Michael Cole died at the age of 84. The General Hospital alum who appeared on the show back in 1991 as Harlan Barrett died on December 10, 2024, at the Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, California.
Michael Cole was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 3, 1940. His career kicked off in 1961, and he later became well known for his role as Pete Cochran on the television crime drama The Mod Squad (1968–1973). Cole was the last surviving member of the original cast.
General Hospital fans may remember him as Harlan Barrett, who arrived in Port Charles in 1991 to save the sunken vessel, the SS Tracy. Harlan quickly hires Bill Eckert as the chief engineer for Barrett Industries and brags about his appeal to women, particularly setting his sights on Tracy Quartermaine. However, after angering Monica Quartermaine, Lucy Coe, and Tracy, they capture him overnight at the Quartermaine mansion. Harlan, along with Leopold Taub, Faison, and Lord Ashton, forms a cartel to control international trade using carbon disulfide as a cover. They force Paul Hornsby to marry into the Quartermaine family for their assets. Harlan’s daughter, Brenda Barrett (Vaness Marcil), arrived in 1992 to claim her inheritance. He’s also Julia Barrett’s (Crystal Carson) father.
Michael Cole’s acting credits also include 7th Heaven, Murder, She Wrote, Shades of LA, Fanatsy Island, and more.
Soap Opera News sends our love and condolences to family and friends of Michael Cole during this very difficult time.
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