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 Drama from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. In his training at NYU's Meisner Studio, he performed works by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Lorca, and Arthur Miller. During his summer break, he originated the role of Mitch in Michael Ronca's "Sprawl" at SoHo Playhouse, which won Selected Finalist by Audience Vote and received a second extended run. Shortly before graduating, he won the Outstanding Achievement in Studio Award from Stonestreet Studios at the Tisch Drama Awards.
Cole was recently part of the winning table read cast at Heavy Shovel Production's New York Build a Short event, table reading the script of "Help Wanted" written by Nick Cummings.
Cole performed lead motion capture and combat sequences for the main character, Gravitus, as well as lead voice work as Niko Kovac in the sci-fi horror video game "Ember Point." Ember Point is now available to download and play on Steam.
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 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."
Cole recently performed a supporting role and combat sequence in Alex Cottrell's short film "Gratuity", produced by OCU Films, alongside Alex Cottrell and KP Phagnasy. Grautity premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in HollyShorts 2025.
His upcoming work includes line producing on a to-be-announced short film premiering in late 2025, and developing his original series, "To Dust".
