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My Three Lives: A Memoir
Tina Cole has been a performer since she was old enough to walk and talk. She was brought up in the limelight of her famous musician, Buddy Cole and Yvonne King of the singing King Sisters.
Tina made her mark on the television world starring on the series Hawaiian Eye at the age of 19 and continued to perform on television with her famous family, The King Family on ABC.
Tina became a national sensation when she joined the cast of “My Three Sons” as Katie Douglas and fans of the show fell In love with her.
“Being in the film and TV industry, I’ve read a lot of biographies. The first thing I felt when reading Tina’s book is how much she created the feeling that you were a fly on the wall of her storybook life .. .Tina shares so many life changing stories and experiences. Her book was an easy page turner ... Get the popcorn out and enjoy the read!”
- Victoria Burrows, 40+ years casting Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Cast Away, Contact, The Polar Express, Walker Texas Ranger
“Tina Cole’s long awaited book is an engaging gem of heartfelt memoir. She exudes joy as she shares the story of her family life and stardom as an actress-singer. Her writing voice is vibrant and insightful as she tells of both fame and life’s challenges. This book will resonate with baby boomers who grew up knowing and loving Tina Cole on television and live on stage.”
- William Anderson, author at Harper Collins, Publishers
Tina made her mark on the television world starring on the series Hawaiian Eye at the age of 19 and continued to perform on television with her famous family, The King Family on ABC.
Tina became a national sensation when she joined the cast of “My Three Sons” as Katie Douglas and fans of the show fell In love with her.
“Being in the film and TV industry, I’ve read a lot of biographies. The first thing I felt when reading Tina’s book is how much she created the feeling that you were a fly on the wall of her storybook life .. .Tina shares so many life changing stories and experiences. Her book was an easy page turner ... Get the popcorn out and enjoy the read!”
- Victoria Burrows, 40+ years casting Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Cast Away, Contact, The Polar Express, Walker Texas Ranger
“Tina Cole’s long awaited book is an engaging gem of heartfelt memoir. She exudes joy as she shares the story of her family life and stardom as an actress-singer. Her writing voice is vibrant and insightful as she tells of both fame and life’s challenges. This book will resonate with baby boomers who grew up knowing and loving Tina Cole on television and live on stage.”
- William Anderson, author at Harper Collins, Publishers
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2023
11 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 5, 2023
Filled with surprising stories and behind-the-scenes details previously untold, this book sadly is filled with so many errors and technical mistakes that it's difficult to take seriously. The writing style is scattered and at times difficult to follow, then the final 140 pages (her third "life") are so depressingly sad that if it weren't for a few whopper stories about big names earlier in the book I wouldn't normally recommend it.
Let's first address the huge flaws in the book: not only are there many misspellings (Jim "Neighbors"?), factual errors, and punctuation mistakes, but Cole bizarrely twice tells the exact same story about meeting Tom Jones, spells a number of people's names two different ways, writes "Disney World" THREE different ways (Disneyworld and Disney world), and the biggest mistake of all--accidentally gives away the first name of a person she's supposed to be using a fake name for. These are things I've never seen in other books to this extent and BearManor Media should be ashamed that they didn't have a better editor proofread this.
Some of her early career stories are pretty spectacular and she reveals the truth about her real-life relationship with Don Grady. It was also nice to see her detail the MacMurray Method of shooting My Three Sons and hear about all her famous relatives in the inner circles of TV, which caused the King Family to be all over variety shows in the 1960s. There are plenty of surprises, such as her singing voice dubbed in for Raquel Welch at the last minute.
However, she dryly writes the book as if it's her looking through old calendars where she wrote down what city she was in to give a concert or what show she was taping. Instead of summarizing the hundreds of gigs mentioned, she insists on listing each one with almost no stories to go with those appearances. Probably a hundred pages are wasted on her minute details about traveling or working that none of us will care about. And she over-praises almost every star she worked with. Boring and unnecessary, especially in the final third of the book where she gets repetitive and starts giving too many specifics about childbirth, hard financial times, and divorce.
