Tina Cole

Listen to "Tina Cole The King Family Returns" on Spreaker. Tina is the daughter of "King Sister" Yvonne (Vonnie) King and musician Buddy Cole. She got her start when Warner Brothers executives discovered her at the age of 15. She was screen tested with film star Gary Cooper and spent the next four summers studying with the studio's drama coach. At the age of 19 she was offered an exclusive contract with Warner Brothers Studios to replace actress Connie Stevens as the new female lead, Sunny Day, in the television series Hawaiian Eye starring Troy Donahue and Robert Conrad. Later, Connie rejoined the cast and they both continued on till the end of the series. Tina appeared as "Ruthie" in the movie Palm Springs Weekend also starring Troy Donahue and Connie Stevens. She then went on to make several guest appearances on My Three Sons (before Katie Douglas was "born") and The Lucy Show among other television shows. She was also seen weekly on ABC's King Family Show which began in 1965 with many appearances on Hollywood Palace and The Ed Sullivan Show. During The King Family show, four of the girl cousins (Tina included) formed their own offshoot group called "The Four King Cousins" when they were asked to appear as regulars on The Kraft Summer Music Hall starring John Davidson with George Carlin and Richard Pryor. Their group included her sister Cathy and cousins Candy and Carolyn. The "4 King Cousins" appeared throughout the United States and Europe and made several recordings on the Capitol, Warner Brothers and Playboy/Trio/Kenwood labels through the 60's and 70's. Also a solo singer, Tina was the opening act for various headliners such as Bob Hope and Rowan and Martin. In 1967, she was cast as "Katie Miller", when My Three Sons producers decided to have son Robbie (played by Don Grady) marry. She remained a staple member of the show until its final season in 1972. She could be seen on many television specials, made-for-tv movies, talk shows, news and a myriad of game show appearances, including multiple Hollywood Squares appearances, Family Feud and You Don't Say. As The King Family Show ended its weekly run, the family filmed many holiday specials; the last one being a Christmas retrospective for PBS in 2009. Over the last 30 years, while raising her family, Tina continued her acting career doing live theatre, voice overs and added directing to her repertoire and she is now back in front of the camera doing feature films. Her greatest joy however, has been raising her four children and being "Nana" to four wonderful grandchildren. Four seems to be a magical number for Tina.