"I was kind of in LaLa Land": J. Eddie Peck reveals he didn’t see Cole’s death coming on The Young and the Restless

For years, J. Eddie Peck's performance of Cole Howard on CBS's The Young and the Restless enthralled viewers. His recent, sudden departure from the program, resulting in Cole's demise, has caused shockwaves among fans. What most viewers did not know, however, was that Peck himself was as caught off guard by the situation as were fans. In an open confession, the actor confessed to being "in LaLa Land," oblivious to his character's own death.

Peck's return to Genoa City in 2023 was greeted with enthusiasm, as Cole Howard, a popular '90s character, reunited with Victoria Newman and their estranged daughter, Claire. The storyline seemed primed for a rich exploration of renewed love and family healing. But a nagging cough and a quick deterioration in Cole's health soon brought a sickening uncertainty.

Recently, in a Soap Opera Digest interview on July 7, 2025, the actor also spoke of his hope that Cole's condition would be what would make him and Victoria closer, imagining a scenario where she would get him healthy again, thus speeding up and intensifying their relationship. This encouraging prediction was ruined by the call from head writer and executive producer Josh Griffith, who broke the news just a week before filming Peck's last scenes. It was then that the actor caught on, 'Oh, yeah, this is all kind of adding up that Cole is not going to survive this one.'

The Emotional Weight of a Character's Demise

For Peck, it was so much different and so much more difficult this time to say goodbye to Cole. He admitted to Soap Opera Digest that the toll on his emotions was huge.

"It's like an extension of yourself."

Peck described, comparing Cole to a child. The most difficult part of his departure wasn't departing the production, but the outright loss of Cole as a character that he had portrayed and loved for years. This close relationship made the last scenes impossibly tough to shoot, as he struggled with the finality of Cole's narrative.

Looking Ahead, Thankful for the Past

In spite of the dramatic and emotional conclusion, J. Eddie Peck, in a recent clip that the actor posted on his Instagram on July 12, 2025, was full of thanks for being given the chance to play the role again. He recognized the importance of Cole Howard in his career, a role which he played between 1993 and 1999, and then again in his recent comeback. He captioned the clip stating,

"HI Friends, to everyone who commented, thank you for your kind words of encouragement to Cole and me. I wanted to share a few thoughts personally as to why Cole and I exited. Feel free to comment or share. I'd love to know what Cole's journey meant to. #ColeHoward #YandR…."

Though Cole's demise appears to be the end, soap operas are a series of unreal resurrections, and Peck is not closing any doors on coming back to The Young and the Restless as some character or in a different capacity. He also looks to continue new ventures in daytime television, and all the while keep up his passionate work with rescue animals.

This surprising twist on The Young and the Restless underscores the singular and frequently unexpected qualities of serialized drama, leaving actors and viewers alike to navigate the unexpected twists of fate.