The author comes across as incredibly naive, especially as it relates to her looks. She claims she dislikes her appearance, meanwhile any major male celebrity or TV executive she encounters tries to seduce her. Can't get much better than being wanted by The Beatles, but even then she's shocked that they have women in and out of their hotel rooms every 20 minutes, so after accepting their invitation she runs away. Tina can't fathom why men mistreat her or how she has stalkers living with her when she doesn't have the guts to stand up to bad people or speak up. Cole doesn't show much understanding about the real world, which only worked in her favor when she was so simplistic that even Bill Cosby gave up on pursuing her after she refused to accept one of his drinks.
Then the most important thing in her family goes almost unmentioned--they're Mormons. She only alludes to the Latter Day Saints on a few pages and seems to want to avoid writing anything that would hint she didn't follow all their odd beliefs.
Cole goes out of her way to not mention having sex with men even though she goes to bed with many. She also weirdly has a pattern of falling in love with a new guy while she's still in a relationship with another man. This happens so often it's obvious she doesn't take monogamy seriously, cheating on a husband and even sleeping with her long ago boyfriend the weekend before his wedding to someone else. I understand Mormons aren't the saints they proclaim to be, but Tina doesn't appear to have any conscience about juggling multiple men while married (just as her mother did!).
She also seems to fall in love with any guy that gives her material things. It's obvious she is impressed with the "finest restaurants" or the "best" clothing, then suffers devastating depression when it all falls apart after she marries the wrong rich guy whose financial empire crumbles while he cheats on her. Maybe instead of going to psychics or trusting in ghosts she should do some introspection about the bad choices she made.
While it's refreshing the hear about this long-ago popular actress's early life and career, skip through the wordy last third. This book needed a better publisher to help organize the material, cut a lot of unnecessary stuff, and print it without the glaring errors.
Let's first address the huge flaws in the book: not only are there many misspellings (Jim "Neighbors"?), factual errors, and punctuation mistakes, but Cole bizarrely twice tells the exact same story about meeting Tom Jones, spells a number of people's names two different ways, writes "Disney World" THREE different ways (Disneyworld and Disney world), and the biggest mistake of all--accidentally gives away the first name of a person she's supposed to be using a fake name for. These are things I've never seen in other books to this extent and BearManor Media should be ashamed that they didn't have a better editor proofread this.
Some of her early career stories are pretty spectacular and she reveals the truth about her real-life relationship with Don Grady. It was also nice to see her detail the MacMurray Method of shooting My Three Sons and hear about all her famous relatives in the inner circles of TV, which caused the King Family to be all over variety shows in the 1960s. There are plenty of surprises, such as her singing voice dubbed in for Raquel Welch at the last minute.
However, she dryly writes the book as if it's her looking through old calendars where she wrote down what city she was in to give a concert or what show she was taping. Instead of summarizing the hundreds of gigs mentioned, she insists on listing each one with almost no stories to go with those appearances. Probably a hundred pages are wasted on her minute details about traveling or working that none of us will care about. And she over-praises almost every star she worked with. Boring and unnecessary, especially in the final third of the book where she gets repetitive and starts giving too many specifics about childbirth, hard financial times, and divorce.
The author comes across as incredibly naive, especially as it relates to her looks. She claims she dislikes her appearance, meanwhile any major male celebrity or TV executive she encounters tries to seduce her. Can't get much better than being wanted by The Beatles, but even then she's shocked that they have women in and out of their hotel rooms every 20 minutes, so after accepting their invitation she runs away. Tina can't fathom why men mistreat her or how she has stalkers living with her when she doesn't have the guts to stand up to bad people or speak up. Cole doesn't show much understanding about the real world, which only worked in her favor when she was so simplistic that even Bill Cosby gave up on pursuing her after she refused to accept one of his drinks.
Then the most important thing in her family goes almost unmentioned--they're Mormons. She only alludes to the Latter Day Saints on a few pages and seems to want to avoid writing anything that would hint she didn't follow all their odd beliefs.
Cole goes out of her way to not mention having sex with men even though she goes to bed with many. She also weirdly has a pattern of falling in love with a new guy while she's still in a relationship with another man. This happens so often it's obvious she doesn't take monogamy seriously, cheating on a husband and even sleeping with her long ago boyfriend the weekend before his wedding to someone else. I understand Mormons aren't the saints they proclaim to be, but Tina doesn't appear to have any conscience about juggling multiple men while married (just as her mother did!).
