. Guest appearances on "Medical Center", "Barnaby Jones", "Police Story", "Love, American Style", "Love Boat", "Streets of San Francisco" and "Police Woman" kept him highly visible in between series runs. During this career peak he made his Broadway debut in "All the Girls Came Out to Play" in 1972. Dennis also decided to tap into his musical side and dabbled in his own musical revue which showcased on the Sunset Strip and in Las Vegas. A guest TV appearance on "Charlie's Angels" led to the meeting and 1978 marriage to one of the "Angels", Jaclyn Smith (I). As one of Hollywood's more beautiful couples, they kept cameras flashing for a number of years -- until their breakup and divorce in 1981.
The early 1980s started off well for Cole as a replacement Lance Prentiss in "The Young and the Restless" (1973) in 1981. Very much a product of TV, he was unable to transition into films and was overlooked for the most part, appearing occasionally in a dismissible lowbudget action feature such as Amateur Night (1986), Death House (1987), Pretty Smart (1987), Dead End City (1988) and Fatal Encounter (1990). He continued showing up on all the popular series including "Silk Stalkings,", "Murder, She Wrote", Pacific Blue" and "Baywatch," among others, while appearing in such legit stage plays as "The Tender Trap", "Lovers and Other Strangers", "The Boys in the Band", and the British farces "Run for You Life" and "Out of Order". Very much involved with charity work, his endeavors over the years have included an over two-decade involvement with the Cancer Society (Honorary Chairman), as well as the Arthritis and Cystic Fibrosis foundations.
Dennis' life and career suffered a tragic setback when his only child, Joey, was murdered during a 1991 robbery attempt in Venice, California. He continued to perform on TV and on 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 3½ year convalescence and a new direction. Instead of idling by, Dennis returned to school and started up his own real estate company and set up an office in Fort Lauderdale. Married for several years to third wife Marjorie ("Ree"), Dennis filed for divorce in May of 2007.
TRIVIA:
- His son, Joe (roommate of Grammy winner 'Henry Rollins' (qv)) was shot to death during a robbery attempt in December 1991. As of 2007, the murder remains unsolved.
- Worked as a model in "physique" magazines before becoming an actor.
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