Veteran American actor Gary Cole’s news of exiting the NCIS Franchise after playing the lead role for three subsequent seasons surged the internet.
Three years ago, Gary Cole entered the set of NCIS as a substitute for Mark Harmon, taking on the main lead role.
Highlights
- Gary Cole, who joined NCIS three years ago, might be leaving the show. The season 21 finale hinted at changes that could lead to his departure.
- Cole and other cast members have hinted at possible departures, adding to the uncertainty about the show’s future direction.
- Gary Cole’s acting career began in 1983 and includes notable roles in TV series like “Midnight Caller,” “The Good Wife,” and “Veep.”
Portraying the character of Alden Parker, Gary showed exceptional acting potential and his versatility to take on the role of any character presented to him.
Initially, his job was pretty easy, and he thanked the writers for making it that way.
However, he struggled with the script’s direction as time passed, not knowing what was happening. Often, he was lost and kept asking his co-stars, “What happened here?”
Rather than taking it as a drawback, Cole took it lightly and addressed that it can even be the case if one is a part of the show that has been running for over two decades.
NCIS Cast Hint Possibility Of Major Changes in Season 22
In the interview with Deadline, Gary mentioned that he will not leave the show in the 2021 season, as they can see him playing Agent Parker with double the enthusiasm and energy.
However, the tables could turn drastically in the already renewed season 22 because the season 21 finale set the potential stage for Parker’s character that could lead to his departure.
Cole and his co-stars have remained tight-lipped about the finale, fanning the flames of the speculation.
Gary’s quitting rumors have fueled the supposition that none of the actors’ positions are secure in the series despite its more than decade-long history.
The speculations were not as shocking, considering the variation in the show over the years.
As the series heads towards season 22, cast members Katrina Law and Brian Dietzen are having fun, stirring the media with the possibility of most of their departures.
Dietzen notably stated, “Fans should worry about a lot of characters. No character is safe.”
Although Cole’s exit has not been officially confirmed, the show’s creative team has strongly pinpointed its probability along with the changes in the cast in the climax of season 21.
Gary Cole’s Journey From Stage Actor To Big Screen
Gary Cole commenced his career as a stage actor in 1983 in Chicago.
Then, between 1988 and 1991, he gained recognition for his TV roles, predominantly for his portrayal of Jack Nighthawk Killian in Midnight Caller.
In 1995, he was offered the role of Mike Brady in the movie The Brady Bunch and was busy until 2002 shooting the sequels to the same franchise.
During that time, he gave his voice to onscreen characters in multiple movies and simultaneously signed a contract with the TV series Wanted, keeping himself occupied.
From 2010 to 2016, he starred in the series The Good Wife, where he played opposite Christine Baranski.
In 2011, Cole joined Fox’s Comedy Pilot episode Tagged. However, the series didn’t continue further, marking one of the unsuccessful involvements in his glowing bright career.
In 2013, he signed up to play the recurring role of Kent Davison on the series Veep, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in Comedy Series in 2014.
Now, he provides his voice to the character Sergeant Boscoe on Bob’s Burgers and Principal Shepherd on Family Guy.
The actor’s latest project before NCIS Season 21 was Waco: The Aftermath, released in 2023.
Additional Information
- Gary Cole married Teddi Siddall on March 8, 1992, and divorced on June 19, 2017. Now, he is married to Michelle Knapp, an interior designer.
- The veteran actor Gary Cole has a net worth of $5 million as of 2024. He has more than 180 acting credits to his name
- Gary Cole has a daughter, Mary Cole, from his first marriage.