The Evolution of Cole and Dylan Sprouse: From 'Big Daddy' to Hollywood Heartthrobs

Cole and Dylan Sprouse, the twin brothers who have been charming audiences since childhood, show no signs of slowing down. These Italian-born actors have been in the industry for decades, with their breakthrough role in the 1999 movie Big Daddy. They shared the part of Julian in the film.

Dylan and Cole's career took a turn after their roles in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody on Disney Channel, where they played twin brothers Zack and Cody from 2005 to 2008. The show's popularity had a significant impact on the actors, with Dylan acknowledging that it was instrumental in their personal growth.

"This show was a saving grace during a difficult time in our lives. I am filled with gratitude towards everyone involved and will forever be thankful for the impact it had on us," Dylan expressed on Instagram in March 2020, commemorating the 15-year anniversary of the show. Despite being just 11 years old when the series started, the My Fake Boyfriend actor shared his love for the show and expressed his happiness that it still brings families the same nostalgia that it once brought him. The memories will always hold a special place in his heart.

Echoing his brother's opinion, Cole also admitted to Vogue's "73 Questions" in May 2021 that watching the Disney show is his guilty pleasure when he's feeling drunk or narcissistic. However, he generally avoids watching anything he's done.

"I still have a strong affection for The Suite Life," admitted the Riverdale actor. He shared a heartwarming memory, saying, "When I finished middle school, the cast and crew threw me a big graduation party. I even shed some tears on camera." Despite taking a hiatus to attend college, the brothers have not worked together on a project since their Disney Channel days. Although not confirmed, Dylan expressed openness to the idea of a reunion with his brother on screen.

"I am more inclined to write something for us to collaborate on rather than waiting for someone to approach us," the beermaker shared exclusively with We in February 2020. "Twin movies are generally not successful, and I believe it's a universal truth. So, if we can come up with the right idea, I'm all for it."

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Cole and Dylan Sprouse Through the Years: From ‘Big Daddy’ to 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody' and Beyond

Twinning! Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse have been captivating audiences since they were babies — and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

After making their acting debut in the early 1990s, the Italian-born brothers gained recognition with their appearance in the 1999 movie, Big Daddy. In the film, they shared the role of Julian. However, it wasn't until their roles in Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody that they began to showcase their individual acting abilities. The brothers became household names for their portrayal of twin brothers Zack and Cody between 2005 and 2008, propelling them to superstardom.

The actors recognized the impact of the show on their personal growth, with Dylan acknowledging that it provided a source of solace during challenging times. In a heartfelt Instagram post commemorating the 15-year anniversary of the show in March 2020, Dylan expressed his gratitude to all involved, highlighting the significant role the series played in their lives.

The actor who played My Fake Boyfriend and was just 11 years old when the show started expressed his love and appreciation for the fans, stating that he is happy the show still brings families the same nostalgic feelings they had when watching it. He also mentioned that he will always hold onto those memories. Cole, his brother, also shared similar feelings about the Disney show, admitting that it's his go-to when he wants to indulge in a guilty pleasure while enjoying a drink.

"When I'm feeling particularly self-absorbed or under the influence, yes, I'll put it on," he admitted in an episode of Vogue's "73 Questions." "However, watching myself on screen isn't really my thing. I tend to avoid it whenever possible."

Despite this, the Riverdale actor confessed that he still holds a special place in his heart for The Suite Life. "It might sound cliché, but I have a genuine affection for that show," he shared. "I remember when I finished middle school, the cast and crew threw me a graduation party. I even cried on camera."

After taking a hiatus from Hollywood to attend college, the sibling duo has yet to collaborate on a project since their Disney Channel days. While there are no current plans for an onscreen reunion, Dylan remains open to the possibility of working with Cole again in the future. As a creative writer himself, he believes that the key to a successful collaboration would be to come up with a unique and original concept that would showcase their talents. According to Dylan, the tried and tested formula of twin movies simply doesn't cut it, and they would need to find something truly special to make it work.

