Born as John Ewing Richter in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Jack Cole was a gay choreographer (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Man of La Mancha). Cole lived with John David Gray for over thirty years.

Jack Cole will always be remembered as the prime innovator of the theatrical jazz dance heritage. Early on he decided to pursue dance with the Denishawn Dance Company led by Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. Cole also performed with Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman, but eventually left the modern dance world for commercial dance career in niteclubs, performing with Alice Dudley, Anna Austin and Florence Lessing.

Highly disciplined and dedicated to absolute perfection Cole was known for being a tyrannical task master. Throughout his career, Cole viewed information, thought and knowledge as necessary support systems to his life as a dancer and choreographer, not merely as avenues to the period, style and local color preparation for each new show. He made extraordinary demands on his dancers. He was reputed to have used vulgar language and even physical violence in his quest for artistic excellence.

Broadway shows as choreographer: Magdalena Carnival in Flanders Kismet A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Kean Donneybrook! Jamaica Man of La Mancha

Films as choreographer: The Merry Widow (1952) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) There's no Business Like Showbusiness (1954) Kismet Moon Over Miami Cover Girl The I Don't Care Girls Thrill of Brazil Down to Earth Les Girls