The Sprouse Twins’ Mom Encouraged Them to Be Different from Each Other as Kids — Here’s How They Did It

Cole and Dylan Sprouse have always stood apart in personality, even as their careers often ran side by side. By their first birthday, they were already sharing the screen on ABC’s Grace Under Fire as Brett Butler’s son, Patrick.

In a 1999 PEOPLE profile, their mom, Melanie Wright, explained that she raised them with the same foundation—chores, prayer, manners, and responsibility—while encouraging each to grow into his own identity.

Dylan, born 15 minutes before Cole, leaned toward extroversion. He loved the Beastie Boys and dreamed of being a stuntman, inspired by his mom’s then-boyfriend Spike Silver. Cole, meanwhile, was quieter, drawn to geology and the music of Neil Young.

🎭 A Shared Talent

What united them was acting. Adam Sandler, who worked with the twins in Big Daddy, once told Melanie their performances were “so good it makes me sick to my stomach.” Even at age seven, their humor was sharp and quirky. Asked what they liked about each other, Dylan replied, “He’s a nut.” Cole’s answer? “Nothing. Except he’s really nice.”

From there, they became Disney Channel icons in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Suite Life on Deck. After Disney, their careers diverged:

• Cole took on darker, complex roles, most notably Jughead Jones in Riverdale and more recently in Lisa Frankenstein alongside Kathryn Newton.
• Dylan found his niche in romantic dramas, starring in After We Collided, Beautiful Disaster, and Beautiful Wedding.

🎥 Will They Reunite On Screen?

It’s been over a decade since their last joint project (2012), but Dylan hasn’t ruled out a reunion. On Live with Kelly and Mark (July 31), he admitted he’s open to it—though twin roles are rare.

“They’re usually pretty cheesy,” he joked. “I remember Cole being salty about Tom Hardy playing twins in Legend. He doesn’t love it when one actor plays two real people. I was like, ‘Cole, I don’t think we were on their shortlist for that role anyway.’”

❤️ Life Beyond Hollywood

Off-screen, both brothers have been building personal lives. Dylan married model Barbara Palvin in Hungary on July 15, 2023. Cole is dating model Ari Fournier.

Despite their separate paths, their bond remains strong. On Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast (April 2024), Cole praised Dylan and Barbara as “so wonderful” and “perfect together.” Asked about kids, he laughed: “They’re taking their time. It’ll be nice, though—maybe then my dad will stop asking me when I’m having kids.”