Cole Sprouse

Cole Sprouse is an American actor and photographer. He is widely recognized for his role as Jughead Jones on the hit CW series Riverdale, which ran for seven seasons and cemented his status as a pop culture figure for a new generation. Sprouse also gained significant fame for his earlier work on the Disney Channel, starring as Cody Martin in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and its sequel, which achieved widespread popularity. Beyond acting, he has cultivated a notable career as a photographer, with exhibitions in major cities and a published photo book. Sprouse continues to engage in independent film projects while pursuing his art, distinguishing himself with a thoughtful public persona that resonates with his fanbase.[edit]

Cole Mitchell Sprouse was born on August 4, 1992, in Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy, to American parents. He and his identical twin brother, Dylan, began their acting careers before they could even walk, growing up on television screens to become some of the most recognizable child stars of the 2000s. Their journey into show business was prompted by their grandmother, a drama teacher. At just eight months old, the twins landed their first professional gig: a diaper commercial. To support their burgeoning careers, the family subsequently relocated from Italy to Long Beach, California. This early start quickly led to a recurring role on the ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire, where they shared the part of Patrick Kelly from 1993 to 1998.

Their big-screen debut came in 1999 with Big Daddy, where they played the young Julian alongside Adam Sandler. The film's global success, grossing over $234 million worldwide, firmly placed the twins on Hollywood's radar. Throughout their elementary and middle school years, Cole and Dylan attended Laurel Springs School, an alternative educational program specifically designed to accommodate their demanding filming schedules. Despite their early fame, Cole has consistently described their upbringing as surprisingly normal, attributing this normalcy to his parents' efforts to keep them grounded. Cole first became a household name playing Cody Martin on the immensely popular Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and its sequel, The Suite Life on Deck. These shows ran for nearly a decade, solidifying the Sprouse twins' status as teen idols.

After The Suite Life concluded in 2011, Cole made a deliberate choice to step away from acting. Rather than immediately pursuing more roles, he enrolled at New York University, where he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Archaeology and Humanities, graduating in 2015. This academic break proved to be a defining period in his life, offering him an identity outside of Hollywood and equipping him with a unique skill set that most actors don't possess. During his time at university, Cole also worked as a photographer and briefly considered pursuing photography full-time, a detour that not only gave him fresh perspective but also provided a valuable backup plan.[edit]

Cole Sprouse's breakthrough as an adult actor came in 2017 when he was cast as Jughead Jones on The CW's Riverdale. The role was a dramatic departure from his Disney Channel persona, Jughead was a brooding, intellectual outsider with a dark family history and a signature beanie. The show became a cultural phenomenon, particularly in its early seasons, and Sprouse earned three Teen Choice Awards and two People's Choice Awards for his performance.

In 2018 he starred in Five Feet Apart, a romantic drama about two teenagers with cystic fibrosis. The film grossed over $91 million worldwide on a $7 million budget, proving his drawing power outside television. He followed that with the HBO Max rom-com Moonshot in 2022 and the horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein in 2024. Riverdale concluded in 2023 after seven seasons and 137 episodes.

Since then, Sprouse has shifted his focus toward independent film and his photography career. He has held gallery exhibitions in Los Angeles and New York, and is preparing a photography book titled Moments Between. He is also developing a documentary series about archaeology for a streaming platform, combining his academic background with his creative work.[edit]

Cole Sprouse is often described as the more serious and intellectual half of the Sprouse twins. His public persona is brooding, witty, and self-aware, he leans into the dark aesthetic that Jughead Jones made famous, favoring vintage leather jackets, messy hair, and black-and-white photography. Media profiles consistently frame him as a success story of child-star transition, emphasizing his college degree and photography career as proof of depth.

His fans, sometimes called Sprouse Fans or Sprouse Squad, are highly active on social media. The Bughead fandom, fans of his Riverdale character's relationship with Betty Cooper, remained engaged long after the show ended. On Instagram and Twitter, Sprouse posts dry humor, sarcastic commentary, and photography with minimal captions. He avoids the typical celebrity influencer path, which has earned him respect from audiences who value authenticity over branding.[edit]

Cole Sprouse's fame is a curious thing: it's both massive and, in the eyes of iFANN's Global Fame Engine, currently unranked in the published Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. That's not a slight, it's a reflection of his particular trajectory. He's not a chart-topping musician or a box-office juggernaut; he's a beloved actor-photographer whose renown is woven into the fabric of two generations of pop culture. From the Disney Channel tween years to the brooding halls of Riverdale High, his face is instantly recognizable to millions, yet his name doesn't dominate the algorithmic rankings the way a Taylor Swift or a Dwayne Johnson does. Instead, his fame is quieter, more cultural than statistical.

His fanbase, though, is fiercely devoted, even if it lacks a single, formal name. There's no 'Cole's Crew' or 'Sprousers', fans simply identify as Sprouse fans or, during the Riverdale era, as Bughead shippers, a term that refers to the Jughead-Betty pairing rather than Cole himself. This decentralized fandom has been active since the early 2000s, when forums and LiveJournal communities buzzed with Sprouse twin appreciation. They've organized charity drives in his name, trended hashtags during Riverdale episodes, and crafted endless edits and fan fiction. A running inside joke among them is the eternal mix-up of Cole and Dylan, a gag the twins themselves have leaned into, and one that fans still debate on Reddit, often framing Cole's transformation from nerdy Cody Martin to tattooed Jughead as the ultimate glow-up.

