You remember the blonde hair. The messy room at the Tipton. The constant terror in Mr. Moseby's eyes whenever he saw a luggage cart.
When The Suite Life of Zack & Cody hit Disney Channel in 2005, it didn't just become a hit; it became a cultural anchor for an entire generation. But the twins from Zack and Cody—Dylan and Cole Sprouse—didn't follow the typical "child star" crash-and-burn trajectory we’ve seen a thousand times before.
They didn't just disappear. They made a choice. Honestly, it's a choice that probably saved their sanity.
The Disappearing Act: Why They Left Hollywood
Most kids who land a massive Disney franchise try to ride that wave until it's a puddle. Dylan and Cole did the opposite. By 2011, after the spin-off The Suite Life on Deck wrapped, they were the highest-paid teenage actors on television. They were reportedly pulling in a combined $40,000 per episode.
Then? Silence.
They walked away from the mouse house to attend New York University (NYU). It wasn't a PR stunt. They didn't even study acting. Dylan went into video game design. Cole dove into archaeology. Imagine walking into a dig site and seeing the kid who used to prank a hotel manager brushing dirt off a 1,500-year-old pot. That was Cole's reality.
The brothers have been pretty vocal about why they left. Cole once mentioned in a 2023 interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast that their mother had pushed them into acting for financial stability early on. By the time they hit 18, they needed to figure out if they actually liked it, or if they were just the product of a high-pressure industry.
Two Very Different Paths
Even though they're identical, their adult lives look nothing alike. If you follow the twins from Zack and Cody today, you’re basically following two different industries.
Cole: The Drama King and Photographer
Cole Sprouse came back to acting first, but he didn't go for "lovable twin" roles. He took on Jughead Jones in Riverdale, a moody, dark reimagining of Archie Comics. It ran for seven seasons, cementing him as a leading man in the YA drama world.
But check out his photography. It's actually good. Like, "shoots for Vogue and L'Uomo Vogue" good. He’s spent years building a portfolio that has nothing to do with being a celebrity. He also starred in the 2024 film Lisa Frankenstein, proving he’s leaning into the "weirdo" aesthetic he joked about for years.
Dylan: The Entrepreneur and Brewer
Dylan took a much more "indie" route. He didn't rush back to the screen. Instead, he opened All-Wise Meadery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in 2018. He’s the head "mazer" (a mead-maker).
He told The New York Times that he’d been brewing in his bathtub since he was 16. Now, he’s a CEO of a brand that ships honey wine across the country. He does still act—like in the After movie series or the 2024 film The Duel—but it feels like his side hustle. He’s more likely to be seen at a fashion show with his wife, supermodel Barbara Palvin, whom he married in a gorgeous Hungarian ceremony in 2023.
The Darker Side of the Suite Life
It wasn't all lobby pranks and laugh tracks. We're finally hearing about the friction behind the scenes. Kim Rhodes, who played their mom Carrie Martin, has shared stories about how protective the boys were.
She recently recalled a time when Dylan refused to say a "fat joke" written in the script that targeted her. Even as a kid, he stood up to the writers. That kind of backbone is rare in the Disney machine.
There’s also the "lost" ending. Fans always ask if there was a final episode they missed. The truth is, the story just transitioned. The Suite Life on Deck served as the bridge, moving them from the hotel to a cruise ship (The SS Tipton). When that ended in 2011 with a graduation ceremony, it mirrored the twins' real lives. They were done being Zack and Cody.
E-E-A-T: Why Their Strategy Worked
Most child stars fail because they can't bridge the gap between "cute kid" and "adult professional." The Sprouse twins used the "Gap Year Strategy" (which turned into four years).
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- Education over Exposure: By getting degrees, they gained a "reset button" with the public.
- Niche Interests: Cole’s archaeology and Dylan’s mead-making gave them identities outside of Disney.
- Selective Returns: They didn't take every job. Cole chose a hit series; Dylan chose indie projects and business.
What Most People Get Wrong About Zack and Cody
People often assume they’re exactly like their characters. Zack was the "dumb" jock, and Cody was the "nerd."
In reality? Both graduated from NYU with honors. They are highly articulate, sometimes even coming across as a bit cynical about the industry that made them famous. If you're looking for a reboot, don't hold your breath. Both have said they have no interest in "reheating" the past. They’ve moved on, and honestly, we probably should too.
Your Next Steps: Keeping Up with the Sprouses
If you want to see what the twins from Zack and Cody are doing right now, skip the Disney+ reruns for a second.
- Check out Cole’s photography: Look up his work for Condé Nast Traveler. It’s a genuine look at his eye for composition.
- Try the Mead: If you're over 21, All-Wise Meadery sells online. It’s a legitimate craft business, not just a celebrity-endorsed bottle.
- Watch 'The Duel' or 'Lisa Frankenstein': These 2024 releases show where their acting styles have landed—Dylan in character-driven comedy and Cole in gothic, stylized horror.
The Tipton Hotel is long gone, but the legacy of these two is just starting to get interesting. They're proof that you can grow up in the spotlight without being blinded by it.