Who is Drake Bell, the ex-Nickelodeon star reported missing then found in Daytona Beach?

Ex-Nickelodeon TV star Drake Bell was found on Thursday afternoon, only hours after Daytona Beach Police reported him missing in Daytona Beach.

Bell, star of the 2004 Nickelodeon sitcom “Drake & Josh,” had been reported missing and considered endangered early on Thursday, according to police. At 1:26 p.m. Thursday, law enforcement officials reported that they were in contact with Bell and that he was safe.

In case you missed it: 'Drake & Josh' star Jared Drake Bell found, safe, according to Daytona Beach police

Although that closes at least one chapter on his disappearance, those not in the Nickelodeon core demographic in 2004 might still have one lingering question:

Who is Drake Bell?

Here’s what we know:

A child star is born

Born June 27, 1986, Jared Drake Bell began acting as a child, landing his first big breaks in commercials and in an episode of “Home Improvement.” He was catapulted to fame as a teen with a role on Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show” and later as a star of the series “Drake & Josh.” That show starring Bell and Josh Peck ran from 2004 until 2007, spinning off into two movies.

Bell embraced music, as well as acting

In addition to acting, Bell launched a music career with a band named Drake 24/7. He co-wrote and performed the theme song to “Drake & Josh” and released three albums on various labels from 2005-2014. In the years since his Nickelodeon stardom, Bell has mostly worked as a voice actor in addition to roles in lesser-known TV shows and movies.

Troubles with the law

In 2021, Bell pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles related to a girl who met him online and attended one of his concerts in Cleveland in 2017, when she was 15.

From 2021: Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell pleads guilty to attempted child endangerment

He was sentenced to two years’ probation. He was allowed to serve his probation and 200 hours of community service in California.

Why was Drake Bell in Daytona Beach?

It’s unclear at this point why the former child star was in Daytona Beach, but the website TMZ on Thursday reported that Bell had been spotted at Sea World in Orlando with his son on Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Who is Drake Bell, ex-Nickelodeon star missing in Daytona Beach