Cole's relationship with his fans is marked by a protective streak, especially when it comes to his fellow Disney Channel alumni. He's been vocal about the industry's mistreatment of female child stars, a stance that has endeared him to many. While he maintains boundaries around his personal life, his dry wit and thoughtful engagement keep the connection alive. In a fame landscape that often feels manufactured, Cole Sprouse's presence is refreshingly genuine, even if the rankings don't quite capture it.[edit]

Cole and Dylan are named after jazz legends, Cole after Nat King Cole, Dylan after Bob Dylan. A trained archaeologist, Cole has participated in digs in Greece and Italy, and he speaks some Italian thanks to his birthplace. He sports a compass tattoo on his forearm, symbolizing his love of travel. A self-taught cook, he takes pride in his lasagna, and his collection of over 50 vintage cameras is a reflection of his photography passion. Despite a fear of heights, he performed his own stunts on Riverdale. He and Dylan were roommates at NYU, living in a dorm together.

One of the most enduring legends from his early career is the story behind his role in Big Daddy (1999), where he and Dylan shared the part of Julian. Fans love to tell how the twins were cast so they could alternate filming hours due to child labor laws, allowing for longer shooting days, a practical solution that became foundational to their lore. Another iconic moment came from his participation in the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, particularly the 2005 recording of 'A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes' and the later 'Circle of Life' cover, both of which have become nostalgic touchstones for fans of that era. More recently, a joke from The Suite Life on Deck about a restaurant called 'Zack and Cody's' came full circle when a real-life restaurant with that name opened in November 2023, delighting fans who saw it as a quirky bit of life imitating art.[edit]

Cole's parents are Matthew Sprouse, a teacher, and Melanie Wright, a writer. They divorced when Cole and Dylan were young. He has a half-brother from his father's second marriage. Cole and Dylan share an unusually close bond, which Cole has described as nearly telepathic. They lived together during college and remain close as adults. Cole currently lives alone in Los Angeles, where he owns a home purchased in 2019. He does not have any pets.[edit]

Cole's most significant professional relationship is with his twin brother Dylan Sprouse, with whom he shared roles for much of his childhood. He worked closely with Lili Reinhart on Riverdale, and their off-screen relationship drew intense fan attention. He has remained friends with Riverdale co-stars KJ Apa and Camila Mendes. Adam Sandler gave him his first film role in Big Daddy. He has worked with photographer and director various on his art projects.[edit]

Cole Sprouse's most high-profile relationship was with Riverdale co-star Lili Reinhart. The two began dating in 2017, shortly after the show premiered, and confirmed their relationship in 2018. They lived together in Los Angeles and were considered one of Hollywood's favorite young couples. The relationship ended in early 2020, though they briefly reconciled during the COVID-19 pandemic before permanently separating by late 2020. Reinhart later described the breakup as heartbreaking.

In mid-2021, Sprouse was linked to model Ari Fournier after they were photographed together in New York, but the connection was brief and never publicly confirmed. In early 2022, rumors circulated that he was dating rapper Megan Thee Stallion after they were seen together at a party; neither party confirmed the relationship, and it was widely considered a brief fling. As of 2026, Cole Sprouse is single and has not been publicly linked to anyone since 2022. He has no children.[edit]

As of 2026, iFANN's editorial analysis places Cole Sprouse's net worth at $11 million. His primary income source during his peak earning years was his salary on Riverdale, where he reportedly earned between $50,000 and $75,000 per episode in later seasons. The show ran for 137 episodes across seven seasons, making it his most lucrative project. His film work has also contributed significantly: Five Feet Apart grossed over $91 million worldwide on a $7 million budget, and his salary for that film was estimated between $500,000 and $1 million. Sprouse has supplemented his acting income with brand partnerships, working with Dior, Coach, and Calvin Klein on various campaigns. His Instagram account, with 24.5 million followers, generates an estimated $15,000 to $25,000 per sponsored post. He also sells fine art prints through his photography brand and has held exhibitions in Los Angeles and New York. In 2019 he purchased a home in Los Angeles for approximately $2.5 million. He has made investments in several startups and cryptocurrency ventures. His net worth has grown steadily since his Riverdale years, though his current focus on independent film and photography means his annual income is lower than during the show's peak.[edit]

Cole Sprouse has won multiple Teen Choice Awards for his role on Riverdale, including Choice TV Actor in 2018 and 2019. He shared a Choice Ship award with Lili Reinhart in 2019. He won back-to-back People's Choice Awards for Male TV Star in 2019 and 2020. At the MTV Movie & TV Awards, he won Best Kiss with Reinhart in 2018 and 2019. He won a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Television Series in 2018. During his Disney years, he won two Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actor. He also won a Young Artist Award with Dylan for Big Daddy.[edit]