Biography
Who is Gary Cole?
Early life and education
Gary Cole Michael Cole was born on September 20, 1956, in Park Ridge, Illinois, and spent his youth growing up in nearby Rolling Meadows. His father worked as a municipal finance director, and his mother served as a school administrative assistant. He grew up alongside an older sister named Nancy.
During his time at Rolling Meadows High School, Gary made his initial stage appearance as Snoopy in a production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He later attended Illinois State University to study theater, where he shared classes with future actors Laurie Metcalf and John Malkovich.
Stage and television career
Gary began his professional acting work on stage in Chicago and joined the ensemble of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. He also performed in several off-Broadway shows in New York City. Early screen credits included playing Captain Jeffrey MacDonald in the mini-series Fatal Vision and appearing in the film Lucas.
His breakthrough television role came when he played Jack Killian in the NBC series Midnight Caller between 1988 and 1991. Following that success, he took on prominent television parts across various networks, including Sheriff Lucas Buck in American Gothic, Vice President Bob Russell in The West Wing, and Kurt McVeigh in both The Good Wife and The Good Fight.
Film work
Gary made well-known appearances in several feature films throughout his career. In 1993, he played Secret Service Agent Bill Watts in In the Line of Fire. He later portrayed Mike Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie, a role he reprised in subsequent sequels and television adaptations.
One of his most memorable cinematic roles is the micromanaging supervisor Bill Lumbergh in the 1999 comedy Office Space. Other movie appearances in his filmography include A Simple Plan, One Hour Photo, Dodgeball: a Underdog Story, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and Pineapple Express.
Personal life
Gary married actress Teddi Siddall on March 8, 1992, and they had one daughter together before their marriage ended following a divorce filing in 2017. He later married interior designer Michelle Knapp in August 2021.
Returning to his theatrical roots, Gary performed in Mia Chung's play Catch As Catch Can at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 2026. He continues to maintain a busy schedule working across television and voice acting projects.
Birthday and age
Gary Cole was born on September 20, 1956, which makes Gary 70 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Gary shares the date with 31 other famous people.
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