June 2006 - The Parklander Magazine

By Charlene KeelIf you’ve recently shopped for a home in SouthFlorida, you may have consulted with a broadshoulderedguy with the blond good looks of amovie star. Or you may have seen him at a black-tiegala in support of such worthy causes as theAlzheimer’s Family Center. You may have eventhought, “I know him from somewhere…”In the 1970s and 1980s, Dennis Cole was one ofthe most sought after actors in Hollywood, starringand guest starring on The Young and The Restless (forover two years), Streets of San Francisco, Charlie’sAngels, Love Boat, Fantasy Island and Murder She Wrote. He has alsomade theatrical films and TV movies, including Death House, PrettySmart, Bracken’s World, and Cave-In and he has appeared on stagesinging and dancing in Brigadoon and Victor Victoria. We thought thatif anyone would know why real men watch soaps, it would beDennis, and he graciously consented to an interview.the Parklander: How did you become an actor?Dennis Cole: I went out to California to be a musician and I washaving a rough time with bills. I was working at Arthur Murray’s,which was going out of business. He suggested I go to CentralCasting and see if they’d accept me. They did and I started outdoing stunt and stand-in work. When I stood in for Troy Donahue Igot the acting bug. I thought that instead of doing stunts, I’d bebetter off making some money and getting the girl.Why do you think real men watch soaps?Because the girls on the shows are very pretty.When you were on The Young and The Restless, what was the bestthing—and the worst—about being on a soap?Well, it’s a joy to do acting but there’s so much dialogue tomemorize. I chose never to use cue cards and I’d get upset with theother guys who didn’t know their lines because they’d been out allnight while I’d been home studying my lines.Why have you been absent from the screen and stage recently?During a performance of Victor Victoria I injured my foot. I hadthree surgeries and was supposed to have a fourth. I’ve decided notto, because I’m walking now.Dennis ColeBack when you were guest starring in shows likeFantasy Island, you’d started buying houses,fixing them up and selling them. Is that how yougot into real estate?I was using a broker who was making a lot ofmoney from me and I went to school to find out ifshe was being honest. I learned that wasn’t the case.I got my license so I could handle deals myself.How did you decide to move to Florida?When I hurt my foot, the doctor I chose was here. My place inCalifornia was leased and so I had nowhere to go.Are you through with acting?No, never. Now that I can walk again, I’m ready. My wife Ree andI are partners in Celebrity Realty, Inc., which is a business ventureand has been going for three years. We have another partner andthree agents. But I’ll never be done with acting.What roles would you like to play when you go back?I’d like to do some singing and some “A” movies. And television,of course. I’d be interested in supporting roles. I’ve been out of sightfor a while. I was getting great reviews for Victor Victoria when theinjury happened. And as my agent says, “Nobody remembers lastweek’s TV Guide.” I’ve always been the leading man or the villain soI’d like to do things I’ve never done.Where do you see yourself five years from now?I’ll be back on the stage and in films and television. We might bebicoastal because we’re thinking of opening a real estate office inCalifornia, which would keep me busy between acting jobs.You lost your son during a botched robbery back in 1991. Is thatcrime still unsolved?Yes, and I did a segment of Celebrity Justice and it just brought upold wounds. I have finished with that. I can’t bring him back. All Ican do is try to help others in distress.What kind of advice would you give to dads to help their kidssurvive in the 21st century?Just be close to them. Get them an education and guide them.That’s what parents are for.26the PARKLANDER