Inside Gary Cole's Personal Life
Gary Cole made headlines after joining "NCIS" as FBI Special Agent Alden Park in Season 19. Fans of the CBS series are fascinated by Cole now that Mark Harmon left "NCIS" after playing Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs for 18 years. Fans want to know if Cole is replacing Harmon on the show; they also want to know more about Cole's personal life.
Cole is known for his breakout characters in both film and television. Cole played nightmare boss Bill Lumbergh in "Office Space," and starred in "The Brady Bunch Movie," "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." Cole is known for his television work as political consultant Kent Davidson on "VEEP," as well as the TV shows "Entourage," "American Gothic," "The West Wing," "The Good Wife," "The Good Fight," and many others.
The "Office Space" actor talked to NPR about the popularity of the cult hit, telling the outlet that the movie was not a hit until a year after the theatrical release. "I was doing a play in Chicago, so I was on the street a lot — I was walking to and from the theater ... and people start shouting out, 'Did you get the TPS reports?' 'Oh yeah!' without even stopping me." "NCIS" is one of the most-watched TV dramas in the world, so Cole should get used to people noticing him on the street once again. Since the CBS series has many loyal viewers, fans want the scoop on Cole's personal life.
Gary Cole's first wife, Teddi Siddall, died before their divorce was finalized
"NCIS" star Gary Cole faced the tragic death of Teddi Siddall in 2018. Cole and fellow actor Siddall were married for 25 years. TMZ reported in June 2017 that Siddall filed for divorce, though the couple had separated in February 2015. The outlet reported that Siddall sought spousal support and additional support for their adult daughter, Mary, who has autism. However, before the divorce could be finalized, Siddall died. The 64-year-old actor was found dead in her home, per Married Biography. There is very little media coverage of Siddall's death.
Cole has quite a nest egg from all his film and television work, and Celebrity Net Worth reports the former "VEEP" star is worth more than $5 million. While there are many interviews about Cole's work, the actor is extremely private when it comes to his personal life. Cole has been open about his daughter Mary's autism diagnosis, and "The Good Wife" actor has become an advocate for autism. In a 2009 interview with WebMD, Cole said when a child has autism, "your original agenda as a parent is set aside."
Cole has leveraged his fame to educate people about autism. During a 2005 chat with Access Hollywood (via TODAY), Cole said, "People with autism, I don't like to think of it as a disability, I like to think of it as another way of thinking or perceiving ... And I felt my job was to try to perceive everything on some level through her eyes so I could know what it was like to walk in her shoes."
Gary Cole found love again with Michelle Knapp
"Office Space" star Gary Cole has found love again. Dirt reported that Cole and his bride, interior designer Michelle Knapp, purchased a Bel-Air home in September. The outlet also reported that the couple married in August in a small ceremony. Even though Cinema Blend reported that Cole has more than 200 acting credits to his name — and voices Adult Swim's "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law," "Bob's Burgers," and "Family Guy" — his personal life is confidential. Unlike the privacy obsessed Cole, however, his new wife has an Instagram account. We've done some sleuthing, so you won't have to!
Knapp posted a wedding photo on Instagram with the caption, "Married my best friend #garycole and it was Nothing but Family, Friends, Love, Joy, Laughter and Fun." From the new Mrs. Cole's Instagram account, it appears the couple has a blended family, with Knapp bringing two sons and a daughter into the marriage. Naturally, the "NCIS" star has not revealed details about his bride or how they met. But Knapp appears to have an interest in autism. She posted on Instagram about Autism Awareness Month. Another clue about Cole and Knapp's life from Instagram? The couple welcomed a puppy in April. Knapp posted a photo of the adorable pup with the caption, "Our new addition to our family #cute #furbaby."
It appears Knapp and Cole might have been destined to be together, too. On Knapp's abandoned Twitter account, there's a 2011 tweet about Cole: "Gary Cole on 'Superior Donuts'" with a link to a Los Angeles Times interview with the actor. Perhaps they were always meant to be!