She also seems to fall in love with any guy that gives her material things. It's obvious she is impressed with the "finest restaurants" or the "best" clothing, then suffers devastating depression when it all falls apart after she marries the wrong rich guy whose financial empire crumbles while he cheats on her. Maybe instead of going to psychics or trusting in ghosts she should do some introspection about the bad choices she made.
While it's refreshing the hear about this long-ago popular actress's early life and career, skip through the wordy last third. This book needed a better publisher to help organize the material, cut a lot of unnecessary stuff, and print it without the glaring errors.
May 23, 2023
A very entertaining read. If you were a viewer of the 1960s television show, "My Three Sons" you will find many interesting tidbits of what it was like for actress Tina Cole as one of the characters in the show's later years. Most interesting of all, if you remember late 1960s television variety show specials, you will undoubtedly remember "The King Family" which Tina was a singing member.
Tina writes from her heart and holds nothing back. In fact, in some stories she opens up very personal on her life--from young love, to adult sorrows and happiness. This book is about how one individual lived life--and still lives life to its fullest.
Tina writes from her heart and holds nothing back. In fact, in some stories she opens up very personal on her life--from young love, to adult sorrows and happiness. This book is about how one individual lived life--and still lives life to its fullest.
May 17, 2023
Katie is a Kick
Really fun, vulnerable read by a woman who appears to passionately love life, her family, her friends and her work. Disarmingly candid. I’ve always liked her. After reading this I like her even more.
Really fun, vulnerable read by a woman who appears to passionately love life, her family, her friends and her work. Disarmingly candid. I’ve always liked her. After reading this I like her even more.
February 28, 2023
Really enjoyed this book, but I feel like I was the first one to read it / so many grammatical errors!
August 3, 2025
Great read by a wonderful lady.
Interesting book written by a sweet sincere vulnerable actress and singer who has always been one of my favorites.
I always thought that her character, Katie Douglas, from “My Three Sons” was the epitome of the girl any young man would want to marry. Tina Cole was and is just such a lady in real life.
Some reviews complain of the writing style and some of the personal details, but I thought the book flowed superbly.
Tina was just being open and honest about her life and experiences, but sometimes in a sly manner.
So glad I read this great memoir!
Interesting book written by a sweet sincere vulnerable actress and singer who has always been one of my favorites.
I always thought that her character, Katie Douglas, from “My Three Sons” was the epitome of the girl any young man would want to marry. Tina Cole was and is just such a lady in real life.
Some reviews complain of the writing style and some of the personal details, but I thought the book flowed superbly.
Tina was just being open and honest about her life and experiences, but sometimes in a sly manner.
So glad I read this great memoir!
July 7, 2025
Audio version read by Tina herself, which I appreciate. I am just a few years younger than Tina and my family watched the King Family in its original airing. I also watched My Three Sons in its original airing. Tina was so pretty and spunky as Robby's girlfriend and eventual wife. In fact, all the Kings were lovely in looks and voices. My attention was on Chip, the young brother on MTS so I wasn't too worried about Robby and his wife. I didn't realize until I read this book that Tina and Don Grady who played Robby were in love in real life. They never got their timing right in real life, however, and drifted apart when the show ended. Tina shares the highs and the lows, including two cheating husbands. She had financial hardships as a single mom and, at one point, worked a minimum wage job as a receptionist, which she does not disparage. She possesses the optimism one expects from the perky King family and soldiers on. Tina seems like a celebrity I would like if I met her in person. She has a sense of humor, is not braggy, and gives others their due. I didn't expect to enjoy the book as much as I did. It's rare to read a book about a celebrity that doesn't include drugs, alcohol, and sex. Tina's does not - she really lives her faith (Morman). I downloaded the ebook briefly so I could look at the photos in the book. But the audio book included some music, from the family and Tina sang a few lines of some songs. Near the end of the book, Tina writes that, after the deaths of her elders, that she is now the senior woman in the group, the matriarch of a huge, extended family. I realized that I am the matriarch of my smaller family. How did this happen? We blinked and fifty years went by.
March 29, 2023
So many errors! The book really needed someone to proofread it before it was published. As for Tina Cole, I found her very full story f herself in the 1st part. Blonde California girl mentioned , along with all the hoopla of boyfriends. I also thought when she felt her world was crumbling, and she moved into a Hugh mansion to be a bit over done. I don’t really think she understands how real people live. She seems to have lived a very sheltered and spoiled life. We should all be so unlucky.
