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

The Sprouse twins may have looked identical as children, but their personalities were certainly no carbon copy.

Dylan and Cole Sprouse, who turn 32 on August 4, 2024, began their professional careers when they were just 6 months old at the suggestion of their maternal grandmother, Jonina Booth Wright, a drama teacher. By the time they were 12 months old, the brothers were regular guests on the ABC series Grace Under Fire as Brett Butler’s son Patrick. Professionally and personally, the two are often linked at the hip since birth.

In a PEOPLE profile of the twins for the July 19, 1999 issue, their mother, Melanie Wright, said she taught her sons the same values, such as chores, prayer, decency and “responsibility.” However, she also made them different from each other.

Dylan, born 15 minutes before Cole, was the more outgoing twin who loved the Beastie Boys and wanted to be a stuntman like Melanie’s then-boyfriend Spike Silver. On the other hand, Cole was an aspiring geologist who loved singer-songwriter Neil Young.

Dylan Sprouse shares ‘funny’ story about meeting ‘Big Daddy’ costar Adam Sandler in Paris

(L-R) Dylan Sprouse as Zack and Cole Sprouse as Cody in ‘The Suite Life of Zack & Cody’ in 2005.

It’s A Laugh Productions/Walt Disney Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

They have a talent for acting in common. Adam Sandler, who starred alongside the twins in his comedy Big daddy, Melanie said that the brothers’ acting was “so good that I feel sick to my stomach”. In addition, Cole and Dylan shared a childlike wit at the age of 7. When PEOPLE asked what they love about each other, Dylan replied, “He’s crazy.”

“Nothing,” Cole replied. “Except he’s really nice.”

The child stars went on to star in two hit Disney Channel series, Zack and Cody’s apartment life and Apartment Life on deck. After their online stint, which made them one of the most recognizable faces of their generation, they pursued their creative endeavors separately. Cole played Jughead Jones on The CW teen drama Riverdale seven seasons, and most recently hosted the comedy horror 2024 Lisa Frankenstein with Kathryn Newton. Meanwhile, Dylan had roles in romance movies like After we collided, A beautiful disaster and its sequel A beautiful wedding.

Although they have not appeared together on screen since 2012, a reunion is not impossible.

In the episode of July 31 Living with Kelly and MarkDylan revealed that he would love to star in a project with his brother again, but “there aren’t a lot of good roles for twins.”

“It’s usually pretty funny. I remember Cole being extremely bitter about Tom Hardy being a twin [in 2015’s Legend]. He doesn’t like it when people play two different real people,” the actor told hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. “I looked at him and I said, ‘Cole, I don’t think they were looking for guys like us for the part, if they cast Tom Hardy anyway.’ ”

Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin Relationship Timeline

(L-R) Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse at the screening of ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ on February 5, 2024 in Hollywood.

Leon Bennett/Getty Images

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As they grew up, the twins also branched out in their personal lives. On July 15, 2023, Dylan married supermodel Barbara Palvin in Hungary, while Cole is dating model Ari Fournier.

However, the duo is still involved in each other’s lives. He appears on Ripa’s podcast Let’s talk on camera with Kelly Ripa in April 2024, Cole called his brother and sister-in-law “so adorable” and “perfect together.” As for when the couple will start a family, Cole said they are “taking their time and figuring it out.”

“I can absolutely see him taking that step soon and it will be nice because then my father will stop asking when I’m going to do it, you know?” he added jokingly.

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Source: HIS Education