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Gary Michael Cole (born September 20, 1956) is an American actor. Born in Illinois and a graduate of Illinois State University, Cole began his professional acting career on stage with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. On television he has had starring roles in the series Midnight Caller, American Gothic and Crusade in addition to many other appearances including The West Wing, Desperate Housewives and Family Guy. His movie roles have included productions such as The Brady Bunch Movie, Office Space, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. He... MORE

Gary Michael Cole (born September 20, 1956) is an American actor. Born in Illinois and a graduate of Illinois State University, Cole began his professional acting career on stage with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. On television he has had starring roles in the series Midnight Caller, American Gothic and Crusade in addition to many other appearances including The West Wing, Desperate Housewives and Family Guy. His movie roles have included productions such as The Brady Bunch Movie, Office Space, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. He married actress Teddi Siddall in 1992 and the couple have one daughter, Mary. Cole was born in Park Ridge, Illinois. His father was a school administrator and his mother was a director of finance. Cole attended Rolling Meadows High School, where his first dramatic appearance was as Snoopy in a high school production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He later attended Illinois State University, where he majored in theater alongside actors Laurie Metcalf and John Malkovich. Cole began his professional career in 1983 as a stage actor in Chicago, where he joined the ensemble of the famed LESS