Gary Cole Movies
Whether following in the footsteps of the seemingly irreplaceable Robert Reed as the all-wise patriarch of the Brady clan or raising the ire of a nation of embittered office workers as the blissfully malevolent Lumbergh in Mike Judge's popular workplace comedy Office Space, longtime character actor Gary Cole can always be depended on to bring life to his varied and oddly endearing characters, despite their sometimes questionable motivations. Even in his earliest role as Snoopy in a high school production of You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, the Park Ridge, IL, native knew his destiny lay on the stage; from that moment straight through Cole's higher education at Illinois State University, his dedication to the theater never wavered. So dedicated was Cole that, during his third year at I.S.U., the eager up-and-comer dropped out to help found the Remains Theater. Transferring over to Chicago's acclaimed Steppenwolf Theater in 1985, Cole quickly made a name for himself in such productions as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Balm in Gilead.Though Cole had essayed a handful of television roles in the early '80s, it wasn't until his breakthrough role as a suspected murderer in the 1984 made-for-television feature Fatal Vision that audiences truly began to take notice. Cole's role as the drug-addicted son of an alcoholic father in the 1986 made-for-TV drama Vital Signs showed that he undoubtedly had the chops to make it on the small screen. Despite an increase in television roles, the ambitious actor continued to impress on the stage as well. Cole's first taste of weekly series life came with his role as a former cop who finds redemption as a late-night radio talk show host in the 1989 series Midnight Caller. In the following decade, he would expand his career into feature film territory.
Cole's silver-screen career began with a role as a Secret Service agent in the Clint Eastwood thriller In the Line of Fire (1993), and his natural skills onscreen lent a surprising amount of depth to the supporting role. A few supporting television performances were quick to follow, and in 1995, Cole cracked up audiences with his role as suburban philosopher Mike Brady in the hit comedy The Brady Bunch Movie. Cole would reprise the role in the following year's sequel A Very Brady Sequel, but not before returning to series work as the sheriff in the short-lived, but well-loved, oddity American Gothic. As his feature career gained momentum, Cole still remained loyal to the stage and small screen. In 1998, a role in the acclaimed HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon found him going as strong as ever, and on the heels of supporting roles in A Simple Plan and I'll Be Home for Christmas, Cole played what was perhaps his most widely recognized role to date in Office Space (1999). Cast as by-the-books corporate figurehead William "Bill" Lumbergh, Cole delivered a performance that was pure comic gold for anyone who has weathered the never-ending drone of life in cubicle-land.
In 2001, Cole loaned his voice to the hit "Adult Swim" cartoon Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, playing several characters, including Birdman himself. The next year, Cole continued to dabble in animated television with his performance as the titular character's father in the hit series Kim Possible. Back on the big screen, he took the role of the villainous heavy in the Eddie Murphy/Owen Wilson comedy I Spy and returned to the role of Mike Brady in the made-for-television sequel, The Brady Bunch in the White House. In 2003, he was cast in the recurring role of new Vice President "Bingo Bob" Russell for the fifth season of the critically acclaimed dramatic series The West Wing. The popular character actor could also be seen in supporting capacity in the 2004 comedies Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
Cole maintained his status as a talented comic with a series of vocal performances on the animated television show The Family Guy, while showcasing his versatility by appearing in the sequel to the American version of The Ring. In 2006 he played opposite Will Ferrell in the NASCAR comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Critically acclaimed director David Gordon Green takes a break from the brooding drama that defined such early efforts as George Washington and Undertow for this action-flavored buddy comedy concerning two pot-smoking friends (Seth Rogen and James Franco) who unwittingly become involved with a vicious gang of drug dealers. Judd Apatow and Shauna Robertson produce a script co-penned by star Rogen and Evan Goldberg. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Seth Rogen, James Franco, (more)
