Disney Channel alum Dylan Sprouse is likening his early acting career to \u201cchild labor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome kids used to work in coal mines and guard the mine cart door when they were 15, we just sang and danced. It\u2019s still child labor,\u201d Sprouse, 34, said on Tuesday\u2019s episode<\/a> of the \u201cWildmen\u201d podcast.<\/p>\n The \u201cSuite Life of Zack & Cody\u201d alum went on to compare his years as a child actor to working a full-time office job.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve described this to people a lot before, when you\u2019re working on television, it\u2019s a day job. You go in, you clock in, you clock out, you have a cubicle, you work, obviously, you\u2019re on a stage, and it\u2019s different, but it\u2019s the same hours. You work it like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Cole and Dylan Sprouse, shown above on an episode of \u201cThe Suite Life of Zack and Cody,\u201d starred on the Disney Channel from 2005 until 2011. \u00a9Disney Channel\/courtesy Everett<\/p>\n Sprouse, pictured above, called his early acting days \u201cchild labor,\u201d and explained he is still experiencing \u201cmental hurdles\u201d as he continues to work in the same field. \u00a9Disney Channel\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n He said wrapping a TV production would then leave him with \u201cthis void,\u201d explaining that his self-esteem became closely tied to his ability to continue working and being on set.<\/p>\n Sprouse admitted to co-host Brendan Columbus that he\u2019s still dealing with some of the \u201cbulls\u2013t\u201d and \u201cmental hurdles\u201d from that era.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sprouse, who married model Barbara Palvin<\/a> in 2023, broached the topic while discussing guest Mark Indelicato, who similarly entered the industry at a young age, rising to fame on ABC\u2019s \u201cUgly Betty\u201d when he was just 12.<\/p>\n \u201cI definitely want to dive in and talk with him a little bit about some of that, how he\u2019s coped growing up in the industry because, essentially, we\u2019re beating around the bush, but it\u2019s child labor,\u201d Sprouse said.<\/p>\n Sprouse reflected on his child acting days with former \u201cUgly Betty\u201d star Mark Indelicato. The two discussed their similar experiences on the \u201cWildmen\u201d podcast, shown above. wildmen podcast\/ YouTube<\/p>\n Sprouse married model Barbara Palvin, in 2023, and the two are expecting their first child together. They are shown above at a Raising Cane\u2019s event during the FIFA World Cup in June. Getty Images for Raising Cane’s<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Once he entered the chat, Indelicato agreed with a lot of Sprouse\u2019s sentiments \u2014 especially his comment about self-esteem being tied to his work as a child, saying it\u2019s something not many people would be able to understand.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to grapple with the reality of our lived experience, as does everyone, but I think what makes it a little bit different is that most people do not have our lived experience,\u201d Indelicato said. <\/p>\n \u201cSo we have to keep each other close as a means of being able to lament to people who understand.\u201d<\/p>\n Sprouse, who starred on the hit Disney Channel show alongside his twin brother, Cole, admitted he was lucky to have his brother by his side as they dealt with the highs and lows that came with their profession, and is grateful to be able to lean on fellow former child stars<\/a> like Indelicato in adulthood.<\/p>\n Sprouse explained he was fortunate to share his experience with his brother, Cole, and fellow former child actors. They are shown above during an episode of \u201cThe Suite Life of Zack and Cody.\u201d \u00a9Disney Channel\/courtesy Everett<\/p>\n The Sprouse brothers starred in several projects, including \u201cBig Daddy,\u201d shown above, before landing on Disney Channel. \u00a9Columbia Pictures\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n Prior to landing their Disney gigs, Dylan and Cole shared the same role in projects like \u201cBig Daddy\u201d and \u201cGrace Under Fire.\u201d<\/p>\n Both continue to act, with Cole notably starring on The CW\u2019s \u201cRiverdale.\u201d<\/p>\n Dylan is expecting his first child with Palvin, and previously stated on the \u201cTea Time\u201d podcast<\/a> he wouldn\u2019t prevent his kids from acting.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t