Dylan and Cole Sprouse

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Dylan and Cole Sprouse
Born
Dylan Thomas Sprouse and Cole Mitchell Sprouse
Other namesSprouse Bros.
Websitehttp://www.sprousebros.com/

Dylan Thomas Sprouse and Cole Mitchell Sprouse (born August 4, 1992) are American identical twin brother actors. They are sometimes collectively referred to as Cole & Dylan, the Sprouse Bros., or the Sprouse Twins, and are known for their roles in the film Big Daddy, as Patrick Kelly in Grace Under Fire, Ross's son Ben on Friends, and for portraying the title characters on the Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. As a result of the series' success, they have become "heartthrobs"[1] and "overwhelming draws"[2] among preteen and teen audiences.

Biography

Early lives

The Sprouses were born in Arezzo, Italy to American parents Matthew Sprouse and Melanie Wright, who at the time were teaching at an English language school in Italy. Dylan, named after poet Dylan Thomas, is fifteen minutes older than Cole,[3] who is named for jazz singer and pianist Nat King Cole.[4] The twins moved back to the United States four months after their birth, and grew up in their parents' native Long Beach, California. Their parents divorced in 1997.

Acting careers

After a suggestion by their grandmother, Jonine Booth Wright, who was a drama teacher and actress, the Sprouses began acting at the age of six months, started with Dylan appearing in a commercial for toilet paper. As with many identical twin actors, the two have often played the same role, allowing more time for the character to be filmed. From 1993 to 1998, the two starred on the ABC-TV series Grace Under Fire, playing one character, Patrick Kelly.

In 1999, the twins appeared in their first major feature film, the Adam Sandler vehicle Big Daddy, in which they played a boy adopted by Adam Sandler's character. That year, Cole collaborated with Sandler on the second version of The Chanukah Song, and the twins also had a minor role in the thriller The Astronaut's Wife. Dylan Sprouse has noted that after Big Daddy's release, the two entered into a slow period in their careers and were not cast in any major roles for a time.[1] During the early 2000s, the twins appeared in episodes of the The Nightmare Room and That '70s Show, as well as in MADtv: Season Four (1998-1999) (episode #425) and the feature films The Master of Disguise and a voice-over role in Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights. In 2001, Cole Sprouse appeared in several episodes of the television show Friends, as Ross Geller's son Ben.

Between the years of 2002 and 2003, the two starred in I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and Just for Kicks, both of which were family films that received a direct-to-video release. The Sprouses were subsequently cast in the Disney Channel television series The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, where they play identical twins Zack and Cody Martin. The series, which debuted in March 2005, has become a ratings success[1] and the twins have become very well known among pre-teen and teen audiences. As part of their involvement with Disney, the brothers are now part of the 11-member group, the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, and sang the song A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes along with the members of the circle, for a video that was released as bonus material in the special edition version of the Disney film Cinderella. The Sprouses also participated in the Disney Channel Games 2006, which began airing in June of 2006. Dylan was on the Red Team, while Cole was on the Blue Team. The twins were asked back for the Disney Channel Games 2007. Dylan was the Captain of the Green Team, while Cole returned to the Blue Team.

The Sprouses played one character, Jeremiah, in the independent film The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, which was produced in 2004 but not given a theatrical release until March of 2006, when it played in a total of three theatres across the United States, ultimately grossing $29,000 domestically.[5] As of November 2006, the two are filming the Sony Pictures film The Prince and the Pauper, which also stars Sally Kellerman, Ed Lauter and Dedee Pfeiffer, in Palm Beach, Florida; filming began in October and ended by December.[6] It was also recently announced that The Suite Life of Zack & Cody would be shooting a third season.[7] The two also lent their voices to a movie called Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen, which also features the voices of fellow Disney Channel stars Brenda Song and Emily Osment.[8]

"Sprouse Bros." brand

In September 2005, the Sprouses signed a licensing agreement with Dualstar Entertainment to create a new commercial brand, entitled "Sprouse Bros", which will include DVD movies, CDs, clothing, sports gear, video games, ring tones and deodorants[1] targeted towards preteen and teen audiences. Dualstar has partnered with Leisure Publishing LLC to create a magazine called Sprouse Bros. Code, which will target boys ages 8-14 with a guide on recent trends favored by the Sprouses; Cole Sprouse has stated that the magazine will appeal to "people who are our age and boys. We don't want anything too girlie",[9] while Dylan has said that it will have "something that will appeal to everybody".[10] The first issue became available on July 18, 2006.[11]

In September of 2006, the Sprouse brothers, represented by Dualstar Entertainment, signed a book deal with Simon Spotlight, a publishing company, to release a spy book series that will utilize the "Sprouse Bros." brand. The book series, which is scheduled for release in the summer of 2007, has been described by the publisher as featuring the Sprouses as "young James Bonds or undercover agents".[12]

