Gary Cole has built a rare kind of acting career. He has moved from Chicago theater to drama, cult comedy, animation, prestige television, and one of network TV’s longest-running franchises. His roles in Office Space, Veep, The Good Wife, and NCIS have introduced him to several generations of viewers.
| Quick fact about Gary Cole | Details |
| Full name | Gary Michael Cole |
| Date of birth | September 20, 1956 |
| Age | 69 as of August 25, 2026 |
| Birthplace | Park Ridge, Illinois |
| Raised in | Rolling Meadows, Illinois |
| Profession | Film, television, stage, and voice actor |
| Current major role | NCIS Special Agent Alden Parker |
| Spouse | Michelle Knapp |
| Children | One daughter |
| Famous roles | Bill Lumbergh, Kent Davison, Mike Brady, Alden Parker |
| Major recognition | 2014 Emmy nomination; SAG ensemble win with Veep cast |
The birth, family, education, career, and awards details above are supported by IMDb, CBS/Paramount, and the Television Academy. Cole is a veteran American actor whose career spans Chicago theater, cult comedy, prestige television, animation, and a major network procedural.
He will be 69 as of August 25, 2026, and remains a Special Agent with NCIS as Special Agent Alden Parker. CBS lists him among the cast for Season 24, which is scheduled for fall 2026. For more profiles across film, television, music, and public figures, browse the ReadsNow Entertainment section.
Who Is Gary Cole?
Born on September 20, 1956, in Park Ridge, Illinois, Cole grew up in nearby Rolling Meadows. He later attended Illinois State University and developed his craft in the Chicago theater community. His stage credits include work with the respected Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Television gave him national visibility early in his career. The Television Academy credits his performance in the 1984 miniseries Fatal Vision as an important early breakthrough. He later led NBC’s Midnight Caller as radio host Jack “Nighthawk” Killian.
That dramatic background could have placed him on a narrow career path. Instead, he became equally recognizable for dry comedy, authority figures, political satire, voice work, and character roles.
Career Highlights: From Office Space to Veep
One reason Cole’s career has lasted so long is his ability to move between genres without losing his distinctive screen presence.
The following roles mark the major stages of his career.
- Fatal Vision (1984): He played Jeffrey MacDonald in the television miniseries that brought him wider attention.
- Midnight Caller (1988, 1991): He starred as Jack Killian in the NBC crime drama.
- The Brady Bunch Movie (1995): His deadpan take on Mike Brady became a memorable part of the parody.
- Office Space (1999): He played Bill Lumbergh, the passive-aggressive corporate boss who became one of the film’s defining characters.
- The Good Wife: He appeared as Kurt McVeigh, creating a memorable contrast with Christine Baranski’s Diane Lockhart.
- Veep: He played political strategist Kent Davison and earned an Emmy nomination for the role.
- NCIS: He joined the franchise as Alden Parker during Season 19 and became a central member of the team.
His film credits also include Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Talladega Nights, One Hour Photo, Breach, A Simple Plan, and In the Line of Fire. Animation audiences may also recognize his voice from Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Family Guy, and Kim Possible.
Readers interested in another actor-centered filmography can see ReadsNow’s Laysla De Oliveira movies and TV shows profile.
Why Alden Parker Became a Major Career Role
Cole joined NCIS during Season 19 in 2021. His character, Alden Parker, entered the story with an FBI background before becoming the NCIS team’s leader. The timing made the role especially prominent because Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs was stepping away from the center of the series. Still, Parker was written as his own character rather than a copy of Gibbs.
By Season 23, Parker had storylines centered on his own family and history. CBS’s May 2026 episode descriptions show the character dealing with his estranged sister and the fallout from his father’s murder. His future with the franchise is also clear as of August 2026. Paramount’s official press information lists Cole among the starring cast for Season 24, scheduled for fall 2026.
Awards and Recognition
Cole’s work as Kent Davison on Veep brought some of his strongest industry recognition. The Television Academy lists him as a 2014 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. CBS also notes that he received several Screen Actors Guild ensemble nominations with the cast before the ensemble won in 2017.
That recognition fits an unusual career pattern. He has rarely relied on a single starring vehicle. Instead, he has repeatedly turned supporting and ensemble characters into recognizable parts of major productions.
Personal Life: Wife and Family
Cole is married to Michelle Knapp. IMDb records their marriage date as July 7, 2021, while CBS’s official biography says the couple lives in Los Angeles. He was previously married to actress Teddi Siddall. They married in 1992 and had one daughter, Mary Leila Cole. Siddall died in 2018.
Unlike many celebrity profiles, this one has little reason to speculate beyond verified public details. Claims about private finances, property, or family matters can quickly become unreliable when repeated without primary sourcing.
Recent Work Beyond NCIS
His current network role has not stopped him from taking other projects. In 2025, he joined Season 2 of Netflix’s A Man on the Inside. He played Brad Vinick, a wealthy Wheeler College alumnus whose proposed donation became central to the season’s mystery.
Netflix’s official cast guide describes the character as a successful executive and major donor. IMDb also lists continuing voice work and a large catalog of television appearances. That mix reflects a career in which live-action drama, comedy, and animation have often run side by side.
What Makes His Career Stand Out?
Many actors become closely tied to one successful character. Cole has done almost the opposite. Bill Lumbergh represents workplace satire. Kent Davison belongs to political comedy. Alden Parker anchors a procedural drama. Mike Brady showed Cole’s ability to perform parody with a completely straight face.
His stage experience adds another layer, while decades of animation credits show that his voice alone can carry a character. Few performers remain so consistently employed across such different formats. That range also explains why viewers may know his face without realizing how many projects connect back to the same actor.
Where to Read More
Cole’s career connects several eras of American television and film, from 1980s drama to 1990s cult comedy and present-day network TV. His ongoing NCIS role and recent Netflix work show that his career remains active. ReadsNow publishes additional biographies, entertainment updates, and career profiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
He is 69 years old as of August 25, 2026. He was born September 20, 1956, so he will turn 70 on September 20, 2026. Age is often a starting point for a celebrity biography, and the Noah Lyles age profile offers another ReadsNow example.
He plays NCIS Special Agent Alden Parker. Parker became a central character after joining the series during Season 19.
Yes. Paramount’s official Season 24 information lists him among the cast, with the new season scheduled for fall 2026.
He is married to Michelle Knapp. They married in July 2021.
Yes. He has one daughter, Mary Leila Cole, from his marriage to Teddi Siddall.
His most recognizable work includes Office Space, The Brady Bunch Movie, Veep, The Good Wife, Midnight Caller, and NCIS. He also has extensive voice credits.
There is no authoritative public financial disclosure that establishes a precise personal net worth. Celebrity estimates should be treated as estimates rather than verified facts.
