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Omaha Steve

(104,494 posts)
Thu Dec 12, 2024, 09:00 AM Dec 12

Michael Cole, a Star of 'The Mod Squad,' Is Dead at 84

Source: NYT

The show, about three hippies who become undercover crime fighters, ran from 1968 to 1973. Mr. Cole had been the last of its three stars still living.

By Alexandra E. Petri
Dec. 11, 2024

Michael Cole, the actor best known as one of the three actors who played hip, young undercover police officers on the hit ABC crime drama “The Mod Squad,” died on Tuesday at a medical center in Los Angeles. He was 84.

His death was confirmed by his representative, Rachel Harris. She did not specify a cause.

Mr. Cole was a young, struggling actor when he achieved overnight success on “The Mod Squad,” which ran from 1968 to 1973 and co-starred Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III.

“The Mod Squad” was one of the first prime-time series to acknowledge the counterculture and an early example of multiracial casting. It centered on three hippies in trouble with the law, who avoid jail time by joining the police department and working undercover.


Michael Cole in the late 1960s. He was a star of the hit TV series “The Mod Squad” from 1968 to 1973.Credit...Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives — Getty

Original link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/arts/television/michael-cole-dead.html

A version of this article appears in print on Dec. 12, 2024, Section A, Page 23 of the New York edition with the headline: Michael Cole, 84, Who Rose To Fame on ‘The Mod Squad’.

Read more: http://archive.today/lCaxE

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Michael Cole, a Star of 'The Mod Squad,' Is Dead at 84 (Original Post) Omaha Steve Dec 12 OP
The last of the three. n/t Harker Dec 12 #1
"... undercover crime fighters" haha JohnnyRingo Dec 12 #2
RIP BumRushDaShow Dec 12 #3
Here is an enjoyable Made-for-TV film Michael Cole did at the height of his "Mod Squad" career. C0RI0LANUS Dec 12 #4
the concept for that show is still cringe worthy mike_c Dec 12 #5
Egads! What an era wolfie001 Dec 12 #7
So they were snitches wolfie001 Dec 12 #6

JohnnyRingo

(19,673 posts)
2. "... undercover crime fighters" haha
Thu Dec 12, 2024, 09:18 AM
Dec 12

Back then my hippie friends and I didn't see the show anymore about three heroes than just selfish narcs, setting people up to save their own hides. It was seen as blatant brainwashing to encourage us to turn in our friends. We laughed at the show's premise. Julie was still hot though. LOL

That doesn't mean Cole the actor was a bad person, like Elvis when he went to work with the FBI to imprison people more cool than he was, so RIP Michael. ...Rest In Peace.

BumRushDaShow

(147,640 posts)
3. RIP
Thu Dec 12, 2024, 09:24 AM
Dec 12

I used to watch that.



All 3 gone within 5 years of each other. Peggy was the "baby" of that group.

C0RI0LANUS

(3,013 posts)
4. Here is an enjoyable Made-for-TV film Michael Cole did at the height of his "Mod Squad" career.
Thu Dec 12, 2024, 09:35 AM
Dec 12

Set in the not too distant future, this is a cautionary Malthusian tale with elements of Les Miserables sprinkled in. You will recognize the supporting actors. RIP: Michael Cole.


wolfie001

(4,094 posts)
7. Egads! What an era
Thu Dec 12, 2024, 12:55 PM
Dec 12

I was 10 in 1970 and so much was happening. Kudos to this inclusive ad but this is fashion criminality

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