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

Cole and Dylan Sprouse were always distinctly different in personality. By the time they turned one, they were already appearing on ABC’s Grace Under Fire, playing Brett Butler’s son Patrick. Since then, both professionally and personally, they’ve often been side-by-side.

In a 1999 PEOPLE profile, their mom, Melanie Wright, shared that she raised the boys with the same values—chores, prayer, manners, and responsibility—while also encouraging them to develop their own identities.

Dylan, born 15 minutes ahead of Cole, was the more extroverted of the two, a fan of the Beastie Boys and aspiring stuntman (inspired by Melanie’s then-boyfriend Spike Silver). Cole, meanwhile, leaned into a quieter love of geology and had a thing for Neil Young.

A Shared Talent
What united them, though, was their natural flair for acting. Adam Sandler, who co-starred with the twins in Big Daddy, once told Melanie their performances were “so good it makes me sick to my stomach.” Even at age 7, the brothers had a quirky humor. When asked what they liked about each other, Dylan quipped, “He’s a nut.” Cole’s response? “Nothing. Except he’s really nice.”

They went on to become household names on Disney Channel, starring in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Suite Life on Deck. After their Disney days, they pursued separate paths: Cole starred as Jughead Jones in Riverdale for seven seasons and more recently appeared in Lisa Frankenstein alongside Kathryn Newton. Dylan, on the other hand, found his niche in romantic dramas like After We Collided, Beautiful Disaster, and Beautiful Wedding.

Will We See Them on Screen Together Again?
Although it’s been over a decade since their last joint screen appearance (2012), the door isn’t completely closed on a reunion. During a July 31 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, Dylan shared that he’s open to it—though good twin roles are few and far between.

“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 the Spotlight
The twins have also been growing in their personal lives. Dylan tied the knot with model Barbara Palvin on July 15, 2023, in Hungary. Cole is dating model Ari Fournier. Despite their individual pursuits, they remain close.

On Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast in April 2024, Cole gushed about Dylan and Barbara, calling them “so wonderful” and “perfect together.” When asked about kids, he added with a laugh, “They’re taking their time. It’ll be nice, though—maybe then my dad will stop asking me when I’m having kids.”