You probably recognize Cole Hauser from his role on "Yellowstone," but where have
you seen his wife before? Here's why Cynthia Daniel might look familiar.
Cynthia's first gig as an actor came after years of success as a model. From signing
with the Ford Agency at 11 years old, Cynthia and her twin sister Brittany found their way
into magazines such as Seventeen and YM. However, it wasn't until 1989 that the two
flexed their acting muscles on the "Leave It to Beaver" spinoff, "The New Leave It to Beaver."
They made their acting debut in the episode titled "Man's Greatest Achievements."
The episode follows Beaver Cleaver's son, Oliver, drowning in the woes of procrastination. As he
tries to write a school paper about "man's greatest achievements," he imagines several
random scenarios that take his mind off his assignment — like turning into a werewolf
and playing for the Kansas City Royals. In one particular dream, Oliver imagines himself saving
a hooded two-headed alien princess played by none other than Cynthia and Brittany Daniel.
What better way to advertise Doublemint gum than to have sets of twins appear in
your advertisements? For Wrigley's, this appeared to be a long-running concept.
In 1939, illustrated ads with twins began to circulate. As the company gained popularity,
this became a rite of passage for many twins breaking into the entertainment industry.
Cynthia and Brittany Daniel followed in their footsteps and found their
way into Wrigley's promotional cycle in the 1990s.
If you didn't recognize Cynthia Daniel from her ventures as a Doublemint gum connoisseur, maybe
you'd remember her portrayal as the good-natured Elizabeth Wakefield in the book-turned-TV
series "Sweet Valley High." Similar to another twin-sister sitcom, "Sister, Sister" — which first
aired the same year as "Sweet Valley High" — the show followed twin sisters adjusting to everyday
life. While Cynthia played the more responsible twin, her sister Brittany played the more
rebellious one — oftentimes getting herself into trouble that'd require the help of her sister.
The success of "Sweet Valley High" gave the twins four seasons of sitcom work.
According to the duo, they auditioned for the role when they were very young.
"We actually auditioned for the part when we were 13 years old. And, randomly,
the long story short is five years later we ended up getting the part."
Cynthia added in the same interview,
"We didn't believe them. They were like, 'You got the part!' and we were like, 'Are you sure?'"
Unfortunately, in 1997 the show was canceled due to poor ratings. Fans blamed the transition
from Fox to UPN for its premature demise, and the show remains beloved. However,
reports suggest that a possible reboot is no longer in development.
Cynthia and Brittany Daniel made an appearance on the short-lived revival of "Burke's Law" in
1994. Similar to "Leave It to Beaver," "Burke's Law" was an influential series
that aired from 1963 to 1966. Creators produced a revival almost 30 years later.
Though the reboot was short-lived, it saw the notable sisters play twin
defendants. In the episode "Who Killed the Legal Eagle," the plot
followed Chief Amos Burke's son, Peter, tackling a murder case.
In need of specific documentation, Peter seeks out John Ramsey — who happens to be the defense
attorney for Ginny and Jenny, played by the twins. Their separate story revolves around
Jenny being prosecuted for an alleged crime while other eyewitnesses reported that she was spotted
blocks away from where the crime took place. With a little "twin-ception," Ramsey backs up
his claim of reasonable doubt by revealing her twin sister, Ginny, in the courtroom.
Cynthia Daniel remained busy during her run in "Sweet Valley High." In 1995,
the twins made their film debut. And they were lucky enough to share the
spotlight with a notable legend in the making, Leonardo DiCaprio.
Cynthia and Brittany Daniel played Winkie and Blinkie in the 1995 biographical drama "The
Basketball Diaries." The film is a harrowing tale about musician Jim Carroll and his battle
with drug addiction. Although Cynthia's role in the movie was brief, she and her sister played
a major part in the story. After Carroll's friend, Neutron, invites him to Winkie and
Blinkie's house, the twins introduce him to cocaine — which starts his downward spiral.
From its short-lived McSalad Shaker to the Angus Third Pounder, McDonald's has had a lot of ideas
fall by the wayside over the years. This isn't to say that they never had their fair share of
accomplishments. Items such as the snack wrap and baked apple pie were favorites of consumers. One
made its way onto the menu in 1997 with the help of Cynthia and Brittany Daniel.
