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1-11 of 11
- A virile, beefcake blond of the late 1960s and 1970s small screen, Dennis Cole certainly had it all going for him, but tragic circumstances prevented an all-out successful career. A rugged TV version of Robert Redford, 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 and -raised stunner was the son of Joseph C. Cole, a musician during the 1940s and 1950s. His parents, both alcoholics, divorced when he was young (his father later committed suicide). Dennis was first noticed on the pages of physique magazines serving the likes of Robert Henry Mizer (aka Bob Mizer) and his Athletic Models Guild as well as other photographers. Paying his dues as a motion picture and television stuntman, Cole also appeared in an occasional bit 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 who causes tongues to wag after falling for a Mexican girl. However, it was the subsequent nighttime police series The Felony Squad (1966) alongside veterans Howard Duff and Ben Alexander (of Dragnet (1951) fame) that set Cole's TV career in high gear. As 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 as a trouble-prone stud in the more adventurous Bearcats! (1971). Females couldn't get enough of Cole and his athletic skills had males idolizing from afar. Guest appearances on Medical Center (1969), Barnaby Jones (1973), Police Story (1973), Love, American Style (1969), The Love Boat (1977), The Streets of San Francisco (1972) and Police Woman (1974) 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. He 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 (1976) led to his meeting and, in 1978, marrying "Angel" Jaclyn Smith. 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 replacement "Lance Prentiss" in the soap-opera The Young and the Restless (1973) in 1981. Very much a product of TV, he was unable to permanently transition into films; he appeared occasionally in dismissible low-budget action fare such as Amateur Night (1986), Death House (1988), Pretty Smart (1987), Dead End City (1988) and Fatal Encounter (1990). He continued showing up on all the popular series of the day, including Silk Stalkings (1991), Murder, She Wrote (1984), Pacific Blue (1996) and Baywatch Nights (1995), 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' later personal and professional lives suffered as a result of a chronic alcohol problem, but an even greater setback occurred when his only child, Joey (whom he named after his father), was murdered during a 1991 robbery attempt in Venice, California. He 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.
Dennis returned to school and started up his own real estate company, setting up an office in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Married for several years to his third wife Marjorie ("Ree"), Dennis filed for divorce in May of 2007, which became final on April 21, 2008. He died at age 69 on November 15, 2009, in a Fort Lauderdale hospital of liver failure. - Producer
- Writer
- Actor
Ken Ober was born on 3 July 1957 in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA. He was a producer and writer, known for Loaded Weapon 1 (1993), Parenthood (1990) and Mind of Mencia (2005). He died on 15 November 2009 in Santa Monica, California, USA.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Jocelyn Quivrin was born on 14 February 1979 in Dijon, Côte-d'Or, France. He was an actor and writer, known for 99 Francs (2007), Syriana (2005) and Jacquou le croquant (2007). He was married to Alice Taglioni. He died on 15 November 2009 in Saint-Cloud, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Richard Carlyle was born on 20 March 1914 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. He was an actor, known for Star Trek (1966), Harper (1966) and Lights Out (1946). He died on 15 November 2009 in Sherman Oaks, California, USA.
- Annegine Federspiel was born on 21 September 1954. She was an actress, known for Mor er major (1985), Cirkus Julius (1988) and Guldlighteren (1985). She died on 15 November 2009.
- Actor
- Executive
David Dong was born on 20 February 1927 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor and executive, known for Charlie Chan's Greatest Case (1933). He died on 15 November 2009 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Penny McGuiggan was born on 12 June 1930 in Illinois, USA. She was an actress, known for Kentucky Jubilee (1951), My Marilyn (2009) and Dead Famous (2004). She died on 15 November 2009 in Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Derek Boland was born on 15 January 1965 in London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Liverpool F.C.: Anfield Rap (1988), Football's 47 Best Worst Songs (2018) and Sounds of the 80s (2014). He died on 15 November 2009 in London, England, UK.- Doug Tasker was born on 22 January 1929 in Ringwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was married to Beulah Fish. He died on 15 November 2009 in Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Jesper Jensen was born on 6 June 1931 in Denmark. He was a writer and director, known for Det drejer sig om - (1967), Klitgården (1985) and To af en slags (1982). He died on 15 November 2009.- Additional Crew
Mario Mastria was born on 19 April 1920 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He died on 15 November 2009 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.