Gary Michael Cole (born September 20, 1956) is an American television and film actor. Born in Park Ridge, Illinois and a graduate of Illinois State University, Cole began his professional acting career on stage with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. On television, he had starring roles in the series Midnight Caller, American Gothic, and Crusade. On film, he appeared in supporting roles in The Brady Bunch Movie, Office Space, Dodgeball, and Talladega Nights. Cole was born in Park Ridge, Illinois and raised in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. His father was a school administrative assistant and his mother was a director of finance. Cole attended Rolling Meadows High School, where his first dramatic appearance was as Snoopy in a high school production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Cole later attended Illinois State University, where he studied theater alongside actors Laurie Metcalf and John Malkovich. Cole began his professional career in 1983 as a stage actor in Chicago, where he joined the ensemble of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. He also appeared in several off-Broadway productions in New York City.