Cole Mitchell Sprouse was born in Arezzo, Italy, to American parents Matthew Sprouse and Melanie Wright, while they were teaching at an English language school in Tuscany.[3] Cole was born 15 minutes after his older twin brother Dylan Sprouse.[4] Cole was named after jazz singer and pianist Nat King Cole.[5][6] Four months after his birth, the family moved back to their parents' native Long Beach, California.[7]