Cole Deschanel is a fictional character from the US television soap opera Sunset Beach. Ashley Hamilton played the role of Cole from his introduction on January 21, 1997 to February 19, 1997. The producers decided Eddie Cibrian would fit the role better and the actor took over on February 21, 1997. Cibrian departed on October 14, 1999, to pursue a career in primetime. He made a guest appearance for the series finale on December 31, 1999.