- 2007
A woman decides to have some very specific work done in this short comedy satirizing America's obsession with plastic surgery. Meg March (Cheryl Hines) is an egocentric woman in her forties who, while getting her regular bikini wax, discovers that one of her waxer's other customers will soon be getting a labiaplasty operation. While there are no compelling reasons for Meg to have the surgery, she becomes malignly obsessed with the idea of getting a "new vagina," and makes arrangements with unctuous plastic surgeon Dr. Milstein (Gary Cole) to have her privates overhauled at a cost of $24,000. When her parents refuse to lend her the money for the operation, Meg turns to a life of crime to foot the bill, but come the day of the surgery, things don't go quite as Meg or Dr. Milstein planned. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cheryl Hines, Gary Cole, (more)
Gary Cole, Aaron Yoo, John Gries, and Judy Ongg star in an inspirational small town drama exploring the lingering effects of World War II on Japanese-American citizens struggling to overcome lingering hostilities and be accepted in country they now call home. The Nomuras are a typical American family who just happen to be of Japanese heritage. When World War II breaks out and the Nomuras are ushered into the Topaz internment camp, teenage son Lyle (Yoo) becomes the target of harassment to camp guard and frustrated minor league catcher Billy Burrell. Lyle is a star pitcher who had been accepted into college on a baseball scholarship, but was subsequently forced to abandon his dreams when his family was interned. Billy's daughter is a musical instructor at the camp, and when she and Lyle strike up a tenuous romance, tensions quickly come to a head between the two families. Hoping that the two families will be able to find a common ground due to their mutual love of baseball, Lyle's father proposes a goodwill game between Burrell's team and the internees. As the two teams take to the diamond for a game organized to unite them all, the small town's tolerance will be put to the ultimate test in a match that reveals the true spirit of American culture. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Cole, Leonardo Nam, (more)
- 2005
Once again, the Griffin household is invaded by Peter's crabby father Francis, an old-line Catholic who hates anyone who doesn't adhere to his own peculiar set of religious values. In his efforts to re-convert the family, Francis causes little Stewie to become a "bubble boy." As a result, rebellious Peter attempts to establish his own religion, with "The Fonz" from Happy Days as his new Deity. Without revealing any more, please note that the episode's star-studded voice cast includes Marion Ross and Tom Bosley--and before we forget, Gary Cole is back as obstreperous boss-man Bill Lumbergh, the character he'd played in the movie Office Space (Shucks! There's no space left to mention Jaws: Fire Island). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The emotional dysfunctions of two people suffering from an autistic disorder known as Asperger's syndrome threaten to derail the pair's emerging romance in director Petter Næss' affectionate tale of love among the mentally afflicted. For friendly taxi-driver Donald (Josh Hartnett), patterns and routines are of the utmost importance. In addition to his love for birds and his uncanny ability to process numbers, Donald does his best to give back to fellow Asperger's sufferers by leading an autism support group. When the lovely but intensely complicated Isabelle (Radha Mitchell) shows up at one of Donald's meetings, the good-natured cabbie finds that love can be as painful as it is elating. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell, (more)
- 2005
Peter thinks he's suddenly become brilliant after winning a game of "Trivial Pursuit", little realizing that Lois had merely let him win. To let Peter down easy, Brian the dog arranges for his master to get an IQ test. As a result, Peter is classified as "retarded"--and he intends to take full advantage of the fact that the world gives a special pass to Special People. In the same spirit of taste and delicacy, this episode offers a musical performance by a singing tumor, and a knee-slapping reference to the bombing of Hiroshima. