Michael Cole, an actor known for his roles in The Mod Squad and General Hospital, recently passed away at the age of 84. Accordingly, fans have become curious about his role in General Hospital. Whom did he play and what was his character’s story?
Here is everything you need to know about Michael Cole’s character in General Hospital.
What was Michael Cole’s role on General Hospital?
Michael Cole played Harlan Barrett on General Hospital.
Harlan appeared on the ABC soap opera between March 7 and November 22, 1991. In his first appearance, he is shown attempting to save SS. Tracy, a sunken vessel in Port Charles. Harlan meets Bill Eckert, who takes the initiative to raise the vessel with a unique invention. Soon after, he hires Eckert to work as Barrett Industries’ Chief Engineer.
Michael Cole’s Harlan Barrett, who wishes to get ELQ stock eventually begins eyeing Tracy Quartermaine, who becomes smitten by him. However, Harlan ends up angering her, Monica Quartermaine, and Lucy Coe. Consequently, the trio drugs and holds him captive in the Quartermaine mansion, overnight.
Harlan later forms a cartel with Leopold Taub, Cesar Faison, and Lord Larry Ashton. The four then use carbon disulfide to corner the international trade market. They later strong-arm Paul Hornsby into marrying into the Quartermaine family and stealing their assets. Furthermore, he later feeds them information on Robert Scorpio’s investigation.
The four welcome Bill into the cartel, but Faison insists on him proving himself to them before being fully integrated. Bill is later assigned to kill Scorpio. Unfortunately for the cartel, he has befriended Robert, which leads to them arranging the latter’s false death. Bill shoots Robert on the waterfront to make it seem like he killed him.
However, Harlan Barrett sees through this, forcing Bill to shoot Robert again. The latter soon turns on him and kills him to protect Robert. With Harlan’s death, the cartel is shut down. Julia, his daughter who developed a relationship with Bill, breaks up with him after learning he killed her father. Later in 1992, Harlan’s other daughter Brenda also visits town to claim her inheritance.