In June of 2007, Simon & Schuster Inc. published the first two volumes of Sprouse Bros. 47 R.O.N.I.N. The series is about 15 year-old twin brothers Tom and Mitch who learn that their father and live-in butler are members of a rogue crime-fighting organization, R.O.N.I.N., which dates back to feudal Japan; that their father is in danger; and that they have just been recruited to join their father's clan.[13]

Personal lives

Dylan Sprouse has stated that the experience of coming to fame after the success of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody is "kind of scary, how fast everything is moving. Just a year ago none of this was happening, it was just doing 'Suite Life,' and now I can't wait for what's in store..."[9] While filming The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, the two receive on-set tutoring for three hours each day.[1] According to an August, 2007, interview in Parade Magazine, they earn "Straight A's and honors" in their schoolwork.[14]

As of 2006, the Sprouses enjoy skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, basketball and motocrossing,[4] as well as working on drawing a comic strip, The Adventures of Tibblebu and Thumbin, based on a stuffed animal of Cole's.[15] Cole Sprouse's favorite school subjects are math and science; he names The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as his favorite video game and Forrest Gump and Godzilla as the films he likes the most.[3] Dylan prefers science, dislikes math, and enjoys playing the video games Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee; his favorite film is Napoleon Dynamite.[3] The twins have a dog named Bubba,[4] and their favorite actor and co-star is Adam Sandler.[3]

According to a May 2006 interview with Mad Kids magazine, the Sprouses do not speak Italian,[3] despite incorrect reports to the contrary:[16]

Cole: "I can't say anything in Italian. "Pizza, por favor [sic]" maybe?"

Dylan: "...I don't really speak Italian except for "spaghetti", "Italian ice" (Yum!) and "Ferrari".

Filmography

Year Title Dylan's Role Cole's Role Notes
2007 Disney Channel Games 2007 Himself
Green Team captain
Himself
Blue Team member
A Modern Twain Story: The Prince and the Pauper Tom Canty Eddie Tudor
2006 The Emperor's New School Zam Zim Guest appearance
Disney Channel Games 2006 Himself
Red Team member
Himself
Blue Team member
That's So Raven Zack Martin Cody Martin Guest appearance
2005-Present The Suite Life of Zack and Cody Zack Martin Cody Martin Television Series
2004 The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things
Jeremiah (Age 11)
Shared role
2003 Apple Jack
Jack Pyne
Shared role
Just For Kicks Dylan Martin Cole Martin Direct-to-Video
2002 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Justin Carver
Shared role
Eight Crazy Nights
K-B Toys Soldier
The Master of Disguise
Young Pistachio Disguisey
2001 Diary of a Sex Addict
Sammy Jr.
Direct-to-Video
2001 The Nightmare Room: Scareful What You Wish For
Buddy
One episode
2001 Friends N/A Ben Geller Recurring guest appearances by Cole Sprouse
1999 The Astronaut's Wife Twin Twin
Big Daddy
Julian 'Frankenstein' McGrath
Shared role
1993 - 1998, Grace Under Fire
Patrick Kelly
Shared role

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e "The Early Show". The 'Suite Life' Of The Sprouse Twins. Retrieved July 6. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Newsday.com". Tween shows, top ratings. Retrieved April 15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e Mad Kids (May, 2006). "The Mad Kids Chatroom: This Month: Dylan & Cole Sprouse". Mad Kids. 1 (#3): 26–28. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  4. ^ a b c Popstar (June, 2006). "Dylan & Cole take over the world!: House of Sprouse!". Popstar Special!. - (-): 90. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  5. ^ "Box Office Mojo.com". THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS. Retrieved April 14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Palm Beach Post". PALM BEACH COUNTY HOSTS 'SUITE' TWINS FOR UPCOMING FLICK. Retrieved November 15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Cole Sprouse". “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” will film a third season. Retrieved November 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Dylan Sprouse". Dylan Sprouse and Cole Sprouse “Holidaze” Trailer. Retrieved November 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b "The New York Times". Boys Just Want to Be ... Olsens (Page 2 of 2). Retrieved April 29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "The New York Times". Boys Just Want to Be ... Olsens (Page 3 of 3). Retrieved April 29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "TeenPeople". Get Ready for the Sprouse Twins. Retrieved April 28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "The Book Standard". 14-Year-Old Celebrity Twin Actors Looking Forward to Providing Interesting Book Content. Retrieved September 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ ""Simon & Schuster Inc. Main Website"". The Revelation (Sprouse Bros. 47 R.O.N.I.N.). Retrieved August 22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ James Brady (August 19, 2007). "In Step with Dylan & Cole Sprouse". Parade Magazine: 22. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  15. ^ BOP (May, 2006). "Cole and Dylan Sprouse: "We draw"". BOP magazine. - (-): 54. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  16. ^ The Internet Movie Database and several other trivia web sites have incorrectly suggested that the Sprouses speak Italian.

External links