Michael Cole Dies: ‘Mod Squad’ Star & ‘General Hospital’ Actor Was 84

deadline.com:

Michael Cole, who starred as Pete Cochran on the hit counterculture drama Mod Squad and later played Harlan Barrett on General Hospital during a 50-year acting career, has died.

He was 84. His reps at BMF announced the news but did not provide details. Cole was one of the three young hippies-turned-cops alongside Julie (Peggy Lipton) and Lionc (Clarence Williams III) in Mod Squad, which debuted in September 1968 on ABC. “One White, One Black, One Blonde” read the promo materials for the series, which was aimed at a youthful audience during a turbulent time.

The trio was given a choice: fight crime or be sent to jail themselves. They chose the former, under the tutelage of Capt. Adam Greer (Tige Andrews).

Executive produced by Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas, Mod Squad tapped into the zeitgeist of the late ’60s, portraying a positive image for the counterculture of the moment by tackling such issues as the Vietnam war, racism and social justice.