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Cole Howard
Cole Howard
Cole Howard
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Cole Howard
The Young and the Restless character
J. Eddie Peck as Cole Howard
Portrayed byN.P. Schoch (1980–1981)
J. Eddie Peck (1993–2025)
Duration
  • 1980–1981
  • 1993–1999
  • 2023–2025
First appearanceSeptember 1980 (1980-09)
Last appearanceJuly 3, 2025 (2025-07-03)
ClassificationFormer; recurring
Created byWilliam J. Bell
Introduced by
In-universe information
Other namesCharles Victor Howard
Occupation
ParentsRick Daros
Eve Howard
SpouseVictoria Newman (1993–1994, 1994–1998)
Ashley Abbott (1998–1999)
ChildrenClaire Newman
AuntsJordan Howard

Cole Howard was a fictional character from The Young and the Restless, an American soap opera on the CBS network. The role was originated by N.P. Schoch in 1980 and was dropped in 1981, before being brought back and portrayed by J. Eddie Peck from April 2, 1993, to November 16, 1999.[1] On November 21, 2023, Peck reprised the role.[2][3] On July 3, 2025, he exited the role when his character was killed off, a victim of Legionnaires' disease.[4]

Storylines

[edit]

Cole is the son of the late Eve Howard, who thought Victor Newman fathered her son from an affair they had when she worked as his secretary while he was married to his first wife, Julia Newman. In 1980, Cole (then named Charles) was seen as a child on a recurring basis as Victor provided a trust fund in his name.

After Victoria Newman divorced Ryan McNeil, Victoria set her sights on the new ranch hand, Cole Howard. When Victoria's father, Victor, was presumed dead in a car accident, Cole offered his support to Victoria's grieving mother, Nikki Abbott. Victoria, unaware of Cole's friendship with Nikki, told him she wanted to sleep with him. Cole turned her down and began an affair with Nikki. When Victoria found out about this, she told Cole that she loved him. Cole then wrote to his mother, Eve, informing her that he had fallen for Victor's daughter. Unbeknownst to Cole, Eve had had an affair with Victor years ago, and had been keeping a secret from him: Cole was Victor's son. Distraught that her son was romantically involved with his half-sister, Eve rushed to Genoa City, determined to stop their wedding. However, before she could tell her son the truth, she suffered a massive stroke that left her in a coma. Cole and Victoria eloped to Las Vegas.

When they returned, Victor and Nikki were horrified that Cole and Victoria had wed. Victor told Cole that he was his father, forcing Cole and Victoria to annul the marriage. It was soon revealed that Victor in fact wasn't Cole's father after all, and Cole and Victoria remarried. They had a daughter they named Eve Nicole Howard, who died several days after birth.

Apart from some minor problems, and Cole's brief flirtation with Nina, Cole and Victoria's marriage remained strong for the next three years. While Victoria was out of town for a while, Cole developed an attraction to Ashley Abbott. The two shared a few kisses at work. When Victoria returned, she was shocked to see Cole and Ashley kissing through the window. She left Cole and moved back in with Nikki, who had separated from Victor. Victoria and Ashley began to compete for Cole's affection, with Ashley ultimately winning.

After divorcing Victoria, Cole married Ashley. When Ashley went to Paris on a business trip later that year, Victoria began trying to seduce Cole, which was unsuccessful. When Ashley returned, she began pressuring Cole to have a child with her. Cole wasn't interested, so he accepted a teaching position in England and divorced Ashley.

Years later, Cole returns to Oregon after being lured by his aunt Jordan and his newly discovered presumed dead daughter Eve Nicole, now known as Claire Grace, in order to get revenge on him and the Newmans, whom they blamed for the death of his mother. Jordan told Cole and Victoria after her sister's death, she sought revenge on them by stealing baby Eve after she was born and switched her with another child that died on the same day. After Jordan escaped and Claire was arrested, Cole and Victoria visited Claire in jail and recognized the signs of brainwashing by Jordan and hired Michael Baldwin to represent her in order to get her into treatment. Later, Cole sneaks back into the house to get a few items in order to provide a DNA test to prove Jordan's claims. Later, at the Newman Ranch in front of Victoria, Michael, Victor and Nikki, Cole received the DNA test results from his cell phone that proved 97.8 percent that Claire is his and Victoria's daughter. Later, Victoria and Cole decide to try to get to know their newfound daughter, while Claire was sent to the psychiatric ward at Genoa Memorial Hospital. Claire at first decides to push them away out of guilt, but slowly starts to develop a bond with both of them. Claire later asked them if she could visit Jordan in prison in order to get closure. They agreed, with Claire taking Victoria and Cole with them. After her confrontation with Jordan, Claire cuts ties with her, and later follows her parents out of prison. After Jordan escapes prison after setting the place on fire, Cole and Victoria visit Claire in the hospital to inform her of her aunt's escape from prison. Victor had ordered Michael to release Claire from the hospital and into the custody of her parents in order to plan a trip for Jordan, who began a revenge plot against the family.