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Gary Cole stars in this delightfully improbable TV movie as Jerry Harden, a conservative husband, father, and bank loan officer. Harden's well-ordered existence is turned upside down when a scruffy-looking guitarist named Izzy (David Jensen) shows up at the bank, hoping to get a loan in order to re-organize the legendary KISS-like heavy metal band Rock Toxin. When Jerry sees Izzy, his heart sinks: It looks as though his "cover" will be blown, and that the whole world (including his children) will discover that, 20 years earlier, Jerry had been "Dagger", Rock Toxin's lead singer! At first turning down Izzy's loan request, Jerry is forced to reconsider when he finds that he hasn't enough money to send his 17-year-old daughter to college. Thus, Jerry not only bankrolls the revived Rock Toxin, but he also embarks upon a hectic double life: Nerdish pillar of society by day, heavily-made-up rock singer by night. Further complicating matters is the fact that Jerry's wife Allison (Sherilyn Fenn), is the campaign manager for Helen Hunter (Shannon Eubanks), the politician wife of Jerry's boss Carl (Joe Inscoe)--and the cornerstone of Helen's campaign is her crusade against heavy-metal music! Pop Rocks debuted over the ABC Family Channel on September 10, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is called in to investigate the supposedly accidental" death of of Elliot D'Souza (Mark Tymchyshyn), chief financial officer for the notorious girlie magazine "Sapphire". Elliot's secretary Miss Luden (Fay Masterson) is convinced that he was murdered by Sapphire's publisher Dexter Larsen (Gary Cole)--who, naturally, has the usual airtight alibi. Complicating matters so far as Monk is concerned is the fact that his nurse-assistant Sharona (Bitty Schram) once posed nude for "Sapphire" and is trying to keep this secret from her son. And then there's the curious omnipresence of Dexter's current house guest...Danny Bonaduce! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
The ABC cop series Karen Sisco was based on characters created by novelist Elmore Leonard, as visualized in Steven Soderbergh's 1998 theatrical feature Out of Sight. In the role originated on film by Jennifer Lopez, Carla Gugino starred as Karen Sisco, one of the toughest (and certainly the sexiest) U.S. Marshals working the Miami gold coast. Patrolling a beat from Palm Beach to South Beach, Karen used brains, brawn, and sheer chutzpah to bring criminals to heel. All of this was most disconcerting for Karen's father, veteran private detective Marshall Sisco (Robert Forster), who had hoped that his darling daughter would have picked a less risky profession -- and, on a more personal level, wished that Karen would exercise better discretion in her choice of boyfriends. Karen Sisco premiered October 1, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carla Gugino, Robert Forster, (more)
- 2002
At CostMart, Lois (voice of Alex Borstein) runs into Ross Fishman (voice of Chris Cox), an old flame. They're both married now, but Ross suggests they get together for coffee. Stewie (voice of Seth MacFarlane) sets out to eat some industrial adhesive, and when Brian (MacFarlane) tries to stop him, the two end up stuck holding hands together. Back at home, Lois, knowing how jealous Peter can be, frets about whether or not to meet with Ross. Brian and Stewie learn that it will take two weeks for the glue manufacturer to send over a solvent to unstick them. Unfortunately for Lois, Joe (voice of Patrick Warburton) takes the gang out in his new police surveillance van the same night she decides to meet with Ross. Peter catches them together, and decides to look up all of his old girlfriends (including Peppermint Patty from Peanuts) in retaliation. He has little success, and the couple ends up going for counseling. The marriage counselor has surveillance cameras installed throughout the house, and after seeing the results, recommends that Peter and Lois undergo a trial separation and see other people. Quagmire (MacFarlane) quickly takes the opportunity to ask Lois out, while Peter somehow ends up on a date at the same restaurant with Jennifer Love Hewitt (who does her own voice). ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Two of the Disney Channel's brightest young sitcom stars, Hilary Duff (Lizzie Maguire) and Christy Romano (Even Stevens), team up for laughs and tears in the made-for-cable Cadet Kelly. The life of cool, artistically inclined 14-year-old Kelly Collins (Duff) is turned upside down when she is uprooted from Manhattan and whisked off to the campus of George Washington Military School in upstate New York. The move was instigated by Sir (Gary Cole), a retired general and the new husband of Kelly's mother. Hoping to impress her stepfather, Kelly enlists in the school, where her freewheeling eccentricities immediately run afoul of her hard-hearted, 17-year-old squad leader, Jennifer Stone (Romano). Though Kelly does her best, the pressure brought to bear upon her by military protocol is enough to have her contemplating desertion -- and even her growing fondness for upper classman, Brad (Shawn Ashmore), may not be enough to bring her back. Originally broadcast by the Disney Channel on March 8, 2002, Cadet Kelly made its ABC network debut on July 14, 2002, as an episode of the weekend "Wonderful World of Disney" anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hilary Duff, Christy Romano, (more)
