Gary Cole
Known for
Gary Cole is the character actor you have seen everywhere, usually playing authority slightly askew. Emerging from Chicago theatre, the Illinois native led the series 'Midnight Caller' (1988-1991), then created two comedy landmarks: eerily serene stepfather Mike Brady in 'The Brady Bunch Movie' (1995) and coffee-mug-wielding boss Bill Lumbergh in 'Office Space' (1999). He was racing patriarch Reese Bobby in 'Talladega Nights' (2006), deadpan statistician Kent Davison in 'Veep' (2012-2019) and a lead on 'NCIS' since 2021. Smooth-voiced condescension has rarely been funnier.
Gary Cole
65 Movies
84 Series
Gary Cole is the character actor you have seen everywhere, usually playing authority slightly askew. Emerging from Chicago theatre, the Illinois native led the series 'Midnight Caller' (1988-1991), then created two comedy landmarks: eerily serene stepfather Mike Brady in 'The Brady Bunch Movie' (1995) and coffee-mug-wielding boss Bill Lumbergh in 'Office Space' (1999). He was racing patriarch Reese Bobby in 'Talladega Nights' (2006), deadpan statistician Kent Davison in 'Veep' (2012-2019) and a lead on 'NCIS' since 2021. Smooth-voiced condescension has rarely been funnier.
Movies
Plays Bill Owens
One Hour Photo
2002
Plays Henry O'Hare
Hop
2011
Plays Bill Watts
In the Line of Fire
1993
Plays Cotton McKnight
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
2004
Plays Carlos
I Spy
2002
Plays Don Kitch
The Art of Racing in the Rain
2019
Plays Martin Savide
The Ring Two
2005
Plays Bill Lumbergh
Office Space
1999
Plays Earl
Tammy
2014
Plays Ted
Pineapple Express
2008
Plays Ron
Blockers
2018
Plays Assistant Coach
Lucas
1986
Plays David Duncan
The Gift
2000
Plays Reese Bobby
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
2006
Plays Mr. Matthews
Cry_Wolf
2005
Plays Two-Face / Commissioner James Gordon / Reporter 4 (voice)
DC Showcase - Batman: Death in the Family
2020
Plays Richard Simms
Gang Related
1997
Plays Manny
First Steps
1985
Plays Mike Brady
The Brady Bunch Movie
1995
Plays Bobo / Commissioner Gordon / Shot / Guard (voice)
Batman: Under the Red Hood
2010
Plays Sgt. Bosco (voice)
The Bob's Burgers Movie
2022
Plays Baxter
A Simple Plan
1998
Plays Larry Symonds
The Joneses
2010
Plays Henry Futch
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
2004
Plays Aaron
Married Young
2019
Plays Rafe (voice)
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown
2017
Plays Rich Garces
Breach
2007
Plays Dwayne
Date and Switch
2014
Plays Jake's Dad
I'll Be Home for Christmas
1998
Plays Sir
Cadet Kelly
2002
Plays Dr. George Bailey
Unbroken: Path to Redemption
2018
Plays Marty
Kiss the Sky
1998
Plays Stan Greggory
The Bronze
2016
Plays Jim Corrigan / The Spectre (segment "The Spectre") (voice)
DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection
2010
Plays Pete Nash
For My Daughter's Honor
1996
Plays Mattison (voice)
Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe
2022
Plays Chief Deputy Tillman
The Town that Dreaded Sundown
2014
Plays Dr. Heichmann
My Wife Is Retarded
2007
Plays Stan Talmadge
A Good Funeral
2009
Plays Rhodes
Conspiracy
2008
Plays Invisibilio (voice)
Marvel Rising: Playing with Fire
2019
Plays Gerard
Under the Eiffel Tower
2019
Plays Coach Larry Gelwix
Forever Strong
2008
Plays Wallace
Seven in Heaven
2018
Plays Mike Brady
A Very Brady Sequel
1996
Plays Wallace
Mozart and the Whale
2005
Plays Dr. Roberts
Christmas Eve
2015
Plays Lieutenant Pleasant
Small Crimes
2017
Plays Jim Corrigan / The Spectre (voice)
DC Showcase: The Spectre
