Characterisation and introduction Nate is characterised as a career driven man due to his childhood experiences. Nate's profile on the show's official website details a backstory of having to cope with a terminally ill mother, a poor financial situation while studying a medical degree. When Brax is released from prison he tries to win Ricky back. Nate visits Brax to request that he leave Ricky alone and avoid complicating her life. Sveen believed that Nate's actions were motivated purely out of concern for Ricky. However, Ricky is defined as an independent woman and would not like Nate intervening. Ricky and Nate argue when she learns the truth. Pryor said that Brax's reintroduction would have always created friction and drama for the duo. He added that his character had forgotten "that fire" Ricky has for her own independence. She views Nate as "condescending" and orders him to leave her alone. Their storyline concludes when Ricky leaves Nate in favour of a photography career in London.
Marriage to Sophie Taylor Bridgette Sneddon was hired to play Nate's estranged wife
Sophie Taylor. She arrives in Summer Bay and introduces herself to Nate's ex-girlfriend Ricky. She is furious with Nate for keeping his marital status a secret, which leaves Nate confused as she is back with Brax. Sneddon told an
Inside Soap reporter that Nate and Sophie's marriage was ruined by Sophie's drug addiction. She explained that writers created a backstory in which Sophie was involved in a car accident and relied on pain killers in her recovery. As Nate had access to medication in his profession he was able to supply her with the medication she needed. As she became reliant on the drugs it caused trouble in their relationship, resulting in Nate leaving her. Nate's friend
Leah Patterson-Baker (
Ada Nicodemou) begins to worry about Sophie's condition. Nate tires of Leah's interference and he becomes aggravated. Pryor said that Nate wants to move on with Sophie but cannot because Leah keeps reminding him of his past. Sneddon added that Sophie takes a dislike to Leah and there is tension between them. Pryor added that Nate is "really pushing his concerns about Sophie to the back of his mind." Sophie uses an opportunity to divert Leah's interest elsewhere and encourages her to romance
Zac MacGuire (
Charlie Clausen). Sneddon explained that while Sophie genuinely tries to help Leah and Zac, "it helps her cause" to have Nate to herself. Sophie's dislike of Nate's friends grows. She becomes convinced that Nate is sleeping with his colleague
Hannah Wilson (Cassie Howarth). Her accusation is not unfounded as Hannah is secretly in love with Nate. Sophie becomes jealous of their friendship and annoyed when she witnesses Nate consoling Hannah. Nate becomes unhappy with Sophie and his attraction to Hannah grows and the pair kiss. Pryor told Stephen Downie from
TV Week that "it's a spur of the moment thing" as Nate too had been in denial. He has relationship problems with Sophie but continues to protest she is imagining the attraction. Following time apart Sophie tries to spend time with Nate. He tells her that he will not give their marriage another chance despite her pleas to overcome her addiction. Sneddon explained that she still had faith in the estranged couple because they share a connection. Nate decides the only way to escape Sophie is to leave Summer Bay. Sophie becomes delusional and tells Ricky that Nate is sending her love letters when he has not. When Ricky confronts Nate he reveals that Sophie has a history of mental health issues. Sophie's mental state deteriorates and she begins to behave more obsessively towards Nate and later stalks him. Nate tries to distance himself from her further but she lures him to her hotel room and knocks him unconscious. She pours petrol around the room and threatens to start a fire with a candle. In the aftermath of the accident Nate battles to save as many lives as possible. Pryor explained "Nate feels extremely guilty for what's happened, he's trying everything he can to save these people, because he feels very much responsible. He wants to take control of things now, and deal with the repercussions later."
Accident in the bush Writers devised a deadly scenario for the character when he is involved an accident in the
Australian bush. Nate begs Brax to help keep him awake because the medic knows if he were to lose consciousness it would likely kill him. A
Soap World columnist announced that Nate's former love rival Brax would successfully perform the rescue because Brax does not want to feel responsible for anyone else losing their lives. Nate is rushed to hospital and survives his injuries. Hannah presides over his treatment, which annoys Sophie. Howarth said that Hannah and Sophie have never liked each other.