- 2002
Virtually every aspect of the WB network sitcom Family Affair was the same as the original series which aired on CBS from 1966 to 1971. Once again, swinging-bachelor architect Bill Davis and his very proper British butler Mr. French found their lavish penthouse apartment besieged by cute children, the nieces and nephew of Bill's late sister. And once again, the kids were twin siblings Jody and Buffy (the latter inseparable from her bespectacled rag doll Mrs. Beasley), and the twins' teenaged sister Cissy. The only main difference was the cast. Instead of the original lineup of Brian Keith as Uncle Bill, Sebastian Cabot as Mr. French, Johnny Whitaker as Jody, Anissa Jones as Buffy, and Kathy Garver as Cissy, those roles were respectively filled by Gary Cole, Tim Curry (yes, Doctor Frank N. Furter himself), Luke Benward, Luke Benward, and Caitlin Wachs. As sappy and unfunny as the first Family Affair, the remake was redeemed only by the waspish one-liners and withering glares provided by the ever-reliable Tim Curry. The "new" series first aired on September 12, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
- Add The Brady Bunch in the White House to QueueAdd The Brady Bunch in the White House to top of Queue
Gary Cole and Shelley Long are back as Mike and Carol Brady, America's favorite squares, with a whole new crop of youngsters cast as the six Brady kids. As a reward for returning a $67,000,000 lottery ticket to its rightful owner, Mike is invited to meet the President at the White House. Through a series of dizzying and absolutely nonsensical plot twists, the proper-and-permed Mr. Brady ends up sworn in as Chief Executive of the United States. In this capacity, Mike and the Brady kids manage to save the government from a devastating scandal, while perky Carol Brady caters State dinners and imposes "time outs" on obstreperous members of the Press. The Brady Bunch in the White House first aired on the FOX Network on November 29, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shelley Long, Gary Cole, (more)
A woman learns a valuable lesson about her family as she and her aunt look back at her troubled past in this independent drama. As Virginia Wilder (Frances Fisher) visits her elderly Aunt Millie (Alice Drummond) for the Christmas holidays, she discovers a number of letters she received during the 1940s, and gains a new and clearer picture of Millie's life when she was younger. Teenaged Emily (Laurel Holloman) falls in love with a soldier who soon ships out to fight in World War II, but not before she discovers herself pregnant. When the soldier refuses to marry her, Emily is left to have the baby on her own, and soon she discovers herself an outcast in the small Southern town where she was born. While Emily's father (Gary Cole) turns his back on her, her mother (Tess Harper) remains supportive, and Emily soon becomes close friends with two other people who haven't been welcomed by the community, a strong-willed black woman named Wilma Watson (Elise Neal) and Will Bacon (Mark Webber), a well-meaning young man with a bad habit of bending the truth. As Emily's new friends stand by her, Emily in turn stands up for them as Wilma and other members of the town's African-American community begin standing up for their rights as citizens. The first feature film from writer and director Tom Rice, The Rising Place also features Jennifer Holliday and Frances Sternhagen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurel Holloman, Elise Neal, (more)
- 2002
This weekly animated series revolved around a feisty high school girl named Kim Possible. The daughter of research scientists, Kim did her best to lead a normal teenaged life, going to class, attending proms, and the like. Unfortunately, the world was full pesky master criminals and megalomaniacal supervillains, compelling the high-flying, martial arts savvy Kim to kick butt on occasion in the interests of humanity and the American Way. Acting as Kim's erstwhile sidekick was her nerdish school chum, Ron Stoppable, while teen stud-muffin Josh Manley provided the romantic interest (at least, that's what Kim hoped). Kim Possible debuted June 7, 2002, on the Disney Channel, posting the highest opening-night ratings in that cable channel's history. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christy Romano