Scroll down to relive the Sprouse twins' ups and downs over the years:

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SOAP Opera Start

The twins both got their acting start playing Patrick Kelly on Grace Under Fire from 1993 to 1998. They weren’t even two years old when they first went in front of a camera.

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Comedy Breakout

Dylan and Cole made their big screen debut in 1999’s Big Daddy. They split the role of Julian “Frankenstien” McGrath in the Adam Sandler comedy.

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Solo Start

Cole and his twin brother Dylan started their acting career together, but in 2000, Cole landed the role of Ben Geller on Friends solo. He played the recurring character of Ross Geller’s son (David Schwimmer) until 2002.

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Disney Channel Superstars

Dylan and Cole rose to stardom in 2005 with the debut of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody on Disney Channel. The twin brothers portrayed mischievous Zack and Cody, who resided in the Tipton Hotel and engaged in hijinks with other guests and residents. The show ran for three seasons until its conclusion in 2008.

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Super Suite Life

The Martin twins, played by the siblings, became fan favorites as they starred in Disney Channel's The Suite Life on Deck from 2008 to 2011. Viewers followed their adventures as they transitioned from the Tipton Hotel to the SS Tipton cruise ship.

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NYU or Bust

Cole and Dylan temporarily stepped away from the entertainment industry to pursue higher education. During this time, Cole obtained a degree in archeology from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, while Dylan focused on video game design. The brothers proudly walked across the stage together in May 2015, both graduating with honors.

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Camera Guy

Cole's interest in photography blossomed during his time at NYU, where he began experimenting with the medium. With a growing following on social media, he decided to launch a professional website to showcase his expanding portfolio, which includes stunning magazine spreads, breathtaking landscapes, and intimate personal moments. Recently, Cole had the opportunity to photograph some of today's biggest stars, including Kendall Jenner for The Sunday Times, Sophie Turner for W Magazine, and Sam Smith for L’Uomo Vogue.

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Meet Jughead Jones

Cole made his TV comeback in 2017, landing the role of Jughead Jones on The CW’s Riverdale. The seventh and final season of the series will premiere in 2023.

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Dylan Returns to Hollywood

While Cole headed back to television, Dylan made his entertainment comeback with the 2017 film Dismissed. He followed it up with a starring role in 2018’s Banana Split.

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Master Brewer

Dylan, who had dabbled in beermaking during his college years, established the All-Wise Meadery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2018. Within two years, the company had expanded its reach to include Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and New York. Recently, the exquisite mead has made its way to select locations in Hungary.

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Met Gala Guru

Cole captivated the fashion world with his Met Gala appearance in May 2018, gracing the red carpet with his then-girlfriend Lili Reinhart. The following year, the couple made headlines with their impeccable couple style. In May 2022, the highly-anticipated fashion event returned after a year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Cole made a bold statement with his solo appearance, leaving fans in awe of his impeccable fashion sense.

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Model Behavior

Dylan has been romantically involved with Barbara Palvin, a model for Victoria's Secret, since the summer of 2018. In June 2020, the couple marked their second anniversary by embarking on a remote retreat to Yosemite National Park.

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Cole’s Movie Comeback

Two years after returning to Hollywood, Cole starred alongside Haley Lu Richardson in 2019’s Five Feet Apart. His next movie role came in 2022 with Moonshot.

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TV Romance

Cole and his Riverdale co-star, Reinhart, had an on-and-off relationship from 2017 to 2020. In August 2020, Cole confirmed their breakup via Instagram, stating that they initially separated in January of that year and decided to permanently split in March. Despite the end of their relationship, Cole expressed gratitude for the experience and wished Reinhart nothing but love and happiness moving forward. He also made it clear that he would not comment further on the matter.

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Making Movie Magic

Dylan has continued to find success on the big screen starring in 2020’s After We Collided and both Tyger Tyger and The Curse of the Turnadot in 2021.

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Production Pro

In the span of May to July 2020, Cole took on the dual roles of producer and star for the "Borrasca" podcast. The enthralling narrative podcast was skillfully crafted by CK Walker, who wrote and created it based on her eponymous novel. Excitingly, it was recently announced in March 2022 that season 2 of the podcast is set to release later this year.

