It’s been twenty years. Think about that. Two decades since a pair of blond twins turned the Tipton Hotel into a chaotic, lobby-sliding playground. If you were a kid in 2005, Zack and Cody Cole Sprouse weren't just actors on a screen; they were basically your best friends who happened to live in a five-star hotel with a candy counter and a very stressed-out manager named Mr. Moseby.
But let's be real for a second. Most child stars don't survive the transition to adulthood with their dignity—or their bank accounts—intact.
Cole Sprouse did something different. He didn't just fade away or go on a reality show. He left. He chose a life that involved dirt, old rocks, and high-end cameras instead of the relentless flashbulbs of Hollywood. Honestly, his path from the hyper-intelligent Cody Martin to a literal archaeologist and then back to being a TV heartthrob is probably the most interesting "second act" in modern entertainment.
The Disney Days and the Truth About Cody Martin
Most people remember Cody as the "smart one." You know, the kid who wore sweaters, studied for fun, and tried to keep his brother Zack from destroying the hotel lobby. But if you look back at Zack and Cody Cole Sprouse during that era, the reality was way more intense than a 22-minute sitcom suggests.
Cole has been pretty open lately about how much he doesn't remember. He’s called his time on the show a "big blur." When you're filming hundreds of episodes back-to-back, years of your life turn into an amorphous blob of memories.
Why the show actually matters (even now)
It wasn't just about the laughs. The Suite Life of Zack & Cody was a massive financial safety net for the Sprouse family. Cole recently shared on the Call Her Daddy podcast that the show was "life-saving." His family had lost a lot of the money from his early career (think Big Daddy and Friends) due to his mother’s financial struggles. Disney provided stability.
But it came with a price. By the time the spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck, was winding down in 2011, the twins were done. They wanted creative control. They pitched a third series where they would produce and have a say in the story. Disney said no. So, they walked.
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Just like that. One of the biggest brands in the world, and they just shut the door.
The NYU Years: Archaeology and "Normalcy"
Imagine being one of the most famous teenagers on the planet and deciding to spend your twenties digging in the dirt. That’s exactly what Cole did. He moved to New York City, enrolled at NYU, and studied archaeology and geographic information systems (GIS).
He wasn't just "playing" at being a student. He was doing the work.
- Satellite Imaging: He specialized in using satellites to find archaeological sites.
- Excavations: He spent summers on actual digs in Europe and Asia.
- The Lab: After graduating in 2015, he actually worked in a lab in Brooklyn, processing artifacts.
He’s mentioned that he felt like an "automaton" at Disney. He needed to know if he could exist as a person without a script in his hand. Turns out, he could. He was just a guy in a lab when the script for Riverdale landed on his desk.
The Riverdale Era: Rebranding a Legacy
When Cole was cast as Jughead Jones in 2017, the internet lost its mind. This wasn't the goofy, burger-eating Jughead from the 1940s comics. This was a "weirdo" in a crown beanie who lived in a drive-in theater and narrated the dark secrets of a town obsessed with maple syrup and murder.
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It worked. For seven seasons, Cole redefined himself. He wasn't just "the kid from the hotel" anymore. He was an adult actor with a massive following.
But even through the peak Riverdale years, he kept a foot out the door. He leaned into his photography, shooting for Vogue, W, and Teen Vogue. He even started a "Camera Duels" Instagram account to photograph the fans who were secretly trying to photograph him. It’s that dry, slightly cynical humor that makes him feel more human than your average A-lister.
What’s Happening in 2026?
As of right now, Cole is leaning into darker, more prestigious territory. The "Disney kid" label is almost entirely gone, replaced by a reputation for being a character actor who isn't afraid to look a little unpolished.
- The Rivals of Amziah King: This is the big one. Scheduled for wide release in August 2026, it’s a crime thriller starring Matthew McConaughey. Cole is part of a cast that includes Kurt Russell and Owen Teague. People who saw it at festivals are already calling it one of his best performances—it’s a far cry from the Tipton Hotel.
- I Wish You All the Best: This project is a screen adaptation of the Mason Deaver novel. It shows he's still interested in stories that actually mean something to his younger audience, even as he moves into "prestige" film.
Why We Are Still Obsessed
The fascination with Zack and Cody Cole Sprouse exists because they represent the "good" outcome. We’ve seen so many child stars struggle, but the Sprouse twins seem... okay?
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They’re weird. They’re opinionated. They clearly don't care about the traditional Hollywood "rules." Cole is currently obsessed with pickling things (yes, really) and talking about "lantern consciousness." He’s a 33-year-old man who has lived several lifetimes already.
Lessons from the Sprouse Playbook
If you’re looking for a takeaway from his career path, it’s basically this:
- Know when to walk away. If the "machine" is making you feel like a robot, leave. Even if it's a multi-million dollar machine.
- Get a real skill. Archaeology gave Cole a perspective that most actors lack. It made him interesting.
- Own your past. He doesn't hate Cody Martin. He just doesn't want to be him anymore.
How to Keep Up With Cole in 2026
If you want to see what he’s actually up to—beyond the tabloids—follow his photography. It’s where his "real" voice comes through. Check out his work in L'Uomo Vogue or his personal archives. And if you’re feeling nostalgic, both Suite Life series are still on Disney+. Just don't expect him to remember the lines as well as you do.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the trailer for The Rivals of Amziah King to see his transition into grit.
- Explore his photography portfolio on his official site to understand his visual style.
- Follow his @camera_duels account for a masterclass in handling fame with humor.