Dylan Sprouse Says His Only Suite Life Residual Check Was for Five Cents

Dylan Sprouse says the only residual check he ever received for The Suite Life of Zack and Cody was for five cents. He made the remark in an interview on Phil Lewis' Wildmen podcast, as Variety reported.

A residual is a repeat payment that performers can earn when a show is shown again or reused somewhere new. Sprouse said the five-cent cheque was for a crossover episode with Hannah Montana. For most of the Disney Channel sitcom's run, that kind of payment was the only one he ever saw. Few actors would expect that outcome from a show that ran for years.

Sprouse starred in the series alongside his twin brother, Cole. The show ran from 2005 to 2008, and it spawned a spinoff, The Suite Life on Deck, which aired from 2008 to 2011. Sprouse described the cast as extremely popular but extremely underfunded.

Lewis, who played hotel manager Mr. Moseby, offered an explanation for the low pay. He said the cast's contracts allowed continuous filming within a calendar year to count as one TV season. That arrangement meant the actors avoided the salary increases that typically come with each new season.

For viewers who grew up with the show, the story is a reminder that the money behind a hit is not always visible on screen.