Reception

[edit]

In 2023, Curtis Harding from Soaps.com wrote that "you'd have expected Cole to turn out a bad seed himself" due to being the son of "obsessive" Eve and "psychotic Rick Daros", and called Cole a "pretty decent guy". He also expressed his excitement in seeing what Cole had been up to in his years away, in addition to how Victoria and Ashley would "react".[3]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Cole Howard

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Cole Howard is a fictional character on the American CBS daytime The Young and the Restless, introduced in 1980 as the son of Howard and Marvin Oakley, and primarily portrayed as an adult by actor from 1993 to 1999 and again from 2023 to 2025.
Initially believed to be the son of due to Eve's deception, a DNA test later confirmed Marvin Oakley as his biological father, leading to Cole's early storylines involving family secrets and identity crises in Genoa City.
Cole's most notable relationships include two marriages to , with whom he fathered a named Nicole Howard—presumed dead in infancy but revealed in 2023 to have been switched at birth and raised as Claire Grace—and a marriage to .
Professionally, he worked as a stablehand and aspiring before becoming a professor at Oxford University, reflecting his character's evolution from a troubled to an academic.
After a long absence, Cole returned to the series in November 2023 to support his Claire amid her psychological struggles, only to be diagnosed with and die on July 3, 2025, surrounded by Victoria and Claire.

Casting and development

Portrayers

The role of Cole Howard was originated by N.P. Schoch, who portrayed the character from 1980 to 1981. Following a 12-year absence for the character, was cast as the adult Cole Howard, debuting on April 2, 1993, at the age of 34. Peck's initial tenure lasted until November 16, 1999. On November 17, 2023, it was announced that would reprise the role, with his return airing later that month to connect with Victoria Newman's ongoing narrative. He continued in the part until his final appearance on July 3, 2025.

Casting history and returns

Cole Howard was first introduced to in 1980 as a character, portrayed by a young actor to align with the storyline of Eve Howard's scheme involving , necessitating an age-appropriate casting for the character's infancy and early years. The role was recast in 1993 with to age the character into a young adult, facilitating the soap's narrative time jumps and enabling romantic arcs with established characters like . Peck's tenure concluded in 1999 following the character's divorce from , a plot resolution that shifted focus away from Cole's central relationships and prompted his temporary exit from Genoa City as a professor in . This departure marked a 24-year hiatus for the character, during which production prioritized other family dynamics within the Newman and Abbott clans. In November 2023, Peck reprised the role to reunite Cole with ex-wife , driven by the need to explore evolving family ties and reveal Claire Grace as their long-lost daughter, thereby integrating the character into ongoing Newman-centric storylines involving and . Cole's 2025 exit was planned as a permanent death from , concluding arcs tied to antagonist Jordan Howard's manipulations and providing closure to the character's paternal role with Claire while streamlining the .

