Where Is Drake Bell Now? Career, Music, and Life Update

If you frequently quote “Hug me, brotha!” and “Megan…” there’s a good chance you know and love Drake Bell, the teen heartthrob from the early 2000s series Drake & Josh. And you’ve also probably Googled—more times than you’d like to admit—one question: Where is Drake Bell now? While he may not be starring in sitcoms anymore, he’s very much still in the public eye.

Drake Bell’s career and personal life have seen major changes over the years. Now, he spends most of his time touring, performing, creating music, and advocating for child sexual abuse and trauma. He opened up and discussed a lot of this in “Drake and Josh and Ben (Part 1)” and Part 2 from Good Guys, but there’s much more to Drake Bell than headlines.

In this post, we’re taking a closer look at where Drake Bell is now and what he’s been up to over the years. From his Nickelodeon child star days to his most recent projects, personal life, and evolving public narrative, there’s a lot to catch up on. Because, ultimately, Drake’s story most certainly didn’t end after the last episode of Drake & Josh.

Where Is Drake Bell Now? Career, Music, and Life Update

Drake Bell’s career proves one of the most important things: fame might start the story, but it rarely defines its trajectory. To remain in the public eye over two decades later takes grit, talent, and perseverance—all things Drake embodies. (And skills you can learn about from the Tina Cheng episode of The Bossticks!)

Drake stepped away from traditional acting TV roles, with his last major role as Kirk in the 2016 series Grandfathered. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy. Now you can find him pursuing music, film opportunities, and personal narrative projects—all soul-filling ventures that he pours his heart into. And all things he chats with Josh Peck about in “REUNITED! Drake Bell on Touring, Fatherhood, & Life After Nickelodeon.”

But honestly? We’ve just barely scratched the surface. Understanding what Drake Bell is doing now will help paint the full picture of who this star is beyond Nickelodeon fame.

Interested in other child actors’ experiences? We have the perfect episode for you to queue up next. Check out “Jodie Sweetin on Addiction, Full House Childhood Fame, Embracing Her Authentic Self” from The Bossticks.

Who Is Drake Bell?

(Jared) Drake Bell is an actor, singer-songwriter, and musician, notably known for his early breakout roles on Nickelodeon from 1999–2007.  If you’re an OG fan, you’ll remember Drake Bell’s featured, frequent performances on The Amanda Show throughout all 3 seasons. (How could we forget Totally Kyle?!)

No shame if you’re not familiar! Because you definitely remember him from his role as Drake Parker on the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh. Curious about the iconic duo’s relationship now? They break it down in our post, “Drake Bell and Josh Peck Reveal the Painful Misunderstanding That Drove Them Apart.” 

While these two series solidified Drake Bell’s legacy as a household name, his career didn’t stop there. In fact, those early years just boosted his success in voice acting roles and music! Before we get into a total breakdown, here’s an overview of what Drake Bell is most known for:

What Is Drake Bell Known For?

• The Amanda Show. From 1999–2002, Drake Bell was a regular cast member on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show. Most known for his recurring character, Kyle Rotensan, Drake frequently played additional roles in Amanda Bynes’ sketches. (He also often played alongside Josh Peck, another regular cast member throughout seasons 2 and 3!)

• Drake & Josh. It’s no secret that Drake caught the world’s attention from The Amanda Show. Between his perfect comedic timing and high-energy humor, he stood out as an instant favorite. This earned him the role of Drake Parker alongside, yet again, Josh Peck in Drake & Josh. A musically gifted and impulsive teen, Drake was your average “cool guy” character. But that wasn’t why people loved him. Aside from being hilariously relatable, Drake and Josh’s comedic chemistry radiated into every part of the series, making it one of the most popular Nickelodeon sitcoms ever.

• Music and Songwriting. Drake’s musical talents in Drake & Josh weren’t all for show. Drake Bell released his debut studio album, Telegraph, in 2005, and it was just the beginning. Oh, and he sang “Found a Way,” the Drake & Josh theme song. Since then, he’s released 5 studio albums, 3 EPs, 1 live album, and 1 compilation album.

• Voice Acting. Drake’s face may be away from TV screens, but his voice sure isn’t. He voiced plenty of notable characters, like Peter Parker in Disney XD’s Ultimate Spider-Man, Barry in The Nutty Professor, and White Tiger in The Little Penguin Pororo’s Racing Adventure.

• Documentary Appearances. After the ID docuseries, Quiet on Set came out, we unfortunately learned some heartbreaking realities Drake went through as a Nickelodeon teen. Revealing that his dialogue coach, Brian Peck, sexually assaulted him, the world rallied in support for Drake and his story.

What Happened to Drake Bell?

Career Trajectory

After the series finale of Drake & Josh, Drake didn’t throw in the towel and say goodbye to what he built. He did note that he felt a little “thrown to the wolves” without adult mentorship post-Nickelodeon. However, he didn’t let that sidetrack him—he kept his momentum going! Shortly after the show ended in 2007, Drake went straight to other roles. 

Starting strong, he appeared in Superhero Movie (2008) and Rags (2012). Then came 2011, when he starred as Timmy Turner in A Fairly Odd Movie: Don’t Grow Up, Timmy Turner! (2011). He also maintained consistent voice acting roles, notably appearing as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Ultimate Spider-Man.

All while maintaining TV appearances, whether in person or via audio, Drake was also dedicated to his music career. He released It’s Only Time in 2006, Ready Steady Go! in 2014, and The Lost Album in 2020. His latest album, Non-Stop Flight, came out in 2024. He’s actually been promoting it throughout his recent tour!

As of 2024, Drake left Los Angeles and has since spent the majority of his time in Mexico. Originally visiting to record his album,Not Stop Flight, he garnered a huge fan base in Mexico. As a result, he’s since rebranded as a Latin-pop artist. If you’re ready to hear all about it, tune into THIS part of Drake’s conversation about tour on Good Guys.

