Nickelodeon’s Drake Bell ‘safe’ after being considered ‘missing and endangered’ in Florida

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WLNE) — Police in Florida said Thursday actor Drake Bell is “safe” after he was considered “missing and endangered.”

“At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe,” wrote Daytona Beach police said in a Facebook post.

The former Nickelodeon star, whose real name is Jared Drake Bell, was last seen April 12.

In July 2021, the 36-year-old was sentenced in Cleveland to two years of probation on child endangerment charges relating to a girl who met him online and accused him of sexual contact after she attended his concert when she was 15.

Bell, also a singer, began acting as a child, but was catapulted to stardom as a teen with Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show” and later “Drake & Josh,” which debuted on the channel in January 2004. The final episode aired in September 2007. Bell and co-star Josh Peck also starred in two “Drake & Josh” movies.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.