For millions of Disney Channel fans, Dylan Sprouse had the kind of childhood that probably looked like a dream.
He and his twin brother, Cole Sprouse, became household names through “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” spending years as two of Disney Channel’s most recognizable young stars.
But Dylan remembers those years differently.
Now 34, Sprouse is opening up about the realities of working as a child actor. He says some of the mental challenges connected to that experience have followed him well into adulthood.
Dylan Sprouse Gets Candid About Childhood Fame
During an appearance on the “Wildmen” podcast, Sprouse compared his childhood acting career to having a regular full-time job.
While the setting may have been a television stage rather than an office, Sprouse explained that actors still had to show up, put in the hours, and complete their work.
“You go in, you clock in, you clock out,” Sprouse said.
The major difference was that Sprouse was doing it as a child.
He didn't avoid that reality when discussing the entertainment industry, either. At one point, Sprouse directly described childhood acting as “child labor.”
“Some kids used to work in coal mines and guard the mine cart door when they were 15, we just sang and danced. It’s still child labor,” he said.
The Effects Didn't End When Work Stopped
Sprouse also revealed how working from such an early age affected the way he viewed himself.
When a television production ended, Sprouse said he could experience a “void.” His self-esteem had become closely connected to working and being on a set.
Years later, he acknowledged that he's still dealing with some of the “mental hurdles” created during that period.
That's a considerably different perspective from the one Disney Channel viewers saw on television.
“The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” turned Dylan and Cole into major young stars. However, Dylan's comments offer a reminder that the people appearing in those shows were also children working professional schedules.
His Brother Helped Him Through the Experience
Dylan wasn't completely alone while navigating childhood fame.
He said he feels fortunate that Cole experienced it alongside him. Having his twin brother there gave Dylan someone who understood exactly what life inside the entertainment industry was like.
Sprouse has also found common ground with other former child actors.
During the podcast, he spoke with former “Ugly Betty” actor Mark Indelicato, who began working in Hollywood at a young age. Indelicato agreed that people who didn't grow up in the industry may struggle to fully understand the experience.
Despite his complicated feelings, Sprouse hasn't walked away from acting. Cole also continued his career, most notably starring on “Riverdale.”
And Dylan isn't completely opposed to his own children potentially following the same path.
Sprouse, who is expecting his first child with wife Barbara Palvin, previously said he wouldn't prevent his children from acting.
Still, his latest comments make one thing clear.
When Sprouse looks back at his Disney Channel years, he doesn't simply remember fame and success. He remembers being a kid who was also going to work.
