The Sprouses were born in Arezzo, Italy. Their parents are Matthew Sprouse and Melanie Wright. Their parents are American, but they were teaching at an English language school in Tuscany when Dylan and Cole were born. Dylan is named after the poet Dylan Thomas. Dylan is 15 minutes older than Cole. Cole is named after jazz singer and pianist Nat King Cole. The boys moved back to the United States four months after their birth. They grew up in Long Beach, California, where their parents had lived. Their parents divorced in 1997.