Disney Doubles

Dylan & Cole Sprouse

Disney always had been known to produce iconic child stars. From Raven Symone to Oliva Rodrgio, they had the ability to find a kid and make them big in media. Dylan and Cole Sprouse we’re no differnt. With the preimer of the first shows as leads, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, in 2005 the two remained became pillars of many’s childhood. The show followed identical twin Zack, played by Dylan Sprouse, and Cody played by Cole Sprouse, and the antics they would get into living in a luxury hotel with their mom. Zack was the more rambunctious and care free twin while Cody was more type A and studious, showcasing the difference in their personalities despite their doubled looks. Both shows while being about twins and focused on them, it was not focused on their identical looks. Similar to how some twins will try to get popular for being such lookalikes, the Sprouse twins were casted because they were twins and identical. After the hit that Sister, Sister was with twins Tia and Tamera Mowry in the early 90s, it only made sense for Disney to produce another show with identical twins. Dylan and Cole became Disney’s 2010s Tia and Tamera.

Despite their prominence, after The Suite Life and the spin off show The Suite Life: On Deck, both Dylan and Cole stepped away from the industry and focused on their education. Being 12 when their first show aired and 18 when the last one ended, they wanted to build a life and career outside of acting to focus. Dylan and Cole were accepted into New York University where Dylan studied video game design and Cole archeology before returning to acting in the CW series Riverdale. Their fame was built on their show about twins and from there they went their separate ways, not just in their career but in looks too. Even though they are identical twins and looks very similar as kids, they had their differences as many twins do. While filming for Disney, Cole was always slightly taller and had a slimmer face than Dylan. And these remain true today with Cole also having dying his hair darker than he and Dylan’s natural dirty blonde. Their doubled appearance was good fro their career and was capitalized upon while in the spotlight but after taking a step away they have been able to accpet and accentuate their differences without worry.

Dylan and Cole Sprouse rose to child stardom with The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, but instead of deciding to force that success to continue into adulthood, they stepped away from acting to pursue their own lives and interest. Not many celebrities would’ve taken that step and would’ve attempted to contort that success into their future. Instead they were able to capitalize upon their growing physical differences and pursue separate avenues of life. The decision to do their own things separated their identities and not cement them together which often happens with twins in media, like the Dolan Twins. I appreciate their impact on media and how not only showcased that being a twin doesn’t have to be what keeps you known but also that twins can look different. After Disney they were able to lean in to their differences and I feel demonstrated how not all twins are or remain doubles of one another. I would say they left a positive impact on society’s view of twins and displayed a view in which they can be their own people even if they do look like doubles.