Tom Cole is a major antagonist in Cobra Kai. He is a businessman and owner of Cole's on Van Nuys, an automotive dealership based out of Van Nuys, and a business rival of Daniel LaRusso.
He is portrayed by David Shatraw.
Biography[]
Season 1[]
Following the vandalism of the LaRusso Auto Group billboard, Tom Cole ordered 100 sausages and delivered them to LaRusso Auto Group as a way of making fun of the billboard.
Later that day, Daniel LaRusso meets some marketing executives who show them a commercial of Tom Cole's, which shows Tom dressed up as a patriotic soldier during the 1770s, all while explaining his dealership's benefits and giving customers a free water-resistant cactus, which mocks Daniel's own commercials. Suspecting Tom Cole to be responsible for the vandalism, Daniel heads to Van Nuys to confront him. Upon meeting him, Cole is somewhat respectful, where he drinks a Boba Tea and even gives one to Daniel. Although he denies any involvement in the billboard's vandalism. However, when Daniel is about to leave, Cole's behavior becomes professional, mocking Daniel for the prank. Daniel responds by kicking a Boba Tea out of Tom's hand. Unbeknownst to both of them, Johnny Lawrence was the true culprit of the billboard.
Season 2[]
Tom is not seen in the second season, but it is mentioned that a few of Daniel's employees have left LaRusso Auto Group to work for Cole's on Van Nuys. Some of the employees are Anoush, who felt that he decided to join Cole's on Van Nuys since it offered him more pay by him.
Season 3[]
Tom returns in Season 3 trying to buy LaRusso Auto Group from Daniel, but is told no by Amanda. Unbeknownst to him, Anoush tells Daniel's employee and cousin Louie LaRusso Jr that Tom signed a deal with Doyona International and convinced them to break off ties with LaRusso Auto Group without any consent from Daniel and Amanda. Louie tells this to Daniel and Amanda before leaving.
Daniel and Amanda would meet Tom at his dealership, where they reveal that they are never selling off their dealership as they are aware that Tom would never start or promote Daniel or Amanda being partners or co-owners, much to his dismay, combined with Anoush telling him that he is rejoining LaRusso Auto Group. This enrages Tom Cole, who tells them that their business is going down the drain. However, the plan backfires when Daniel decides to return to Okinawa, where he would reunite with Kumiko, who introduces him to Yuna, the girl he previously saved during the typhoon in 1985 and is now vice-president of sales for Doyona International and was able to have the contract renewed by her. Thus saving the dealership.
Trivia[]
- Tom Cole could somehow be related to William Cole, a district attorney in Silver's case, as mentioned in The Karate Kid Part III.
- He is one of the few Cobra Kai antagonists to not be involved with the Cobra Kai Dojo.
