| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Gary Michael Cole |
| Birth place | Park Ridge, Illinois, USA |
| Age | 69 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Height | 1.83 m |
| Weight | 176 lbs |
| Father | Robert Cole |
| Mother | Lois Cole |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
Gary Cole is an award-winning actor who rose to prominence after delivering a powerful performance in the miniseries Fatal Vision.'
His acting abilities in his first significant TV role in the miniseries astounded reviewers and earned him a huge fanbase.
He proceeded to wow his admirers in the television shows 'Midnight Caller,' 'American Gothic,' and 'The West Wing,' as a dynamic performer.
Career & Net Worth
Gary Cole built one of the most consistent and respected careers in Hollywood through decades of work across television, film, voice acting, and theater. Before becoming a familiar face on screen, he started his professional acting career in Chicago’s theater scene during the early 1980s.
He later joined the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble and co-founded The Remains Theatre Ensemble. During those years, Cole performed in stage productions across Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and San Diego, building the strong acting foundation that would define his career.
His first feature film appearance came in To Live and Die in L.A., but his major breakthrough arrived with In the Line of Fire, where he played Secret Service agent Bill Watts alongside Clint Eastwood.
Gary Cole became a recognizable television star after landing the lead role of Jack “Nighthawk” Killian in the TV drama Midnight Caller. From there, he steadily built one of the most diverse TV résumés in the industry.
Over the years, he appeared in acclaimed series including The West Wing, Veep, Suits, The Good Wife, The Good Fight, Chicago Fire, and Mixed-ish. Currently, Cole remains a major part of NCIS, where he stars as Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker.
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Since joining the long-running crime drama, he has become one of the show’s central faces and continues leading the series as it moves into its latest season. Although television made him a household name, Gary Cole also built a strong film career, delivering memorable performances in both comedy and drama.
Fans still recognize him most for his hilarious role as Bill Lumbergh in the cult comedy Office Space. His comedic timing also stood out in films like Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and The Brady Bunch Movie.
On the dramatic side, he earned praise for performances in A Simple Plan, One Hour Photo, and Breach. Gary Cole’s voice has also become well-known in animation. He continues to voice Principal Shepherd in Family Guy and Sergeant Bosco in Bob's Burgers.
His voice-acting credits also include Kim Possible and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. More recently, he appeared in animated projects such as The Bob's Burgers Movie and Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.
Wife, Partner, Children
Gary Cole has experienced both personal challenges and new beginnings throughout his life away from Hollywood. He was married to actress and writer Teddi Siddall for more than two decades after the couple tied the knot in the early 1990s.
Although divorce proceedings began years later, the process was never finalized before Siddall sadly passed away in 2018. Her death marked a difficult period for the family after many years together.
Currently, Gary Cole is married to interior designer Michelle Knapp. The couple reportedly lives in Los Angeles and keeps much of their relationship private, while Cole continues to balance family life with his acting career.
Gary and Teddi welcomed their daughter, Mary Cole, in 1993. When Mary was still a toddler, she was diagnosed with autism at a time when public understanding of the condition was far more limited than it is today.
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Cole has openly discussed how overwhelming those early years felt as a parent. He once explained that his only real point of reference at the time was the film Rain Man, which highlighted how little information families often had access to then.
Thankfully, Mary responded extremely well to early therapies and support programs. Currently, she is involved in the performing arts and has pursued acting, following in the footsteps of both of her parents. Her journey has also inspired many families in the autism and neurodivergent communities.
How Old Is Gary Cole? Know His Age
Robert Cole, a school administrative assistant, and Lois Cole, a finance director, gave birth to Gary Michael Cole on September 20, 1956, in Park Ridge, Illinois, USA.
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He was raised in the Chicago suburb of Rolling Meadows alongside his elder sister Nancy Cole. He is currently 69 years old.
Education & Net Worth
Gary Cole discovered his love for acting long before becoming a familiar face in Hollywood. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, he attended Rolling Meadows High School, where he first stood out in school theater productions.
One of his earliest performances came in a production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, where he played Snoopy. Even though the role was silent, Cole’s physical comedy and stage presence made a lasting impression.
After that performance, he became a regular part of nearly every school production. After high school, Gary Cole attended Illinois State University, where he studied theater and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree.
During his time at the university, Cole trained alongside future Hollywood stars including John Malkovich and Laurie Metcalf. The program became known for producing some of the entertainment industry’s most respected performers, and Cole quickly developed the strong acting foundation that later helped him succeed in television, film, and theater.
That early success helped shape his decision to pursue acting professionally.
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