McDonald's unveiled its new McDouble burger in 1997. The fast-food company sought out twins
to add to their commercials for the new meal. The 30-second promotional video centered around
Eddie the Echo going on a golf date and getting McDonald's right after. As his name suggests,
Eddie spoke in an echo-like manner, repeating anything he said twice.
The twist of the commercial sees his dates,
Cynthia and Brittany Daniel, appear briefly to say their own goodbyes.
Cynthia Daniel's success in "Sweet Valley High" not only allowed her and her sister
to book gigs in films and commercials, but also travel overseas to appear on British
television. In the '90s, channels such as BBC One aired several children's shows that
rivaled the likes of "Barney & Friends." One popular British show was "Live & Kicking."
Our favorite duo made a cameo in its fourth season. In a segment
called "Art For'em" they play a game in which they look at "twin
paintings" and decide which one is the original, and which is the copy.
In need of some assistance, Neal and Hickson prompt the Daniel twins to come out — and
they accidentally suggest that one twin is the good one (the original) while the other is the
bad one (the fake). As the "Sweet Valley High" actors grow tired of the hosts' sense of humor,
Neal and Hickson end their awkward segment by rolling on the floor.
"No, really, you guys look great down there."
After "Sweet Valley High" met its demise after four seasons, Cynthia Daniel chose to become a
photographer, while her twin sister went on to star in more films and sitcoms. Cynthia,
however, used her celebrity status to promote a number of products.
In 1998, James Garner had Cynthia show viewers how easy it was to use the directory assistance
service 10-10-9000. In 1999, Sony used her photograph to unveil a new Sony MiniDisc Recorder.
In 2001, she teamed up with Bioré to show how she takes off her makeup with their cleansing wipes.
Cynthia seemingly kept herself busy following her departure from "Sweet
Valley High." Although she stated that she wanted to step away from acting altogether,
it seems that she was still very present on the television screen in the late '90s to early 2000s.
While Cynthia went on to tackle photography,
Brittany appeared in several films and series ranging from "Dawson's Creek" to "Joe Dirt."
"Hey, there's my buddy."
In 2002, Brittany stumbled upon a great opportunity to star alongside a cast of future
acting icons in "That '70s Show." In what's known as one of their more iconic episodes, "Eric's Hot
Cousin," Brittany Daniel played Eric Forman's bitter cousin, Penny, who suddenly "got hot."
"Eric, do I have to tell you to stop staring at your cousin? Stop staring at your cousin."
In the same year, the creators of "That '70s Show" attempted to recreate its magic with a
spinoff titled "That '80s Show." Unfortunately, they couldn't quite capture the same lightning
in the bottle, and it was met with poor reviews, ultimately getting canceled after
one season. However, the show didn't end without Cynthia and Brittany making an appearance.
In the episode "Sophia's Depressed," Brittany plays a bitter sibling who isn't happy with her
sister getting engaged. Throughout the episode, she puts down her sister's appearance while her
friends console her. In the credits scene, Sophia gloats about how she feels better because Bianca
is going through a breakup. Bianca walks in — revealing that the two are identical twins.
Since becoming a mother of three, Cynthia Daniel has since left her acting career mostly in the
past. Her twin sister went on to appear in notable sitcoms such as "It's Always Sunny
in Philadelphia," "The Game," and "Black-ish," while Cynthia became a full-time mother and wife.
The two, however, still stayed in contact to pursue business ventures together — like
their lifestyle blog Sweet Collection, where the duo uploaded online content ranging from
at-home workout routines to recipes. Though it seemed like Cynthia wouldn't make her return
to the big screen, an Instagram post in 2021 revealed their big plans for 2022.
Cynthia and Brittany joined Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff in the modern
remake of Disney's "Cheaper by the Dozen." The story follows the Bakers,
a blended family of 12, as they juggle home life along with professional careers.
"Tadaa!"
"Luna, strong choice… just take off one thing." "Alright… solid advice."
Cynthia and Brittany Daniel played investors known
as the "Malibu Barbies," Michele and Melanie. The two show interest
in turning Paul Baker's restaurant into a franchise. Despite the big opportunity,
Paul's family life started to crumble as his wife, Zoey Baker, pushes back against the idea.
As the main antagonists, the twins try to morph Paul's original idea for his franchise
into their own, which ultimately leads to Paul walking away from the deal, realizing
that family should always come first. What's next for Cynthia Daniel? Only time will tell.