Fictional character biography

Origins and early life

Cole Howard, born Charles Victor Howard around 1974, was the son of Howard and Rick Daros, though Eve led to believe he was the boy's father following a brief affair during her time as Victor's secretary. Eve arrived in Genoa City in September 1980 with her six-year-old son, introducing Charles as Victor's secret heir in a scheme to secure financial support and leverage over the powerful Newman patriarch. To avert a scandal that could damage his marriage to Julia Newman, Victor agreed to acknowledge Charles as his son, establishing a trust fund for the child while paying Eve $50,000 to relocate and enroll the boy in a in . During his early childhood, Charles was raised primarily by , who briefly lived with single mother Jill Foster in the Foster home, providing a temporary stable environment amid Eve's manipulations. The boy's involvement in Eve's schemes remained peripheral as a young child; he appeared sporadically on-screen in 1980 and 1981, depicting innocent family moments that underscored Eve's deception. By 1982, after Eve's attempts to reinsert herself into Victor's life failed, Charles was sent abroad for his education, growing up off-screen in relative isolation from the Newman family dynamics. No formal adoption occurred, but Victor's financial provisions tied the child loosely to the Newman legacy, fostering early connections that would later influence Genoa City storylines. Key events in the early 1980s further highlighted Charles's role in 's escalating plots against Victor. In 1982, returned to town and conspired with Max Siebalt to poison Victor, aiming to eliminate him so that Charles could inherit half of Newman's estate as the presumed son. The scheme unraveled when Victor survived, leading to 's commitment to a mental institution; Charles, still a minor and away at school, was not directly involved but remained central to her motive of securing his future wealth. 's institutionalization left Charles under her distant care, with no major custody battles documented, as Victor continued indirect support through the trust without seeking legal guardianship. These incidents solidified Charles's foundational ties to the Newman family through deception, setting the stage for his return as an adult in 1993, by which time had died from without resolving the full extent of her manipulations.

Key relationships and marriages

Cole Howard's romantic entanglements in the 1990s were marked by intense family conflicts within the Newman and Abbott circles. Upon arriving in Genoa City, Cole began an affair with Nikki Newman, the mother of his eventual love interest, Victoria Newman, which complicated his budding relationship with the younger woman. Despite this revelation, Cole and Victoria pursued a romance, leading to their elopement and first marriage in 1994. Their union faced immediate strain when Cole's mother, Eve Howard, claimed that Victor Newman was Cole's biological father, a revelation that forced the couple to annul their marriage due to the incestuous implications within the Newman family. Subsequent DNA testing disproved the paternity claim, clarifying that Victor was not Cole's father and allowing Cole and Victoria to reconcile and remarry in 1995. This second marriage, however, was short-lived, ending in divorce in 1998 amid ongoing tensions, including Victoria's frequent departures from Genoa City. During this period, Victoria became pregnant with their daughter, Nicole Howard, born on November 9, 1998, who tragically died shortly after birth from a . Parallel to his marital issues with Victoria, Cole developed a romantic involvement with , Victoria's former stepmother, which escalated into an affair and ultimately his marriage to Ashley in 1998. This union was turbulent, exacerbated by Ashley's health struggles and mutual infidelity, leading to their divorce being finalized in 1999. Beyond his marriages, Cole's family ties added layers of complexity to his personal life. He was later revealed to be the nephew of , the estranged sister of his mother, . These revelations, stemming from Eve's secretive past, underscored the ongoing paternity misconceptions that had initially disrupted Cole's relationship with Victoria.

2023 return and family revelations

In November 2023, Cole Howard returned to Genoa City as a horse veterinarian working at the Newman ranch's stables, marking his first appearance since 1999. He was drawn into a dangerous family crisis when he received a mysterious text message luring him to a remote lake house in , where he unexpectedly reunited with his ex-wife, , amid a plot orchestrated by . There, Cole discovered that Claire Grace, a young woman involved in the scheme, was actually their long-presumed-dead daughter, Eve Nicole Howard, born in 1998 and believed to have died in infancy. The revelation unfolded that Jordan, Eve's aunt and Cole's relative, had kidnapped the infant shortly after birth as an act of revenge against the Newman family for past grievances, including the death of her sister Eve Howard (Cole's mother). Jordan had swapped Eve with a deceased baby and raised the child as Claire, brainwashing her to believe her parents had died in a car accident while grooming her for vengeance. A subsequent DNA test in 2024 confirmed Claire's identity as Eve Nicole, solidifying Cole and Victoria's parental claims. Throughout 2023 and 2024, Cole and Victoria navigated the emotional turmoil of reclaiming their daughter, supporting Claire through her arrest for aiding Jordan's kidnapping plot—which included poisoning the Newmans and holding them hostage at the lake house—and her subsequent psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Cole played a key role in Claire's deprogramming, visiting her in jail and encouraging her to reject Jordan's influence, which facilitated her gradual integration into the Newman family as she moved to the ranch and began bonding with her parents. Jordan's schemes escalated with additional abductions, including one involving Claire and young Harrison Abbott, from which Cole and Victoria helped orchestrate a rescue. By early 2025, as Claire settled more firmly into family life, escaped from prison, prompting renewed confrontations and attempts to target the Newmans, including luring Claire into a deceptive alliance before she alerted Victoria and others to set a trap. Cole, having rekindled his romance with Victoria and accepted a position within Newman Enterprises, remained central to protecting their daughter during these threats.

