Cole Kaplan's journey in the performing arts began with an unusual challenge: a significant speech impediment that marked his adolescence. Through speech therapy and years of vocal training, he overcame this obstacle and actualized his Hebrew name—"קול" (Kol), which translates to "voice."
Learning to communicate with others sparked his love for storytelling.
He graduated with a BFA in Acting from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. His training at NYU's Meisner Studio allowed him to perform works by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Lorca, and Arthur Miller. During his summer break, he also originated the role of Mitch in Michael Ronca's "Sprawl" at the SoHo Playhouse, which won Selected Finalist by Audience Vote and received an extended run. Shortly before graduating, he won the Outstanding Achievement in Studio Award from Stonestreet Studios at the 25th Annual Tisch Drama Awards.
Since graduating, Cole has originated the role of David Liebler in the premiere of "Wave Me Goodbye" at the Kraine Theater. "Wave Me Goodbye" is a historical play based on the true story of the Liebler family, who harbored refugees in their Brooklyn apartment during the Second World War.
He is also a member of Foul Fiend Theatre Troupe (FFTT), a theater company that provides accessible theater for public audiences across New York. In his work with FFTT, he has played Phipps and Mason in Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband", Shamrayev in Chekhov's "The Seagull", and originated the roles of Friar Tuck in Zoe Gray's "Nottingham" and The Con in Kenzie Packer's "The Thin Gray Line."
He recently originated the role of Paddy in the staged reading of Barbara Grecki's "The Keeners" at Pearl Studios, a dark comedy set in County Clare, Ireland, in the mid-1970s. The piece centers on a group of Irish women who practice the Irish funeral tradition of keening, powerful melodic lamentation, and grapple with changes to their own lives and community amidst the violence of the Troubles.
His upcoming work includes serving as a. unit production manager on a to-be-announced project with Rampart Media LLC in April 2025, and developing his original series, "To Dust".