Financial and Media Revelations

Here’s a super common question that always pops up: Does Drake Bell get residuals from Drake & Josh? And, as he’s pretty open about, the answer is a solid no. Compared to series like Friends, where actors still earn a HEFTY chunk of change all these years later, Drake’s been outspoken about how they “don’t get a dime.”

And this is extremely common with Nickelodeon stars. Naturally, this has been a huge source of frustration for Drake. He’s opened up about how, even though large streaming platforms feature reruns of the series, he went through a period of struggling to pay rent. 

Personal Life and Legal Context

Drake Bell’s life hasn’t always been TV appearances and worldwide touring. He’s also had his fair share of personal life and legal issues—all of which appeared on news stories and headlines.

Starting in August 2020, Melissa Lingafelt (Jimi Ono), Drake Bell’s ex-girlfriend, accused him of both verbal and physical abuse. After she posted a TikTok stating that the abuse occurred from 2006 to 2009, Drake publicly denied these accusations. 

However, things didn’t end there. In July 2021, Bell was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to charges of attempted child endangerment and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. At this time, Drake was sending “inappropriate social media messages” to a 15-year-old. He apologized during the hearing, acknowledging that he was wrong but stating that any further physical abuse allegations weren’t true.

Shortly after, in 2023, Drake Bell and his then-wife, Janet Von Schmeling, divorced, citing “irreconcilable differences.” They’ve since maintained a cordial, amicable, and peaceful co-parenting relationship, prioritizing their son’s happiness and well-being.

2024 marked the release of the Investigation Discovery docuseries, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. This five-party documentary detailed the toxic, manipulative, and abusive environment many Nickelodeon stars faced throughout filming different series. This is the platform on which Drake Bell announced he was sexually abused by his former Nickelodeon dialogue coach, Brian Peck.

After sharing his story, the world rallied around him in an uproar. Former colleagues expressed their support, others shared their regret for not being there for him. But since then, Drake said that sharing his story, while difficult, was healing, relieving, and, naturally, emotional.

Learn more about what he experienced behind the scenes in “The Truth with Drake Bell” from Live From Bed.

What Is Drake Bell Doing Now?

Drake Bell’s been in the public eye for almost three decades, and we’ve seen many of his ups and downs. However, there’s so much more to him than what he’s been through. Here’s everything Drake’s dedicating his time to now:

Music and Touring

Music has always and will always be one of Drake Bell’s biggest creative outlets. Over the years, he’s dedicated himself to performing live and connecting with fans who grew up with his early 2000s hits. These days, though? His musician era looks a little different. On Good Guys, Drake said he used to be able to “burn the candle at both ends.” Now, not so much. 

Drake has openly discussed how fatherhood plays a HUGE role in shaping his schedule. After recently finishing a 91-show run, he tries really hard to balance being a present parent while also being on the road. While the pace may have shifted, his priorities remain the same.

He’s not the only one, though! Tune into DWTS, Peta Murgatroyd, talk all about parenthood and touring on Lipstick on the Rim. 

Acting and Creative Projects

We’ve mentioned a handful of times already that Drake’s spent a significant amount of time out of the TV spotlight. But that doesn’t mean it’s a permanent decision. In previous interviews, Drake hinted at the fact that he’s interested in exploring new creative formats.

More specifically, he said his dream project is to collaborate with Josh Peck again, creating a Curb Your Enthusiasm-esque show together. He was super specific about not labeling it “just another reboot,” as it’d be a totally different format and vibe. But still! Who wouldn’t love to see these two back in action? 

Nobody’s actually put anything into motion or made any announcements, though. But a cultural nod to the duo we all grew up with and loved so much? Let us know when and where, and we’ll be there.

Public Presence and Persona

While Drake Bell may be out of the TV and acting limelight, he’s still completely present in modern-day media. In interviews and podcasts, Drake has spoken candidly about his experiences in the entertainment industry.

Each conversation tends to feel reflective, open, and 100% authentic. Think: discussions about the abuse he endured, conversations about sobriety, and chats about recovery. Through every topic, he takes a very honest and accountable approach. And for many fans, that level of transparency has become a defining part of their continued love for Drake Bell.

Tune into “What Do You ACTUALLY Value?” from What We Said for more about the ever-changing world of cancel culture.

Personal Life

Outside of his professional work, Drake Bell has been super open about the effects that fatherhood has had on his priorities. While peacefully co-parenting his son, he’s still navigating, changing, and altering his schedule to show up as a present parent.

And while his decision to proceed with filing for divorce garnered media attention and tabloid headlines, this is hardly scandalous. Drake Bell and his ex-wife, Janet Von Schmeling, have been having an on-again, off-again conversation about divorce for years. Although they finalized the decision in 2025, they both state that it’s from a place of love and respect.

Drake Bell is doing exactly what he’s always done: creating, evolving, and figuring things out along the way.

Being in the public eye is hard, especially if you’ve been a household name since you were 12 years old. For Drake Bell, his career has been a candid example of how growing up in the spotlight rarely follows a straight line. It’s challenging, it’s complex, and it’s bound to get a little messy. But throughout everything he’s gone through, he’s not letting his past define him. He’s determined, talented, and still committed to creating projects that shaped his career in the first place.

Looking for updates on some of your other favorite celebs and influencers? Head to the Dear Media blog! From how MrBeast became so popular to what Chelsea Handler’s doing now, we do the deep dives so you can sit back, read, and enjoy. And, of course, you can’t miss out on tuning into our incredible collection of Dear Media podcasts. From noteworthy interviews to advice you can’t find anywhere else, you won’t want to miss out!