What Happened to Cole Mitchell Sprouse?

Cole Mitchell Sprouse began his acting career at a remarkably young age, often sharing roles with his twin brother, Dylan Sprouse. Their early work included the sitcom 'Grace Under Fire' (1993–1998) and the hit Adam Sandler film 'Big Daddy' (1999). Cole gained individual recognition for his role as Ben Geller, Ross's son, in the popular sitcom 'Friends'. However, it was their starring roles as Cody and Zack Martin in the Disney Channel series 'The Suite Life of Zack & Cody' (2005–2008) and its spin-off 'The Suite Life on Deck' (2008–2011) that cemented their status as teen idols.

Following their Disney Channel success, both brothers took a significant hiatus from acting to attend New York University. Cole pursued a degree in Geographic Information Systems in archaeology, graduating in 2015. During this period, he also cultivated a keen interest in photography, undertaking assignments for major fashion publications. This break allowed him to re-evaluate his career path and gain a sense of normalcy away from the spotlight.

Sprouse made a highly anticipated return to acting in 2017, landing the role of Jughead Jones in The CW's dark teen drama 'Riverdale,' based on the Archie Comics. The series ran until 2023 and brought him widespread critical acclaim and a new generation of fans, showcasing his dramatic acting abilities. During his 'Riverdale' tenure, he also starred in the romantic drama 'Five Feet Apart' (2019) and the sci-fi rom-com 'Moonshot' (2022). He also produced and starred in the podcast 'Borrasca' in 2020, which received a second season in 2022.

Since the conclusion of 'Riverdale,' Sprouse has focused on expanding his filmography with more diverse roles. In 2024, he starred as The Creature in the horror-comedy 'Lisa Frankenstein'. Looking ahead to 2025 and 2026, he has several projects in the pipeline, including 'I Wish You All the Best' (2025) as Thomas, 'The Rivals of Amziah King' (2026) where he co-stars with Kurt Russell, and 'The Long Haul' (2026). He is also slated for 'Goodbye Girl' (2027) and two projects titled 'Undercover' (TBA).

In his personal life, Cole Sprouse was in a high-profile relationship with his 'Riverdale' co-star Lili Reinhart from 2018 to March 2020. He then began dating model Ari Fournier in January 2021. Their relationship was publicly acknowledged, and they were last photographed together in April 2025. However, reports in June 2026 indicated that Fournier had quietly split from Sprouse and was dating someone else, suggesting their relationship ended sometime between April 2025 and early 2026. In May 2026, his twin brother Dylan Sprouse and wife Barbara Palvin announced they were expecting their first child, making Cole an uncle, a role he expressed excitement about.