2010
Plays Mark Witver
Darkness Falls
2020
TV Shows
Plays Narrator (voice)
The Tom and Jerry Show
2014
Plays Alden Parker
NCIS
2003
Plays Cop / Coach (voice)
Family Guy
1999
Plays Jack 'Nighthawk' Killian
Midnight Caller
1988
Plays Brock (voice)
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
2014
Plays Kent Davison
Veep
2012
Plays Dr. James Possible (voice)
Kim Possible
2002
Plays Harvey Birdman (voice)
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
2000
Plays Harrison Johnson
mixed-ish
2019
Plays Kurt McVeigh
The Good Fight
2017
Plays Mayor Fred Jones Sr. / Black Knight (voice)
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated
2010
Plays Bob Russell
The West Wing
1999
Plays Sheriff Lucas Buck
American Gothic
1995
Plays Bill Davis
Family Affair
2002
Plays Kurt McVeigh
The Good Wife
2009
Plays Conrad Rose
Wanted
2005
Plays Chief Grissom
Chicago Fire
2012
Plays Matthew Gideon
Crusade
1999
Plays Lamont (voice)
Velma
2023
Plays James Green, Sr.
Mercy Street
2016
Plays Andrew Klein
Entourage
2004
Plays Sergeant Bosco (voice)
Bob's Burgers
2011
Plays Dirk Chunley (voice)
Q-Force
2021
Plays Cameron Dennis
Suits
2011
Plays Freddy
Fam
2019
Plays Wayne Davis
Desperate Housewives
2004
Plays Special Agent Hawley (voice)
Archer
2009
Plays Matthew's Father (voice)
Big Mouth
2017
Plays Roger Dunbarton (voice)
F is for Family
2015
Plays Gordon Novel
Waco: The Aftermath
2023
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Behind the Lines
Full Filmography
A Man on the Inside
Brad Vinick · 4 episodes
2025
TV
Krapopolis
Valley King (voice) · 1 episode
2025
TV
Agent Elvis
President Nixon (voice) · 1 episode
2023
TV
White House Plumbers
Mark Felt · 1 episode
2023
TV
Waco: The Aftermath
Gordon Novel · 5 episodes
2023
TV
NCIS: Hawaiʻi
Alden Parker · 3 episodes
2021–2023
TV
NCIS: Los Angeles
Alden Parker · 1 episode
2022–2023
TV
Velma
Lamont (voice) · 13 episodes
2023–
TV
Inside Job
Brett's father (voice) · 2 episodes
2021–2022
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Gary Cole and where are they from?
Gary Cole is 70 years old, born on September 20, 1956 in Park Ridge, Illinois, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Gary Cole?
Gary Cole is best known for roles in Pineapple Express, DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, Office Space.
How many movies has Gary Cole been in?
Over a 43-year career (since 1983), Gary Cole has appeared in 65 movies and 83 TV shows.
What was Gary Cole's first movie?
The career of Gary Cole began with Heart of Steel (1983).
What is Gary Cole's most recent movie or series?
Gary Cole's most recent release is A Man on the Inside, which premiered on November 21, 2024.
What TV shows has Gary Cole appeared in?
On television, Gary Cole has appeared in Rick and Morty, Supernatural, Suits, Family Guy.
Gary Cole
1956-09-20 · Park Ridge, Illinois, USA
Gary Michael Cole (born September 20, 1956) is an American stage and screen actor, best known for his supporting roles in numerous television and film productions such as Jack "Nighthawk" Killian in Midnight Caller or as Bill Lumbergh in Office Space.
In 1984, he played the lead role of Green Beret Army Officer Jeffrey MacDonald, along with Karl Malden and Eva Marie Saint, in the true crime TV mini-series Fatal Vision, based on the book of the same name. Based on the real-life murders of the wife and daughters of U.S. Army officer Jeffrey R. MacDonald at Fort Bragg in 1970.
He landed the lead role on NCIS in 2021, taking over as the team's supervisor.