- 2001
Lois (voice of Alex Borstein) learns that her sister Carol (voice of Carol Kane) is having a baby and that her husband has left her. Lois and Peter (voice of Seth MacFarlane) go to visit Carol, asking Quagmire (MacFarlane) to baby-sit. When Carol anxiously tells Peter that she's gone into labor, Peter warns her, "You let the kid start calling the shots now and you're screwed." Peter stops at the drive-thru on the way to the hospital. When Lois reminds him that Carol is having a baby, he adds a Kid's Meal to his order. At the hospital, the doctor injures himself, and Peter is called upon to deliver the baby. The experience leaves Peter yearning to experience fatherhood again, and he and Lois decide to have another child. When Stewie (MacFarlane) learns of their plan, he's horrified. He remembers "what happened to Bobby when they added Cousin Oliver to The Brady Bunch." "As God is my witness," he vows, "from this day forward, Peter and Lois shall not conceive." Stewie sets about thwarting his parents' intimacy by crawling into their bed at night. When he attempts to frame Peter by using Lois' lipstick to stain his shirt collars, he gets distracted by his reflection in the mirror and gets busted. "All this time spent trying to keep people from having sex!" he cries. "Now I know how the Catholic Church feels." Eventually, Stewie shrinks himself and his laser gun-equipped "spaceship" to near-microscopic size, and enters Peter with the intention of making all-out war on his sperm. But he's surprised to find a formidable opponent (voice of Wallace Shawn) in one of Peter's seed. This episode features the voice of frequent contributor Gary Cole as Mike Brady. Cole also played Brady in Brady Bunch feature films. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2001
In the cold open, Peter (voice of Seth MacFarlane) visits the Quahog Zoo, and fulfills his lifelong dream of getting into a kangaroo's pouch. Peter is upset about having to visit Lois' (voice of Alex Borstein) parents, because Mr. Pewterschmidt (MacFarlane) doesn't like him. Peter tries to study up on things the old man likes, but he's stymied by his first New Yorker cartoon, and finds it hilarious that "Oui, oui" means "yes" in French. Peter fails to impress Mr. Pewterschmidt to the extent that when Lois asks him to invite Peter to his poker game, he says, "I'd rather be stuck in an elevator with Nathan Lane, Gilbert Gottfried, Carrot Top...uh...Sean Hayes -- you get the idea." Lois manages to persuade him, and Peter unexpectedly hits it off with Bill Gates and Michael Eisner when he discovers Ted Turner's "tell." The evening goes so well that Pewterschmidt tells Peter, "I'm glad you married my daughter." Brian (MacFarlane), meanwhile, is lately having trouble dealing with his animal urges. The situation worsens when the Griffins visit the Pewterschmidt home, and Brian meets Mr. Pewterschmidt's prize greyhound, Seabreeze. At the dog track, Brian's instincts get the better of him and he leaps onto the track to violate Seabreeze mid-race. When Brian subsequently learns that Seabreeze is pregnant, he's determined to "do the right thing," but Pewterschmidt won't hear of it, and throws the Griffins out of his home. Brian eventually sues for custody of the puppies, and at trial, Peter is forced to choose between Brian's friendship and the newfound acceptance of his father-in-law. This episode features the voice of Bob Barker as himself. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2001
In the conclusion of a two-part story, the Griffins' talking, martini-drinking dog Brian has determined that his master Peter is the cause of his addictive personality, and thus he has left Quahog to seek his fortune elsewhere. Brian ends up in Hollywood, where through certain connections he finds working directing porno films. Meanwhile, malevolent infant Stewie Griffin auditions for the TV show "Kids Say the Darnedest Things" (the better to put in motion his latest scheme to take over the world). Winning the audition, Stewie also wins his family an all-expense-paid trip...to Hollywood. This week's obscure pop-culture references include "guest appearances" by actor Ray Liotta and porn star Jenna Jameson (who, as usual, is bound to please!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