January 1, 2024
Full disclosure.... my daughter's name was inspired by Katie Douglas. As a little girl, I thought Tina Cole in that role was the ideal. And as a kid whose fondest dream would have been to be part of a big singing family (the von Trapps, the Partridges, the Osmonds - heck, even the Bradys) the fact that Cole was a member of the King Family just made her unbearably cool. Little wonder, then, that my daughter bears the burden of being named after a 60s sitcom character. And little wonder that I had to read this book.
First, as other reviewers have pointed out, the atrocious editing should be a source of humiliation for the publisher. The library patron before me got to a point where she couldn't stand it any longer and started to correct the most egregious errors with her pencil. I joined in, taking less intrusive Wite-out to extraneous apostrophes and random stray letters. Sadly, not much could be done about the repetition of full paragraphs. Cole should demand a recall and reprint.
If one can get past the distractions of the editing, Cole has had an interesting life to share, despite an elementary writing style and an uneven narrative. She has some verbal tics, and uses lots of exclamation points!! Her family is so big that it's challenging to keep them all straight, which may have been helped with some more creative writing techniques. But the stories about the King Family give readers an interesting look at that era's entertainment industry, and who knew how incestuous the fictional Douglas family was in real life? (Cole and Don Grady were an item in real life, and later she married Beverly Garland's stepson.) It's also a cautionary tale for celebrities to save and invest wisely, as Cole claimed to have been destitute on more than one occasion, having to reinvent herself time and time again. Luckily she's had the support of family, friends, and her church as a safety net.
Tina Cole seems, like Katie Douglas, to be a sweet woman. But My Three Lives would be of little interest to any but fans of a certain age who are longing for some nostalgia.
First, as other reviewers have pointed out, the atrocious editing should be a source of humiliation for the publisher. The library patron before me got to a point where she couldn't stand it any longer and started to correct the most egregious errors with her pencil. I joined in, taking less intrusive Wite-out to extraneous apostrophes and random stray letters. Sadly, not much could be done about the repetition of full paragraphs. Cole should demand a recall and reprint.
If one can get past the distractions of the editing, Cole has had an interesting life to share, despite an elementary writing style and an uneven narrative. She has some verbal tics, and uses lots of exclamation points!! Her family is so big that it's challenging to keep them all straight, which may have been helped with some more creative writing techniques. But the stories about the King Family give readers an interesting look at that era's entertainment industry, and who knew how incestuous the fictional Douglas family was in real life? (Cole and Don Grady were an item in real life, and later she married Beverly Garland's stepson.) It's also a cautionary tale for celebrities to save and invest wisely, as Cole claimed to have been destitute on more than one occasion, having to reinvent herself time and time again. Luckily she's had the support of family, friends, and her church as a safety net.
Tina Cole seems, like Katie Douglas, to be a sweet woman. But My Three Lives would be of little interest to any but fans of a certain age who are longing for some nostalgia.
December 27, 2022
I APPRECIATE YOUR CANDOR. You are very respectful to readers. I received the book on the 25th and read all 345 pages in less than 24 hours, finishing on the afternoon of the 26th. I think that's the highest compliment you can pay a writer. I was consumed by your story. Your book was so fascinating, vivid, and interesting that I could not stop reading it. It's highly commendable that you spent so much energy examining your life with such objectivity. You were able to involve me emotionally. I was able to enjoy your triumphs. I raged at how some men treated you. I saw wisdom that now I get to possess. I still have questions about piecing together your life story, but I am happy with every detail I received. I'm livid I missed the King Cousins at the Catalina Club. I have a friend who performs there 7 or 8 times a year and I faithfully enjoy and support her. I would have gone crazy to see the cousins. I enjoyed your KING specials and own a few on DVD. My mother introduced me to your family early in my childhood. I thought Katie was absolutely the most perfect woman and wife ever. You created a more beautiful image. I hope you sell many, many copies and there are crowds of people at your book signings. I will be at one if I can get there.
