Chances are you won’t be able to picture this actor simply from his name, but he’s one of those fantastic versatile American actors that never stops working and is a treat in anything he appears in. So today we’re going to highlight the amazing Gary Cole.

Yes, he looks like the guy next door, someone you could share a beer with, a harmless middle of the road kind of guy. But don’t let that fool you – he’s played a S.W.A.T. commander (WANTED) and a drug lord (PINEAPPLE EXPRESS). He’s played astronauts and sheriffs and lawyers and doctors. He was Vice President Bob Russell in THE WEST WING and Ari Gold’s old best friend Andrew Klein in ENTOURAGE. He even played General Custer in the acclaimed tv movie SON OF THE MORNING STAR.

And might he have inspired Ricky Gervais’ David Brent with his role as office supervisor Bill Lumberg in the little seen but much loved film OFFICE SPACE?

Despite playing the lead in a few successful American tv shows in the late 80s and 90s (MIDNIGHT CALLER, AMERICAN GOTHIC) he’s never really made the leap to movie stardom, but that hasn’t stopped him from just working and working – single episodes here, some voice work there, and an occasional supporting movie role.

What a great career – and it feels like his best is yet to come.