The Sprouse Twins today: Inside their life now, at 30
Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse are aware that sometimes two people are needed.
Remember the adorable identical twins who stole our hearts over two decades ago as the sharp-witted little boy in Adam Sandler’s Big Daddy? Well, those charming blond boys have grown up—and they’re turning heads for entirely different reasons these days.
Born in 1992, Dylan and Cole Sprouse started their careers in front of the camera at just 8 months old, appearing in TV shows, commercials, and movies. Though Dylan—older by a mere 15 minutes—and Cole may no longer be as inseparable as they once were in their early Hollywood days, their bond remains strong.
Now both in their 30s and undeniably handsome, the Sprouse twins have traded toddler stardom for adult success, each carving out unique paths while continuing to captivate fans across the world.
Identical twins have long been Hollywood’s secret weapon, especially when it comes to navigating strict child labor laws. Just ask Full House fans who remember Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. When it came to the Sprouse twins, having two was definitely better than one.
Dylan and Cole Sprouse made their first big splash as the adorable son of Brett Butler’s character in the hit sitcom Grace Under Fire, which aired from 1993 to 1998. The twins portrayed Patrick Kelly, growing on screen from cooing babies to quick-witted six-year-olds, capturing hearts with their charm and natural timing.
In fact, Variety’s Tim Grey mused at the time, “As Grace’s 8-month-old, it’s impossible to tell at this point if Dylan and Cole Sprouse are the Olsen twins of tomorrow.” Spoiler alert: they absolutely were.
But it was their unforgettable role as Julian, Adam Sandler’s pint-sized sidekick in the 1999 comedy Big Daddy, that made them household names. With spot-on comedic timing and undeniable screen presence, the twins lit up every scene—stealing laughs and hearts in equal measure.
Looking back in a 2022 interview with People, Cole spoke fondly of working with Sandler: “I think I’m a little biased because I’ve known him for a long time, but I do admire his career. He strikes a truly amazing balance between art and business, which is, in my opinion, the hallmark of a legitimate working actor.” He added, “I think it’s amazing that he’s raising up all of his friends at the same time and walking that line beautifully.”
From 2000 to 2002, Cole Sprouse stepped out of the twin spotlight and into the solo limelight when he landed the role of Ben Geller—Ross’s adorable, sometimes mischievous son—on the iconic sitcom Friends. It marked the first time the power dynamic between the Sprouse brothers shifted, with Cole taking on a part without Dylan by his side.
Reflecting on his time on the show, Cole fondly recalled his favorite episode: “The One with the Holiday Armadillo.” “I remember that quite well,” he shared. “The actual effects and costumes had me completely enamored.” But it wasn’t just the holiday props that left a lasting impression.
Cole also admitted to harboring a massive crush on none other than Jennifer Aniston, who played the beloved Rachel Green. “I’m pretty sure I fell in love with Jennifer Aniston, which the whole world had at that point,” he told TODAY. “But I do recall feeling really intimidated around her.”
So much so that the young actor experienced a full-on case of stage fright. “In one instance, she sat next to me on the couch, and I recall getting stage fright and forgetting my lines,” he laughed.
In 2002, the Sprouse twins were back in action—side by side—as the young Pistachio Disguisey in Master of Disguise. But behind the matching roles and mischievous grins, something new was beginning to take shape: Cole and Dylan were developing their own distinct personalities, laying the groundwork for the very different paths they’d later take.
By 2005, their charm had officially reached Disney superstar status. They landed the lead roles in the Emmy-nominated series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, which ran for three wildly successful seasons. As the troublemaking but lovable twins living in a luxury hotel, Zack (Dylan) and Cody (Cole) became instant icons for a new generation of Disney fans.
Even after the show wrapped, the Sprouse magic lived on. Their characters made guest appearances in other Disney favorites like Hannah Montana alongside Miley Cyrus, and starred in their own spinoff, The Suite Life Movie, fueling a fandom that had tweens across the globe swooning.
Despite the frenzy of fame and their status as teen heartthrobs, both brothers kept their feet firmly on the ground. When the curtain closed on their Disney days, they chose very different academic paths—Dylan pursued video game design at NYU, while Cole dove into archaeology and humanities, proving there was always more to the Sprouses than just good looks and clever one-liners.
After years in the spotlight, Cole Sprouse knew he needed to step away—not just from acting, but from the version of himself shaped by years of fame. “In order to see myself from a more objective perspective, I needed to take a break and move outside of myself,” he later explained. The long-running Disney grind had started to feel mechanical. “It made me feel like a machine,” he admitted, adding, “but now I think I can enjoy [acting], which is a really fundamental part about being an actor.”
Though there were plenty of good times during their Disney days, Cole viewed it realistically: “It’s a business and a job, and it helped me get into college, which is one of the best things that could have happened to me. But I’m happy to be [acting] independently now.”
After both brothers graduated from New York University in 2015, they officially stepped into adulthood—not as a package deal, but as individuals with their own stories to tell. Gone were the days of shared roles and identical lines. Cole and Dylan had evolved into distinct talents on separate journeys.
For Cole, the next chapter brought him back to television—this time, on his own terms. Since 2017, he has starred as the brooding, offbeat Jughead Jones in Riverdale, the dark, supernatural drama inspired by the Archie comics. The role marked a sharp turn from his Disney past and showcased the depth and maturity of an actor who had finally come into his own.
In recent years, both Sprouse brothers have carved out rich, fulfilling lives beyond the screen—and beyond each other.
Cole has been in a steady relationship with French-Canadian model Ari Fournier for over two years. Though he keeps much of his personal life private, the couple occasionally shares glimpses of their romance, radiating a quiet happiness that seems far removed from his high-profile teen idol past.
Dylan, meanwhile, took a different path—one that includes both romance and entrepreneurship. He’s engaged to Hungarian supermodel and Sports Illustrated favorite Barbara Palvin. Their relationship, full of warmth and humor, has become a fan-favorite love story, often praised for its down-to-earth vibe despite the glitz of their industries.
Professionally, Dylan has branched out into voice acting for video games, lending his talents to characters far removed from his child star beginnings. But perhaps most notably, he co-founded All-Wise Meadery, a boutique brewery in Brooklyn, New York, dedicated to crafting modern mead with ancient roots. It’s a passion project that combines his love for storytelling, mythology, and craft beverages.
As for the chances of seeing the twins back on screen together? Dylan remains cautiously optimistic—but realistic. “It’s more likely that I will write something for us to work in together, rather than someone approaching us,” he told Us Weekly in 2020. With a wry smile, he added, “It’s never nice to see twin films! I believe the cosmos has given us this universal truth, so if we can figure out what it is, then sure.”
It’s hard to believe just how much time has passed since we first fell in love with the adorable Sprouse twins in Big Daddy. From sharing screen time as mischievous toddlers to forging their own distinct paths as adults, Dylan and Cole have grown up right before our eyes—and they’ve done it with grace, talent, and a grounded sense of purpose.
Whether it’s starring in hit series, launching creative ventures, or simply living life on their own terms, both brothers have achieved remarkable things in and out of the spotlight. And if their journey so far is any indication, the best is still yet to come.
We’ll be watching—and cheering them on—every step of the way.