Death and legacy

In 2025, Cole Howard contracted amid the ongoing family turmoil sparked by Jordan Howard's schemes against the Newmans, initially misdiagnosed as before his condition rapidly deteriorated. He was hospitalized and, despite treatment, succumbed to the illness on July 3, 2025, passing away peacefully in Victoria Newman's arms at his bedside, with daughter Claire Grace also present to share final moments and heartfelt goodbyes. Victoria was overcome with profound grief, holding Cole as he drew his last breath and reflecting on their rekindled bond, while Claire experienced a raw emotional breakdown, grappling with the loss of her newly discovered father who had only recently become a stabilizing force in her life after years of deception by her aunt . This immediate aftermath deepened the emotional ties between Victoria and Claire, transforming their relationship into one of mutual support amid shared mourning. Cole's legacy endures through his pivotal role in unraveling Jordan's manipulative plots, including aiding in Claire's and the exposure of familial secrets that threatened the Newman enterprise, ultimately fortifying family resilience against external threats. His death reshaped Newman family dynamics, prompting Victoria to reassess her priorities and Claire to confront lingering trauma, with unresolved themes of and redemption echoing in their subsequent storylines—such as Claire's potential confrontations with past influences and Victoria's protective instincts toward her daughter. Following his death, references in storylines as of September 2025 suggest suspicions that his illness may have been induced, potentially tied to ongoing plots. Off-screen, Cole continues to be referenced in arcs involving Victoria's leadership at Newman Enterprises and Claire's integration into the family, underscoring his lasting influence on themes of and vengeance.

Reception and impact

Critical response

Peck's on-screen chemistry with , who originated the role of Victoria, was highlighted as a standout element, with Peck later reflecting that their dynamic felt "spontaneous" and "very ," contributing to the character's appeal as a grounded counterpoint amid the family's high-stakes drama. The character's 2023 return after a 24-year absence was appreciated by outlets as an opportunity to revisit legacy ties—such as Cole's reunion with ex-wife Victoria amid revelations about their presumed-deceased daughter—with noting the return's potential to inject fresh dynamics into family conflicts, and describing Cole as remaining "a good guy with a very soft spot for the people who he cares about," aligning with his established persona. Peck's performance in Cole's 2025 exit storyline, culminating in the character's death from , was lauded for its emotional depth, particularly in the bedside farewell scenes with Victoria and their daughter Claire. In a interview, Peck shared that the rehearsals were "very hard... emotionally, to keep it together," emphasizing the heartfelt portrayal of Cole urging his family to move forward, which resonated as a poignant closure to his arc. Overall, analysts have characterized Cole Howard as a "pretty decent guy" whose inherent goodness starkly contrasts the villainous legacy of his mother, Eve Howard, positioning him as a stabilizing force in Genoa City's turbulent world. Curtis Harding of Soaps.com observed that despite expectations of him inheriting a "bad seed" from Eve's obsessive schemes and his biological father's murderous past, Cole consistently defied such tropes through his integrity and supportive relationships.

