THE SCOOP

For the first time since 1999, actor J. Eddie Peck will reprise his role as Cole Howard on “The Young and the Restless” when the character reunites with ex-wife Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) later this month.

Originating the role of Cole on the daytime drama series in 1993, Peck made a name for himself in Hollywood starting in the early 1980s when he appeared in such shows as “Wildside,” “Knight Rider,” Murder, She Wrote,” “Cheers,” “Dynasty” and “Dallas.” In fact, before joining “The Young and the Restless,” Peck had a starring role on “Days of our Lives” playing Howard “Hawk” Hawkins from 1991-1992. He later appeared in multiple seasons of the ABC Family drama “Kyle XY” and most recently co-starred in the 2016 movie “Divorce Texas Style.” 

After departing “The Young and the Restless” in 1999, Peck  ended up in Pine Valley as Dr. Jake Martin on “All My Children.” During his three years on the show, the actor ironically played opposite Heinle, who at the time was on the ABC soap as Mia Saunders. During Peck’s original run on “The Young and the Restless,” the role of Victoria Newman was played by Heather Tom, who currently stars as Katie Logan on “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

At press time, CBS only noted that Victoria has a surprise reunion with her ex-husband and that Peck will begin airing sometime later this month. However, based on photos from his upcoming return, Soap Opera Network has learned that fans can expect Cole to pop back on screen just in time for Thanksgiving festivities.

When Cole was last seen in Genoa City, he had taken a professorship at Oxford. Prior to his departure, the character was a ranch hand and novelist whose love interests included both Victoria and Ashley Abbott, who at the time had been played by Shari Shattuck before Eileen Davidson ultimately returned to the role in March 1999.