Drake Bell.Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Getty
Drake Bellis best known for his role on the hit Nickelodeon seriesDrake & Josh, but in recent years, the actor has made headlines for his multiple controversies.
The actor first got his start in the entertainment industry in the early 1990s with roles onHome ImprovementandSeinfeld, before eventually booking his breakout role onThe Amanda Showalongside starAmanda Bynes.
Shortly after the series ended, Bell and his costar Josh Peck landed the lead roles inDrake & Josh, in which they played teenage stepsiblings who were complete opposites.
Read ahead for a timeline of his ups and downs through the years.
1994: Drake Bell makes his first television appearance onHome Improvement
1999-2002: Drake Bell stars onThe Amanda Show
Nickelodeon Network/ Courtesy: Everett Collection
In 1999, Bell joined the cast ofThe Amanda Show, starringAll Thatalum Amanda Bynes, as a featured performer. He was on the series until its cancellation in 2002, but stayed in the Nickelodeon family.
2004-2007: Drake Bell stars onDrake & Josh
Josh Peck and Drake Bell.Nickelodeon
Shortly afterThe Amanda Show, Bell was cast in a brand-new series titledDrake & Joshalongside his former costar Josh Peck. The series, which centered around Bell and Peck as teenage stepbrothers, ran for four seasons until 2007 and received numerous Kids' Choice Awards during its run. In addition to starring on the show, Bell also wrote and performed the show’s opening theme song “I Found a Way.”
2011: Drake Bell stars inA Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!
Nickelodeon / Everett Collection
Bell continued to appear in Nickelodeon series throughout the 2010s, includingZoey 101, Victorious andiCarly, the latter of which starred his formerDrake & Joshcostar Miranda Cosgrove.
February 2014: Drake Bells files for bankruptcy
June 2017: Drake Bell calls out former costar Josh Peck for not inviting him to his wedding
That same month,Bell went on a Twitter rantin response to not being invited. “When you’re not invited to the wedding the message is clear….” he wrote in a series of since-deleted tweets. “Loyalty is key… ALWAYS remember where you came from … True colors have come out today. Message is loud and clear. Ties are officially cut. I’ll miss you brotha.”
Drake Bell/Twitter
In March 2022,Peck opened up about his rift with Bell, saying that the VMAs was the last time they spoke. Though he said he wishes him the best, he added that they are “not really” friends.
“Drake & Joshis something I’ll be synonymous with forever and I’m proud of it,” he continued. “I want to like the guy that my name is attached to forever but unfortunately, it just sort of worked out the way that it did.”
July 2017: Drake Bell releases new music
In 2017, Bell began to focus more heavily on his music career, releasing a new song titled “Run Away,” from his EPHonest.
“The last record I did was a pet project. For this record, it was time to get back in and give the fans some stuff,” he told PEOPLE at the time of the new project.
March 2019: Drake Bell teases aDrake & Joshrevival
In March 2019,Bell teased the possibility of aDrake & Joshrevival. “We’re working on something,” Bell told PEOPLE at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. “I’m excited. I think we have a great idea.”
“At least it’s on the table,” he said. “Now we’ve at least discussed the possibility of something happening.”
Drake Bell and Melissa Lingafelt in 2007.Albert L. Ortega/WireImage
In a statement to PEOPLE, Bell denied the claims, saying that he “never abused my ex-girlfriend or did so many of the other things Melissa falsely claimed on her TikTok video.”
June 2021: Drake Bell pleads guilty to attempted child endangerment
According tolocal NBC affiliate KXAN, the alleged incident occurred on Dec. 1, 2017, the same day the actor was scheduled to perform at a venue in Cleveland, according to a since-deletedtweet.
Later that month, he virtually appeared in court, where he agreed to a plea deal andsaid he was guilty of both charges. In July 2021,he was sentenced to two years probationand 200 hours of community service. He was also prohibited from contacting the victim.
During the hearing, Bell’s victim, 19 at the time,spoke publicly for the first timeto read a statement in which she called theDrake & Joshalum “the epitome of evil.” She accused Bell of grooming her from the age of 12 before allegedly sexually abusing her when she was 15.
July 2021: Drake Bell reveals he’s married and has a son
Janet Von Schmeling and Drake Bell.Tasia Wells/WireImage
In a statement written in Spanish translated to English, the actor wrote, “In response to various rumors that are incorrect, I have been married for almost 3 years, and we are blessed to be the parents of a wonderful son. Thank you very much to all my fans around the world for your good wishes.”
January 2023: Drake Bell and Janet Von Schmeling separate
In January 2023, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that Bell and Von Schmeling were no longer together. “Janet is devoted to raising their son,” the source said. “Drake and Janet are committed to maintaining a peaceful co-parenting relationship and giving their son the best life possible.”
According to the source,Bell was getting outpatient help for substance abuse. “Drake needed to take time to get help and focus on his health,” the insider said.
April 2023: Drake Bell briefly goes missing in Florida
On April 13, 2023,Bell was reported missing; the Daytona Beach Police Department shared a post onFacebookindicating that “officers are looking” for Bell.
“He should be traveling in a 2022 grey BMW and his last known location is potentially the area of Mainland High School on 4/12/2023 just before 9 p.m.,” the post read. “He is considered missing and endangered.”
A few hours after Bell was declared missing, Daytona Beach Police Department Public Information Officer Carrie McCallister confirmed toPEOPLE that the actor had been located. “At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe,” the statement read.
“I have a possible attempted suicide,” said the officer, who introduced himself as Steve, over crackly audio. “Basically there is a celebrity who had a falling out with this wife … and we got involved because we’ve [been in touch with] the family in California saying that he’s going to get drunk and hang himself, and he’s in a hotel somewhere in Orlando.”
The officer added of how they located Bell: “And then we finally got permission to ping the phone, and that’s what the ping came back to.”
April 2023: Drake Bell’s wife Janet Von Schmeling files for divorce
Citing “irreconcilable differences” (according to the dissolution of marriage petition filed in Los Angeles County’s Superior Court on April 20th), Von Schmeling filed for divorce from Bell.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 connected to a certified crisis counselor.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
