Dennis Cole
Encyclopedia
Dennis Cole was an American
film and television actor.
Before breaking into acting, Cole was a model for men's physique magazines. His first big acting break came when he landed a starring role in the ABC
police drama Felony Squad
, which ran from 1966 to 1969. He appeared for one season (1969–1970) as stuntman
Davey Evans in Bracken's World
. He then costarred with Rod Taylor
in the series Bearcats! (1971).
Cole continued to make guest appearances in numerous television series, such as Medical Center
, Police Story, Charlie's Angels
, The Love Boat
, Fantasy Island
, Three's Company
, and Murder, She Wrote
. He played Lance Prentiss on The Young and the Restless
(1981–82). Cole's last television appearance was a 1998 episode of Pacific Blue
.
; they were married from 1978 to 1981. Joe Cole
, his only son from first wife Sally Bergeron, was shot dead in a 1991 robbery attempt at the age of 30; the crime remains unsolved.
After the death of his son, Cole turned against acting projects containing violence. This decision led to the death of his Hollywood
career, said LA
publicist, Edward Lozzi. In point of fact, Cole continued to perform on TV and 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 three-year convalescence and a new direction. Cole remarried and relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he worked returned to school, and opened up his own real estate company with his wife Marjorie. They owned Celebrity Realty, Inc. He became divorced from Marjorie in April 2008.
(speaker and chairman), the Arthritis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis foundations, the Willie Shoemaker Foundation, Chairman of the March of Dimes, chairman of the Diabetes Foundation, and charitable work on behalf of the Children's Home Society in Fort Lauderdale.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film and television actor.
Before breaking into acting, Cole was a model for men's physique magazines. His first big acting break came when he landed a starring role in the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
police drama Felony Squad
Felony Squad
Felony Squad is a half-hour television crime drama originally broadcast on the ABC network from September 12, 1966 to January 31, 1969, a span encompassing seventy-three episodes.-Overview:...
, which ran from 1966 to 1969. He appeared for one season (1969–1970) as stuntman
Stuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
Davey Evans in Bracken's World
Bracken's World
Bracken's World is an American drama series broadcast on NBC from September 19, 1969 to December 25, 1970. The series was created and produced by Dorothy Kingsley.-Synopsis:...
. He then costarred with Rod Taylor
Rod Taylor (actor)
Rodney Sturt "Rod" Taylor is an Australian-American actor of film and television.-Early life:Born on 11 January 1930 in Lidcombe, a suburb of Sydney, Taylor was the only child of William Sturt Taylor, a steel construction contractor and commercial artist, and the former Mona Thompson, a writer of...
in the series Bearcats! (1971).
Cole continued to make guest appearances in numerous television series, such as Medical Center
Medical Center (TV series)
Medical Center is a medical drama series which aired on CBS from 1969 to 1976.-Synopsis:The show starred James Daly as Dr. Paul Lochner and Chad Everett as Dr. Joe Gannon, surgeons working in an otherwise unnamed university hospital in Los Angeles. The show focused both on the lives of the doctors...
, Police Story, Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men...
, The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
, Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
, Three's Company
Three's Company
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....
, and Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
. He played Lance Prentiss on The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
(1981–82). Cole's last television appearance was a 1998 episode of Pacific Blue
Pacific Blue (TV series)
Pacific Blue is an American crime drama series about a team of police officers with the Santa Monica Police Department who patrolled its beaches on bicycles. The show ran for five seasons on the USA Network, from March 2, 1996 to April 9, 2000, with a total of one hundred and one episodes...
.
Personal life
All three of Cole's marriages ended in divorce. Cole's second wife was actress Jaclyn SmithJaclyn Smith
Jacquelyn Ellen "Jaclyn" Smith is an American actress and businesswoman. She is best-known for the role of Kelly Garrett in the television series Charlie's Angels, and was the only original female lead to remain with the series for its complete run...
; they were married from 1978 to 1981. Joe Cole
Joe Cole (roadie)
Joseph Dennis "Joe" Cole was a roadie for Black Flag and Rollins Band. He was the best friend and roommate of the musician/author/actor Henry Rollins. His memoirs were published posthumously by 2.13.61 publishing, Planet Joe, in which he documented his experiences on the last Black Flag tour and...
, his only son from first wife Sally Bergeron, was shot dead in a 1991 robbery attempt at the age of 30; the crime remains unsolved.
After the death of his son, Cole turned against acting projects containing violence. This decision led to the death of his Hollywood
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
career, said LA
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
publicist, Edward Lozzi. In point of fact, Cole continued to perform on TV and 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 three-year convalescence and a new direction. Cole remarried and relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he worked returned to school, and opened up his own real estate company with his wife Marjorie. They owned Celebrity Realty, Inc. He became divorced from Marjorie in April 2008.
Charitable Endeavors
Cole was a person very much committed to and involved with charity work to benefit mankind in his later years, setting one of the finest role model examples of any actor associated with Hollywood. His volunteer endeavors over the years included an over-two-decade involvement with the American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
(speaker and chairman), the Arthritis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis foundations, the Willie Shoemaker Foundation, Chairman of the March of Dimes, chairman of the Diabetes Foundation, and charitable work on behalf of the Children's Home Society in Fort Lauderdale.