The Twins

DYLAN 'n' COLE SPROUSE

DYLAN COLE

[edit] 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 Tuscany. Dylan, named after poet Dylan Thomas,[3] is 15 minutes older than Cole,[4] who is named for jazz singer and pianist Nat King Cole.[5] The boys moved back to the United States, four months after their birth. They grew up in their parents' native Long Beach, California. Their parents divorced in 1997.[6]
[edit] Acting
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. The twosome first appeared in a commercial for toilet paper switching on-screen time every few seconds. As with many identical twin actors, the two have often played the same role, allowing more time for the character to be filmed. At eight months old, the two appeared on the ABC-TV series Grace Under Fire from 1993 to 1998, playing one character, Patrick Kelly.
In 1999, the boys appeared in their first major feature film, Big Daddy, in which they shared the role of a five-year old boy named 'Julian' who is adopted by Adam Sandler's character 'Sonny Koufax'. That year, the boys collaborated with Sandler on the second and third versions of The Chanukah Song (Dylan and The Drei-Dels in Part 3 and Cole in Part 2), and the boys also had a minor role in the thriller The Astronaut's Wife. The Sprouses have 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 began appearing in episodes of the television show Friends, as Ross Geller's son Ben; this role was not shared with Dylan.
Between the years of 2002 and 2003, the two appeared 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 original series The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, where they play identical twins Zack (Dylan) and Cody (Cole) 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 have also participated in the Disney Channel Games every year since 2006.
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 2006, when it played at three theatres in the United States, ultimately grossing $29,000 domestically.[7] In 2007, the boys filmed A Modern Twain Story: The Prince and the Pauper. The two 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] Dylan played the voice of Shasta in Disney's "Snow Buddies." The brothers filmed Kings of Appletown which is based on the book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It was directed by Bobby Moresco, written by Amanda Moresco and also featured Victoria Justice from Nickelodeon's Zoey 101.[9] It was filmed in New Braunfels, Texas and was originally estimated to be released around Christmas 2008.[10] As of March 2009, the film remains in post production with no release date having been announced. According to Dylan, the twins will be filming another Modern Twain Story film beginning in summer of 2009. The film will be called "Sivilized" and will be a modern version of "Huckleberry Finn."[11] In March 2009, they became the new face of Dannon Danimals.
[edit] "Sprouse Bros." brand
In September 2005, the Sprouses signed a licensing agreement with Dualstar Entertainment to create a new commercial brand entitled "Sprouse Bros", including DVD movies, CDs, clothing, sports gear, video games, ring tones and deodorants[1] targeted towards preteen and teen audiences. In Cole's words, the brand was to be targeted to "people who are our age and boys. We don't want anything too girlie", while Dylan said that it would have "something that will appeal to everybody".[12] In 2006 Dualstar partnered with Leisure Publishing LLC to create a magazine called Sprouse Bros. Code, targeting boys.[13]
In September 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 utilizes the "Sprouse Bros." brand. The book series, which was scheduled for release in the summer of 2007, was described by the publisher as featuring the Sprouses as "young James Bonds or undercover agents".[14]
In June 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 (the Sprouses' middle names) 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.[15]
According to Dylan, the brothers are no longer associated with either Dualstar or Simon & Schuster.[16]
[edit] 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..."[12] While filming The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, the two received on-set tutoring for three hours each day,[1] and claimed to be getting "straight A's and honors."[3] Both boys have had girlfriends, but none of their relationships have lasted longer than 8 months; as of September 2009 both are single.[17]
The Sprouses enjoy skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, and basketball,[5] as well as writing or drawing a comic strip, The Adventures of Tibblebu and Thumbin, based on a stuffed animal of Cole's.[18] The twins' family has three dogs: Bubba, which belongs to Dylan and Cole; Pinky, who is their father's; and Curry, their stepmother's.[19] Their favorite actor and co-star is Adam Sandler[4]
According to Dylan, the twins plan to leave Disney after The Suite Life on Deck ends. Dylan plans to attend art college while Cole plans to travel to Europe with his friends after which he currently plans to continue acting.[20]
Dylan drives a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, black with orange stripes; Cole drives a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, white with black stripes. Both cars were given to them for their sixteenth birthdays and customized by West Coast Customs.[21]
They live in Woodland Hills, California, with their father and stepmother, who were married in 2006.[citation needed]
[edit] Filmography
Year
Title
Dylan's Role
Cole's Role
Notes
2009
Kung Fu Magoo[22]
Justin Magoo
Brad Landry
Voice role
Hannah Montana
Zack Martin
Cody Martin
Episode titled Super(stitious Girl), part three of a three episode cross-over between Hannah Montana, The Suite Life on Deck, and Wizards of Waverly Place.
Wizards of Waverly Place
Zack Martin
Cody Martin
Season 2, Episode 25: Cast-Away (To Another Show).
The Kings of Appletown
Will
Clayton
Was filmed in New Braunfels, Texas
2008
Disney Channel Games 2008
Himself/Team Cyclones
Himself/Team Lightning
Both were not in the first event.
The Suite Life on Deck
Zack Martin
Cody Martin
Television series, sequel to The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 2008- present
Studio DC: Almost Live
Himself/Zack Martin
Himself/Cody Martin
Television special featuring The Muppets
According to Jim
Self
Self
Guest appearance
Snow Buddies
Shasta
–
Voice role
2007
Disney Channel Games 2007
HimselfGreen Team captain
HimselfBlue 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
HimselfRed Team member
HimselfBlue Team member
That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana
Zack Martin
Cody Martin
A Three-episode crossover special that joined 3 shows together. It is also the name of an episode from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
2005-2008
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
Zack Martin
Cody Martin
Television Series
2005
Piggy Banks
Young John[23]
–
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
Eight Crazy Nights
K-B Toys Soldier
The Master of Disguise
Young Pistachio Disguisey
Cameo Appearance
2001
Diary of a Sex Addict
Sammy Jr.
Direct-to-Video
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Justin Carver
Shared role
2001
The Nightmare Room
Buddy
One episode
That '70s Show
Bobby
Billy
Season 4, Episode 2 guest appearance
Friends
–
Ben Geller[24]
Cole Sprouse alone
1999
The Astronaut's Wife
Twin
Twin
Big Daddy
Julian McGrath
Shared role
1993 - 1998
Grace Under Fire
Patrick Kelly
Shared role
[edit] Awards and nominations
[edit] Dylan Sprouse
Young Artist Awards 2006 - Nominated[25]
Young Artist Awards 2007 - Nominated[26]
Kids Choice Awards 2008 - Nominated
Kids Choice Awards 2009 - Won
[edit] Cole Sprouse
Young Artist Awards 2006 - Nominated[25]
Young Artist Awards 2007 - Nominated[26]
Kids Choice Awards 2007 - Nominated
Kids Choice Awards 2008 - Nominated
Kids Choice Awards 2009 - Nominated
[edit] Discography
2005 - A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes in DisneyMania 4