Neverland

Teenage heartthrobs, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, often referred to as the Sprouse Twins or the Sprouse Bros., have a lot going for them: their own series, their own clothing line, and their own magazine! So who are these twins?

The Sprouse boys have been in the show business since before they could talk! Their first job was a toilet paper commercial that their grandmother, an actress, helped them get. Soon after that they found themselves sharing the role of Patrick Kelly in the TV series Grace Under Fire because the twins looked so much like their TV mother, Brett Butler.

Their first big role was in the Adam Sandler flick, Big Daddy. They played Sandler’s character’s adopted son, Julian McGrath, nicknamed Frankenstein. They shared the role and allowed the producers to work at a faster pace than if one actor was cast (because kids are only allowed to work 8-hour days). They played some smaller roles in other movies for a few years before coming out with their own movie, Just For Kicks, in 2003 (which has some pretty crappy fan ratings on imdb).

In 2004, they starred as the older Jeremiah in The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things (the younger played by Jimmy Bennett). This Candide-style indie film is probably the most dramatic film they’ve acted in, and it’s certainly not a movie you’ll be seeing anytime soon on the Disney Channel. The story follows the life of a boy who tags along with his drug-addicted teenage mother. Many scenes display some hideously cruel abuse, rape, and struggles of sexual identity. One of the scenes involves Jeremiah dressing up like his mother and seducing her boyfriend. [Does anyone know who acted this scene?]

he Sprouse Bros. are best known for their roles as Zach (Dylan) and Cody (Cole) in the Disney TV series The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, where they play young miscreants in a Boston hotel. The series began in 2005 and is planning to continue production in 2008. From what I understand, this all depends on how the writer’s strike pans out.

They never seem to run out of energy as these two are mostly in fun and high-energy productions. It’s hard to comment on their acting ability because I don’t think many of their recent work has allowed them to do more serious acting. It might be a bit against their nature because in every interview I’ve seen of them, they are always very outgoing and playful. While Dylan has mentioned he wants to become a zoologist when he grows up, Cole said he wants to continue acting. I wonder if working separately would allow them to work in more challenging roles.

At the time of this post, they are 15 years old. Since they were born in Italy by American parents, they hold dual citizenship in both Italy and the United States. In recent years, they have grown to be their own person both in personality and physical appearance. I think Dylan looks a bit older now, with a few more features of adulthood on him, and Cole still looks fairly young. Of course, Dylan’s best memory is still the 15 minutes he had as an only child.

Their latest work includes a modern version of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, scheduled for direct-to-DVD release on February 5, 2008, and The Kings of Appletown, which began filming in October of 2007.

Dylan and Cole Sprouse Links

Sprouse Bros – The Official Site of Dylan and Cole Sprouse
Sprouse-Fans.com – A detailed fansite with a very comprehensive photo gallery.
The ‘Suite Life’ of the Sprouse Twins – CBSNews Article
Sprouse Clothing Store
47 Ronin – A series of comic books that the twins have authored and published.