Fan and cultural reception

Fans of expressed mixed enthusiasm for Cole Howard's 2023 return, particularly in relation to the revelation that Claire Grace was his and Victoria Newman's long-lost daughter, presumed dead as infant Eve Nicole. In a November 2023 Reddit thread on r/youngandrestless, viewers praised the storyline for injecting drama into the show's business-heavy narratives, with one commenter noting, "I’m loving it. For months it’s been them always talking about business but never working. We need some action and drama." Others appreciated the twist's familiarity, stating, "Yeah it’s been too long without an out of nowhere soap twist like this!" However, some dismissed the plot as "ridiculous" and "not believable," reflecting broader divisions in fan forums. The character's 2025 death from Legionnaires' disease elicited widespread dismay among audiences, who lamented the abrupt end to his arc and perceived "wasted potential" after his recent return. On platforms like Facebook and Soap Opera Spy, longtime fans voiced heartbreak immediately following the July 3 episode, with one stating, "As a longtime fan of Cole Howard and J. Eddie Peck since 1993, I was heartbroken to see Cole killed off—but even more upset by the lack of a funeral." Discussions highlighted frustration over the writers' decision to kill off the character rather than allow an exit via departure from Genoa City, as one fan argued, "The fan felt like the writers could have made Cole leave town and bring him back when they had a story for him." A memorial service held in August 2025 addressed some concerns but ended in chaos, further fueling online debates about the handling of Cole's legacy. Social media buzz intensified, including calls on Twitter/X for his potential resurrection, with sentiments like "HE’S NOT REALLY GONE!" circulating in fan groups. Cole Howard's storyline contributed to The Young and the Restless' exploration of and redemption, resonating with fandom's affinity for family secrets and character arcs involving long-buried truths. Fans on Soap Hub noted the narrative's emphasis on "a dose of deception" through Claire's hidden identity, drawing parallels to the show's tradition of redemptive journeys for flawed protagonists. His recasting and returns echoed those of enduring characters like Jack Abbott, underscoring Y&R's cultural role in sustaining multi-decade viewer investment through legacy ties and moral complexity. While Cole received no major fan-voted awards, his 2023 comeback generated significant online engagement, positioning him as a focal point for discussions on the soap's evolving family dynamics.

References

  1. https://theyoungandtherestless.fandom.com/wiki/Cole_Howard
  2. https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/cole-howard-j-eddie-peck/
  3. https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/comings-and-goings/788498/j-eddie-peck-leaving/
  4. https://www.primetimer.com/features/cole-howard-the-young-and-the-restless-character-storyline-explained
  5. https://www.soapcentral.com/character/charles-victor-howard
  6. https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2023/11/j-eddie-peck-returns-the-young-and-the-restless-cole-howard
  7. https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/j-eddie-peck-returns-to-the-young-and-the-restless/
  8. https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2025/07/j-eddie-peck-exits-young-and-restless-cole-howard
  9. https://daytimeconfidential.com/2023/11/22/y-rs-j-eddie-peck-on-cole-hes-still-a-good-guy
  10. https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/713538/what-happened-ashley-abbott-cole-howard/
  11. https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/cole-mine-the-411-on-young-and-restlesss-cole/
  12. https://www.soaphub.com/young-restless/commentary-yr/character-lowdown-who-is-young-and-the-restless-cole-howard/
  13. https://www.soapcentral.com/character/eve-howard
  14. https://theyoungandtherestless.fandom.com/wiki/Eve_Howard
  15. https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/700239/who-is-cole-howard-claires-father/
  16. https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/young-restless-victoria-newman-timeline-love-interests-photos/
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  18. https://soaps.sheknows.com/message-boards/t/victoria-has-a-daughter-in-her-20s/819468
  19. https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/50721/revisiting-ashley-abbotts-tangled-history-with-the-newman-family/
  20. https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/who-is-claire-grace-hayley-erin/
  21. https://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/2023/the-young-and-the-restless-spoilers-cole-howard-returns-j-eddie-peck-reprises-role-as-victorias-ex-husband/
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  24. https://yandrrecaps.com/recaps/yr-recap-july-3-2025-cole-dies-in-victorias-arms-chelsea-calls-out-holdens-lies-daniel-gets-closer-to-tessa/
  25. https://www.facebook.com/soapdigestofficial/posts/claire-and-victoria-made-it-to-coles-bedside-in-time-to-say-goodbye-before-he-di/1139339834891949/
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  27. https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65368345/
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  35. https://www.reddit.com/r/youngandrestless/comments/187o4st/so_what_did_people_think_of_the_plot_twist_of/
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  37. https://www.soapoperaspy.com/2025/yr-fans-upset-over-death-of-beloved-character/
  38. https://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/2025/the-young-and-the-restless-monday-august-4-update-coles-memorial-ends-in-disaster-chelsea-tells-lily-canes-secret/
  39. https://www.facebook.com/groups/802284224212155/posts/1401185607655344/
  40. https://soaphub.com/young-restless/commentary-yr/fans-wonder-twist-cole-more-shocking-than-we-thought/
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