Relationship with Kat Chapman (
pictured) plays Nate's love interest Katarina Chapman.Writers devised a new romance story for Nate alongside
Katarina Chapman (
Pia Miller). The pair flirt and later spend the night together. However, Kat does not want to spend time with Nate the following morning. Pryor told an
Inside Soap writer that there is an undeniable spark between them and Nate has much in common with Kat. Producer Lucy Addario told Stephen Downie from
TV Week that Kat would slowly "let her walls down" with Nate and become close to him. She explained that Kat's past was to blame for her reluctance to be with Nate. Addario told Downie that the story was designed to test Nate and Kat's relationship. She called it a "vicious lie" that threatens to destroy Nate's integrity and career. Nate and Kat notice Billie floating face down in the sea and Nate rescues her. He has to resuscitate her to get her breathing again. Nate is very reassuring towards Billie that she will be okay. As Billie looks at Nate "adoringly", Stephen Downie of
TV Week noted that she was developing a crush on the doctor. A
Sunday Mail writer assessed that following this Billie behaves like an "obsessed teenager" and follows him around. Nate shows no interest in Billie and she becomes "unhinged" and tries to ruin Nate and Kat's relationship. Billie goes to visit Nate and realises that he is alone. She scratches his face, begins to rip her clothes and screams. Kat initially wants to support Nate and believes Billie is a liar. The accusation causes Kat to doubt Nate's innocence because of the text message. Kat has a duty as a n officer to take such accusations seriously. Kat decides to be honest with Nate and blames her past experiences for her doubting him. Nate pleads his innocence to Chris and Kat asks him to help catch Billie out. When Chris discovers that Billie is behind an embarrassing poster designed to ruin Kat's career, he agrees to help. Chris invites Billie over to his house wanting her confess to setting Nate up. The events cause Nate to become stressed and overworked. He does not let Kat help him but when Ricky tries he listens to her. She convinces him to take a break from work to rest. Pryor said that Ricky is there for Nate in his "time of need" and the only one able to "get through to him". Nate later sees Ricky on the beach and a gust of wind blows documents from her hands. He helps her collect them and they share a "moment". Pryor said that his character is "surprised by what has happened, he thought his feelings for Ricky were in the past." Nate and Kat decide to resume their relationship following time apart. It does little to improve things due to Kat's lack of trust. Sveen told Downie that Ricky feels guilty for having feelings for Nate while he is still with Kat. However, Ricky cannot deny that there is "something special between them". Nate's relationship with Kat continues to deteriorate until they decide to break up. This leaves Ricky free to pursue Nate. Kat begins to struggle and learns of Nate and Ricky's tryst. She offers to forget about it and Nate feels obliged to get back with her. Pryor said that his character wanted to support Kat and agreed to give their relationship another chance. Nate later decides to be with Ricky instead. Pryor told Gavin Scott (
TV Week) that Nate does not want to hurt Kat and will always care for her.
Reconciliation with Ricky Ricky begins to develop feeling for Nate again following the departure of Brax. Ricky tells Nate that she has been picturing her life if she had of chose to remain with Nate and not reconcile with Brax. Nate decides that he wants to marry Ricky and makes plans for a proposal. Pryor told a reporter from
New Idea that Nate had a vision of the perfect proposal. He added "there were a lot of blundered attempts, then Ricky got wind of it and it was all a bit of a nightmare, really." Sveen said that Ricky believed Nate is "good dad material". With so he bonds well with her son Casey. Producers brought closure to the Ricky and Brax storyline and Peacocke returned to filming. Ricky is shocked that Brax is alive and cannot forgive him for fooling her and abandoning his child. He kisses Ricky but she rebuffs his advances. Sveen explained that "She's engaged to Nate now, and she believes that he is the right man for her." Sveen observed that viewers on social media were not as accepting of Ricky's relationship with Nate than they were with Brax. However, she believed that the older demographic were relieved Ricky had found a "nice, good boy" character. In March 2016, Pryor told an
Inside Soap reporter that he had tried his best to win viewers acceptance of Nate and Ricky's relationship. The largely popular pairing of Ricky and Brax had a prominent fanbase. Pryor assessed that Nate is the complete opposite of Brax and the more suitable partner for Ricky. The fight for their relationship following Brax's departure as Nate is uncomfortable with Brax gifting a toy to his son. Pryor stated that Nate has reached a point where he wants to marry Ricky and start a family with her. The preparations for their wedding was problematic. The pair argue on what type of ceremony to have. Pryor explained that Nate is so focused on doing everything right that he fails to consider what Ricky wants. Writers decided to create more problems for the pair using Brax. Ricky receives a text message from her former partner which makes her doubt marrying Nate. Pryor said Nate is not happy, but he trusts that Ricky wants to move forward with him. He added that ultimately Nate is "hoping for the best". Ricky's car breaks down and she is late for her wedding. The actor admitted that Nate thinks Ricky has changed her mind about marrying him. He added "matters of the heart have the ability to shake him." Nate and Ricky are caught up in an explosion at the caravan park. Nate goes into "doctor mode" and discovers Ricky is trapped inside a caravan. He is "running on instinct" to save the woman he loves, but sustains serious injuries. Ricky has to have a hysterectomy and is unable to have any more children. Nate accepts the situation but the pair begin to argue more often. Ali Cromarty (
TV Week) reported that Ricky thinks Nate will resent her for not providing him with a biological child. Nate insists that Ricky and Casey are enough for him.
Father In 2015, Producers introduced Nate's father Gavin Cooper with Daniel Roberts in the role. The storyline explore Nate's past coming back to haunt him as he is forced to face the man who abandoned him as a child. After Nate's hostility subsides the pair try to repair their relationship. Nate is hopeful when he shares a pleasant meal with Gavin and Ricky. Gavin's behaviour becomes a concern when he gropes Ricky. She is unsure of informing Nate about Gavin's behaviour, but when he witnesses him drunk and flirting with
Maddy Osborne (
Kassandra Clementi), she tells Nate about the incident. Gavin is involved in a car collision with a tree and rushed to hospital. Nate is shocked to witness his father being wheeled into the ward.
Departure The character departed on 5 June 2017. Following the breakdown of his relationship with
Tori Morgan (
Penny McNamee), Nate decides to leave the Bay to take up a job with
CareFlight. Pryor thanked the crew and fans of the show on his social media accounts after Nate's exit scenes were aired. He stated, "I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has followed Nate's journey on
Home and Away. Playing Dr. Cooper has been a hugely rewarding experience... something I will never forget." ==Reception==