With an eclectic and decorated career spanning more than 40 years, Gary Cole is undeniably one of Hollywood’s most dynamic and enduring performers, with the charismatic actor having appeared in a slew of big and small screen hits that brilliantly showcase his dazzling range. From successful TV staples like The West Wing, The Good Wife, and Veep to colorful flicks like Office Space and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Cole has more than left his mark on the entertainment industry.
Since 2021, Cole has portrayed NCIS Supervisory Agent Alden Parker in the fan-favorite military police procedural NCIS, taking over the supervisory position for the talented team upon the departure of Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Long before he was helping catch criminals and solve cases in the enduring series, Cole landed a starring role in the 1995 short-lived cult classic supernatural horror series American Gothic. Let’s take a closer look at the underrated TV gem.
Set in the fictional town of Trinity, South Carolina, the spellbinding horror series American Gothic features Gary Cole appearing alongside future famous faces like Lucas Black and Sarah Paulson as the diabolical Lucas Buck, the corrupt and murderous local sheriff who possesses supernatural powers he uses to manipulate the townspeople in order to commit evil deeds. Buck instills fear within the community and will stop at nothing to maintain his hold over Trinity, and he becomes fixated on corrupting the young orphan Caleb Temple (Black).
Revealed to be the biological son of the nefarious Buck through an assault that resulted in his mother committing suicide, Caleb finds himself fighting temptation and pushing back against Buck’s depraved grasp, with his reporter cousin Gail Emory (Paige Turco) showing up in Trinity to help take care of the boy. Paulson stars as Caleb’s late sister Merlyn, who was brutally murdered by Buck and often appears to her brother in the form of a ghost to help guide him and keep him honest and pure.
The 22-episode series focuses on the 10-year-old Caleb as he attempts to cope with the devastating loss of those closest to him while struggling to fight off the temptations presented by the charming yet wicked Buck, who knows that the boy is the only one capable of ending his reign of terror in the seemingly picturesque town. With the help of his cousin Gail and the spirit of his sister Merlyn, Caleb sets out to discover his true destiny and his sordid family history while making the decision to embrace the path of either light or darkness.
Created by singer and actor Shaun Cassidy and executive produced by Sam Raimi, American Gothic pushed the boundaries of the small screen due to its monstrous lead character Lucas Buck, as TV shows featuring edgy antiheroes were few and far between during the mid-’90s. Though beloved characters like Vic Mackey (The Shield), Tony Soprano (The Sopranos), and Walter White (Breaking Bad) would later be introduced and show audiences that it’s okay to have deplorable and immoral leads, in 1995, it was difficult for viewers to get on board with such controversial content.
Cole’s villainous performance as Buck truly proved that there was no role or character he couldn’t completely dominate and knock out of the park, with his presence helping the series captivate the masses and attract popular praise from critics. American Gothic premiered on September 22, 1995, and spawned 22 haunting episodes, with the spooky original attempting to capitalize on the popularity of fellow eerie shows like Twin Peaks and The X-Files, but sadly, it was unable to replicate their success, as it was unceremoniously canceled after just one season.
American Gothic put a massive spotlight on Cole and his fellow cast members Paulson and Black, and in the 30 years since it first made its spine-tingling debut, it has attracted a cult-like following and appreciation. Paulson would go on to make the horror genre her bread and butter, as the Golden Globe-winning actress famously headlined Ryan Murphy’s thrilling anthology series American Horror Story as well as the psychological thriller Ratched. Black would find his own luck on the big and small screen, starring as Christopher Lasalle in NCIS: New Orleans and in the Fast & Furious franchise.
Cole quickly bounced back after the cancelation of American Gothic and continued to show off his stellar acting prowess in both television and film, appearing in a slew of films like Office Space, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Pineapple Express, and The Chicago 8, and in small screen hits such as Family Guy, The West Wing, The Good Wife, and Veep. He currently stars in the aforementioned military drama NCIS, which has already been renewed for Season 23 and proves that Cole has no signs of slowing down when it comes to his enviable career.
Fans of chilling horror shows and underrated ’90s gems can buy all 22 episodes of American Gothic on Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango. The series is a must-see for those who love watching the seasoned Gary Cole command the screen, as well as supernatural hits like Twin Peaks, American Horror Story, and The X-Files.
