What happened to Cole Howard on The Young and the Restless?

Popularly known as one of the longest-running soap operas, The Young and the Restless has continuously evolved. In the most recent episode, aired on July 3, 2025, Cole Howard, a character who has been a part of the The Young and the Restless universe since 1980, faced his tragic end. After battling with Legionnaires’ disease, Cole passed away, surrounded by his loved ones. 

As a major character in The Young and the Restless, Cole has been a character witnessing so many twists and turns throughout his life on the soap. Cole Howard’s death in the Y&R took place gradually following his illness. This loss feels more personal to the fans. 

The Young and the Restless: Cole Howard faces a tragic demise

Cole Howard's story on The Young and the Restless goes back decades and is full of complicated relationships and turn of events. Cole was first shown in 1980 as the son of Victor Newman and Eve Howard. He had a rough relationship with his father, who turned him down at first but later accepted him. Cole first showed up as a child, played by N.P. Scoch. He later came back as a young man, played by J. Eddie Peck, in 1993.

Cole's life took a lot of dramatic turns as his relationship with Victoria Newman grew. He started having the very first affair with Nikki Newman while Victoria was also interested in him. Through intense loves to painful betrayals, over the years, Cole's character went through the ups and downs of life in Genoa City.

Being Victor Newman's son made Cole's life on The Young and the Restless quite full of burdens. He was often torn between family duties and personal wants. His role changed over time. He became involved in many stories about love, paternity tests, and his search for self-identity begins. However, as the year 2025 progressed, Cole's life took a sudden turn when he fell ill.

The much-talked-about relationship with Victoria Newman

Cole Howard's complicated relationship with Victoria Newman initiated a new chapter in his life on The Young and the Restless. They met when Victoria was going through a rough time in her life, right after she had broken up with her fiancé. In the end, they became romantically involved. Victoria was drawn to Cole's charm, but their relationship was not so easy. Eventually, they got married after a series of hardships.

Even though things went wrong, like Victoria's jealousy and Cole cheating on her, they kept coming back to each other. The birth of their daughter Claire made things even more difficult for the couple. They were already having a hard time dealing with their past, and now, their duties as parents had put them in a more difficult scenario. Victoria and Cole still loved each other, but their different priorities and the complicated parts of their past kept them apart.

Cole's health got worse in 2025. Victoria was by his side, trying to make the most of the time they had left. Despite their differences, they found comfort in each other during his last moments. After his death, Victoria is left to go on in life without him.

The Young and the Restless is available to stream on CBS.