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Back in the Dating Game

Ari Fournier and Cole set the rumor mills churning in February 2021 as they were spotted together in Vancouver, Canada. Later in August, the model wished Cole on his birthday and seemingly confirmed their relationship.

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Published Author

Dylan's debut comic book, Sun Eater, was released by Heavy Metal in July 2021. The nine-part series is set in ninth-century Norway and combines fantasy-action with a complex narrative. "I wanted to create a story that would resonate with both long-time fans of the genre and those new to it," the author explained in an interview with Heavy Metal. "Drawing inspiration from actual folk tales and bardic songs, the characters and world of Sun Eater are dark, grotesque, and somber, with a flawed and desperate protagonist at its core. Despite working on Sun Eater for years, the themes and content feel particularly meaningful to me now, at this point in my life."

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Red Carpet Ready

The Vanity Fair Oscars Party in March 2022 was a joint appearance for the brothers, who had recently been seen with their respective girlfriends, Fournier and Palvin, at the premiere of Moonshot in Los Angeles.

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The Big 3-0

On his 30th birthday in August 2022, Cole took to Instagram to share a humorous message about his twin brother Dylan's birthday, but also shared a heartfelt statement about the progress he has made in his life. He expressed gratitude for finally having his ducks in a row and feeling the happiest he has been in a long time. Cole shared that he has worked hard during his 20s to build a solid and stable foundation for his career, and has gained a clearer understanding of what he truly wants. He acknowledged the challenges of growing up in the entertainment industry and expressed appreciation for the support of his trusted friends and family.

"I'm thrilled to be starting pre-production on Lisa Frankenstein today, a project that's very close to my heart as it brings to life a childhood dream of mine to play a creature on the big screen. Looking back, I know my 10-year-old self would be proud of who I am today. Sending love to all of you and, for once, feeling love for myself as well. Cheers to turning 30!" Cole added a fun note, wishing his brother Dylan a happy birthday as well with a playful remark, "Also, happy birthday to @dylansprouse too I guess."

Dylan expressed his love for his sibling by sharing a photo on his Instagram Story where they were seen chatting on their birthday. He wished the celebrant a happy birthday and jokingly added, "May your beard be thick and your coin purse thicker." Dylan concluded the message by saying, "We made it."

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A Broken Home

According to Cole, his mother Melanie Wright was an artist who suffered from mental illness and drug abuse, leading him to describe her as a "tortured artist" and "narcissist" during a March 2023 episode of the "Diary of a CEO" podcast. Additionally, Cole revealed that his mother was the driving force behind his and his twin's early foray into acting.

According to Cole, his mother found a strong sense of self-identity through motherhood and decided to turn it into a profitable venture by putting her identical twin boys into acting. This decision was based on the economic benefits of labor laws in the industry. Cole believes that this satisfied his mother's need for recognition as an artistic success, which may have been driven by her own narcissism. Unfortunately, the entertainment industry ultimately took a toll on his mother and led to their estrangement. The situation became so severe that the court had to intervene and send them to live with their father.

“This industry can sometimes foster negative qualities such as narcissism, selfishness, and greed, which are often considered cardinal sins,” he stated. “Unfortunately, this can lead to a mindset that is in direct opposition to the fundamental concept of motherhood.”

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The Sprouses-To-Be

In June 2023, Dylan made his engagement to Palvin public by sharing a sneak peek from their V Magazine cover shoot on social media. The model captioned the post with the words, "With the power invested in V I am a Sprouse to be ‍️". The couple had actually been engaged since September 2022, as they revealed in a joint interview with the magazine. During the interview, which was conducted by Cole, the couple hinted that they plan to tie the knot in Hungary. Dylan expressed his nervousness about the wedding, particularly with regards to the first dance and the possibility of a choreographed routine.

Cole joked, “Why? Is it because you can’t dance? At all?” His sibling confessed, “I’m not a good dancer. And I’m nervous about remembering the steps.”