The greatest heroes in comic book history join forces in this animated made-for-TV adventure. After the United States sends an expedition to Mars, one of the astronauts, J. Allen Carter (voice of Gary Cole), runs for president, and after taking office makes good on a promise to eliminate nuclear weapons, calling on Superman (voice of Kevin Conroy) to use his powers to protect America instead of the bomb. Superman agrees, but he soon he and his fellow superheroes find themselves battling a strange and mysterious force. Superman and Carter are approached by J'On J'Onzz (voice of Carl Lumbly), who was one of the few survivors of a war that destroyed Martian civilization after the Earthlings visited. J'Onzz informs Superman that a sinister cadre of fellow Martians has made their way to Earth with plans to take over the world, and that they must be stopped if the people are to survive in freedom. Superman prepares for the fight of his life by bringing together a team of the greatest defenders on Earth, including Batman (voice of Kevin Conroy), Wonder Woman (voice of Susan Eisenberg), Green Lantern (voice of Phil LaMarr), the Flash (voice of Michael Rosenbaum), and Hawk Girl (voice of Maria Canals). Justice League: Secret Origins was the pilot film for the animated television series, and was divided into three episodes for broadcast on the Cartoon Network. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Cole, Jason Marsden, (more)
- 2001
In the conclusion of Justice League's three-part debut episode, two of the League members have become casualties in the battle against the Imperium, those huge, shape-shifting, bug-like creatures who have launched an invasion of the earth. Rushing to the rescue of their fallen comrades, the remaining Leaguers must also race against time before the all-but-invulnerable Imperium conquers the world. Further complicating matters are the evil machinations of Senator Carter (voiced by Gary Cole), a purported pacifist who is actually an alien in disguise! All three episodes of "Secret Origins" were released as a single DVD "movie" in April of 2002. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Cole, Jason Marsden, (more)
- 2001
In part two of Justice League's three-part debut episode, the earth continues to be imperiled by huge, bug-like extraterrestrials who are impervious to conventional weaponry. Superheroes Batman and Superman respond to this attack by assembling the Justice League, comprised of their fellow do-gooders Wonder Woman, the Flash, the Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl -- plus an alien refugee whose planet has already been destroyed by the shapeshifting bugs, the Martian Manhunter (aka J'onn J'onnz). Though the League puts up a formidable defense against the invaders, it isn't quite enough -- and by episode's end two of the superheroes have fallen in battle! All three episodes of "Secret Origins" were released as a single DVD "movie" in April of 2002. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Cole, Jason Marsden, (more)
- 2000
Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) takes a liking to Roz' new boyfriend Luke Parker (Gary Cole). Their friendship is such that when Roz (Peri Gilpin) breaks up with Luke, she soon patches things up with him for Frasier's sake. This leads to a dilemma when Roz is afraid to tell Frasier that she and Luke are back together again. The reason? Frasier was so sweet and consoling when the couple broke up, Roz doesn't want Frasier to think that his kind words were "wasted" on a happy romance! And just when things couldn't get any more complicated, good old Luke turns out to be not so "good old" after all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Although her parents Charlie (Gary Cole) and Kate (Gary Cole) are out of touch with modern technology, 13-year-old Sarah Radcliff (Evan Rachel Wood) is an experienced internet surfer. But Sarah is still a child, with a child's innate curiosity. When her parents take away her computer privileges when she accidently taps into a porn website, Sarah begins seeking answers to her questions about sex at a cyber-café managed by angel Andrew (John Dye), who has been assigned to help patch up the differences between Sarah and her folks. The episode takes a sinister turn when Sarah naively strikes up a cyberspace friendship with a person who identifies himself as a 16-year-old boy--but is actually a middle-aged sexual predator! This is the final episode of Touched by an Angel's sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
