But television isn't his only--or even the primary--outlet for his talents. Born September 20, 1956, in Park Ridge, Illinois, he began his acting experience as Snoopy in a high school production of You�re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and was a cast member of every show afterward while he attended the school. He studied theatre at Illinois State University, and began his professional stage career in Chicago, where he co-founded the Remains Theatre Ensemble and, in 1985, became a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble. He has appeared in numerous award-winning productions in Chicago as well as off-Broadway in New York. He's done feature films including In the Line of Fire, The Brady Bunch Movie, and A Very Brady Sequel. He frequently exercises his talents in independent films and television movies. 

A family man, Gary has been married to actress Teddi Siddall since 1992, and they live with their young daughter in California.  Teddi has appeared with Gary in several of his projects, including an episode of Midnight Caller, the television film Lies He Told, and the 1998 stage production of Flyovers, as well as having appeared on her own in such television programs as Wings, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, Promised Land, Almost Perfect, and a number of theatrical films, including the multiple Oscar-nominated John Huston film Prizzi's Honor and Fade to Black.  
 

"Gary Cole was a prince."--Nick Searcy, American Gothic costar 

"Gary Cole was a brilliant actor to work with. He's very generous as an actor." --Ted Raimi, American Gothic guest star 

"Gary Cole is as great a guy as you'd ever meet."--Shaun Cassidy, American Gothic producer 

"Gary, as I'm sure you've heard...everyone raves about him. He's awesome!... He really...he is an actor. A lot of actors, I feel, these days are more personalities, really. In other words, their personality--and I'm not besmirching them, I think it's great--but they're not really actors in the old-style sense, where they become different characters. Often they're similar, if not exactly the same, in everything they do. Which is fine. Gary is an old-time actor.... He really is an actor in the true sense of the word. Which is great. And plus, he's a great guy to get along with. Great guy."--Michael Lange, American Gothic director 

"Loved seeing Gary on the show (Gang Related). Oh, man, I love him. I worked with him in "True West" at the Drury Lane Theater in New York, in the Village. We had a blast together."--Jim Belushi, Gang Related co-star 

"In real life he's the guy next door. You could be comfortable having a beer with him at the corner bar."--Waris Hussein, Those She Left Behind and Fall from Grace director 

"Working with Gary Cole was particularly satisfying. In addition to his great acting talent, Gary is also extraordinarily hard-working and always prepared. Despite his heavy workload, Gary always showed up to deliver off-camera lines in support of the other actors. He's a very giving and considerate actor."-- Charles Robert Carner, Midnight Caller director and writer 

 (Note: Nick Searcy, Shaun Cassidy and Michael Lange remarks are courtesy of The Trinity Guardian.)