March 25, 2024
I just don't know what to say about this book. This first part seemed like it was written for Tiger Beat magazine. Very fluffy. The second part was all about how beloved the King family was and how she and her husband were the "Golden Couple" The third part was about how she survived being "poor" after a messy divorce. I guess what I struggled with (along with the horrible editing and mistakes) was how Tina told the stories that she found most amusing whether they were really relevant or not. She told a story about someone who always admired her emerald ring, and then showed Tina that her husband got her an emerald ring, too. (???) And Tina told the story of how she found out her father died. But then he wasn't mentioned again for several chapters and then only in passing. But if you stick with it and pick thru the errors and fluff, there are some interesting stories here.
June 1, 2025
The book is in need of some heavy handed editing and guidance. Ms. Cole has had an interesting life with ups and downs, but always supported by her strong family centered in show business. She was a member of the King Family which was a television staple on entertainment shows in the 60’s before her run as Katie Douglas on the show My Three Sons. I had no clue that her real life mother in law was Beverly Garland who played her mother in law on the show or that she had a romance with Don Grady from the show. For her sake, I wish she’d had a better publisher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2025
I appreciate Tina’s candid recollections of her being a part of the King Family Singing Group. It great to learn about the behind the scenes glimpses of how a show gets put on before the performers take the stage and the follow-up activities after. She was fortunate to be a part of a positive and energetic family. I got the sense that Tina values her family.
I agree with the other comments that there should have been better editing. A few times I got lost in the run on sentences and some stories that were repeated.
Thank you, Tina, for sharing your story.
I agree with the other comments that there should have been better editing. A few times I got lost in the run on sentences and some stories that were repeated.
Thank you, Tina, for sharing your story.
September 10, 2024
Despite the grammatical errors, I found the book interesting and entertaining. It goes to show that celebrities don't have a perfect life; they have their troubles. Tina Cole has certainly led a full and loving (mostly) life, and her family has always supported her. I almost felt that I was a fly on the wall watching her life unfold. Thank you, Tina, for sharing your family!
November 12, 2023
Watching the King Family specials and My Three Sons as a kid,I really enjoyed the nostalgia reflected in this book. I was so engrossed in the story I did not even pick up the typo errors mentioned in the other reviews. Enjoyable read!
July 8, 2025
I remember watching Tina Cole on My Three Sons and knew of The King Family when I was younger.
It was an interesting read. She was incredibly honest even about events I would have kept quiet about 😂.
I enjoyed it.
It was an interesting read. She was incredibly honest even about events I would have kept quiet about 😂.
I enjoyed it.
February 10, 2023
#12 of 120 books pledged to read during 2023
September 11, 2023
Thanks for sharing, Tina!
(A bit of nostalgia, remembering the entertaining shows that featured Tina.)
Needed some editing as there were a lot of errors.
(A bit of nostalgia, remembering the entertaining shows that featured Tina.)
Needed some editing as there were a lot of errors.
October 29, 2023
Very interesting.
October 5, 2025
I'm familiar with Tina Cole mainly through the TV show, "My Three Sons," but have known about her as a part of "The King Sisters."
"My Three Lives" walks readers through Tina Cole's life. From the beginning of her career with her family, to her TV shows, all the way to the life she is living now.
I enjoyed this candid and truthful look at her cultivated and rich artistic legacy.
"My Three Lives" walks readers through Tina Cole's life. From the beginning of her career with her family, to her TV shows, all the way to the life she is living now.
I enjoyed this candid and truthful look at her cultivated and rich artistic legacy.
March 12, 2023
What an amazing story!
What an awesome, inspiring, beautiful, touching story! My mom was a big fan of the King Family and she got me started. You were my favorite! Somehow I lost track of you and your family for awhile but you filled in the gaps. I wanted to laugh and cry with you but in the end we take it to a higher source! Thanks for sharing this memoir.
What an awesome, inspiring, beautiful, touching story! My mom was a big fan of the King Family and she got me started. You were my favorite! Somehow I lost track of you and your family for awhile but you filled in the gaps. I wanted to laugh and cry with you but in the end we take it to a higher source! Thanks for sharing this memoir.
March 21, 2023
Also enjoyed all the photos :)
April 18, 2023
Outstanding Read!!!
Had a hard time putting this book down. I had no idea Tina went through such hard times. This book is well written. A very good account of Tina's life so far.
Had a hard time putting this book down. I had no idea Tina went through such hard times. This book is well written. A very good account of Tina's life so far.
November 14, 2025
Absolutely Loved this book. It's also been re-edited to fix the typos. Glad to know that.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews