Cynthia Daniel

Cynthia Daniel’s name may not be familiar, but the face just might be. The problem with that is, you just might be looking at her twin sister, actress Brittany Daniel. Then again, she may be familiar because she too was an actor. And now she is the wife of one of the more popular actors on the planet, Cole Hauser, better known as Yellowstone’s Rip Wheeler.

Sister to a twin and wife to a popular actor, but that isn’t everything Cynthia Daniel is about. She is also the mother of three children. So, let’s see what more we can find out about this former teen star.

CYNTHIA DANIEL IS 46 YEARS OLD AND HER TWIN IS BRITTANY DANIEL

Cynthia Daniel was born on March 17, 1976, in Gainesville, Florida, and is five minutes younger than Brittany. Before she was even a teenager, Cynthia and her sister began modeling. They signed a contract with the Ford Agency and eventually appeared in Sassy and YM magazines. As they got a little older, they began to appear as the Doublemint Twins for Doublemint gum.

CYNTHIA DANIEL GAINED FAME WITH SWEET VALLEY HIGH

When it comes to show business, Cynthia Daniel’s acting career ended 20 years ago – or so she thought it did. Daniel started her career back in 1989 on an episode of The New Leave It to Beaver show. In fact, her sister Brittany also made her debut on that show. It would be another five years before Cynthia would be seen on television again.

In 1994, Cynthia Daniel and her sister were cast in the television series, Sweet Valley High. The series was based on a book series of the same name that was written by Francine Pascal. Believe it or not, Pascal’s Sweet Valley High series covers 143 books.

The series ran from 1994-1997 and had Cynthia and Brittany Daniel play the Wakefield Twins. Cynthia Daniel portrayed Liz Wakefield, the quiet, sensible, and down-to-earth twin, while Brittany played Jess, the party-loving, outgoing, fashionable, and wilder of the twins. After four seasons and 88 episodes, the series came to an end.

During her time on Sweet Valley High, Cynthia Daniel appeared in her one feature film. This was the 1995 drama, The Basketball Diaries, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and told the true story of Jim Carroll, a high school basketball player who had a heroin habit. Cynthia and Brittany played twins Winkie and Blinkie who DiCaprio’s character meets at a party.

When Sweet Valley High was canceled after four seasons, Cynthia decided to step away from acting. She retired, coming out once in 2002 to star, with her sister, in an episode of That ‘80s Show. Cynthia had her sights on a brand-new career.

CYNTHIA DANIEL IS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

It didn’t take Cynthia Daniel long to figure out what she wanted as a career after retiring from acting. Instead of being in front of the camera, she decided she wanted to be behind it. Only this camera was much smaller than a movie camera.

Daniel decided she loved photography, so she began a career as a photographer. Soon Cynthia was able to call herself a professional photographer and she even started her own business, Five Arrows Photography.

On her “About” page, Daniel explains why photography is so meaningful to her. “I would absolutely classify myself a ‘sun chaser’. If I could bottle dreamy late afternoon sunlight with a whole lot of laughter I would…still trying.”

She ended her “About” section with, “I hope to create with you one day soon. Let the story unfold in our adventure.” This is something Cynthia Daniel has lived up to. On her website, Cynthia provides examples of her keen photographic eye.

On her home page, Cynthia Daniel includes links to her different works that include Family, Babies & Pregnancy, Lookbook, Love, Lifestyle, and Celebrities. The Celebrities link will take you to the different celebrities she has photographed and one in particular, who just so happens to be her husband, appears in quite a few of them.

CYNTHIA DANIEL IS MARRIED TO YELLOWSTONE’S COLE HAUSER

Cynthia Daniel knew Cole Hauser long before they married. The two met in the 1990s and married in 2006. 16 years of marriage has brought three children, though they had their first child, Ryland, before they married.

Colt Daniel came four years later in 2008, and their daughter, Steely Rose, was born in 2013.

Cynthia Daniel has taken her husband’s Yellowstone fame in stride. It hasn’t been easy, but it certainly has been lasting. Hauser told PEOPLE in 2020, “We’ve been together for 25 years. Through so many wonderful ups and downs as relationships do. We’ve stayed strong together and just battled through everything and still love each other.”

This love is never more evident in the many posts Cynthia Daniel makes to her Instagram.

SHE DONATED AN EGG FOR HER SISTER TO CONCEIVE A CHILD

If there is one thing Cynthia Daniel is not shy about is the tight bond she has with her sister. She proved there is nothing she wouldn’t do for her when Brittany was diagnosed with stage IV non—Hodgkin lymphoma in 2011. With the diagnosis, Brittany was told she might not be able to conceive her own children because of the intensive chemotherapy she would be going through. So Cynthia chose to donate one of her eggs to help Brittany conceive.

“I saw it as such a simple gift I could give to her,” she said at the time. “I know Brittany would do it in a split second for me. And we’ve always shared everything, so why not this?” The amazing gift paid off because not only did Brittany win her battle, but she and her husband Adam welcomed their daughter Hope on October 21, 2021.

SHE RUNS A LIFESTYLE BLOG AND WAS ON DISNEY’S CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN REBOOT

Cynthia Daniel continues to take pictures professionally. She also runs a lifestyle blog with Brittany called Sweet Collection XO that talks about everything from recipes, fashion and beauty, and even photography tips from the pro herself.

Daniel is very active on social media, consistently posting to her personal Instagram as well as her and Brittany’s Instagram. She also makes an appearance on her husband’s Instagram.

One of the more surprising developments for Cynthia Daniel came this year when she stepped in front of the movie camera after being away for 20 years. It was for the Disney+ remake of Cheaper by the Dozen that was led by Zach Braff and Gabrielle Union and guess who appeared right alongside Cynthia? You guessed it, her sister Brittany.