He was thrust into the limelight in his teenage years after starring alongside Josh Peck in Drake & Josh.
Yet while Drake Bell once had the world at his feet, he soon found himself succumbing to the child star curse, becoming embroiled in a series of scandals that tarnished his once squeaky clean reputation.
In the years following his Nickelodeon days, he was arrested twice for drinking under the influence, accused of physical and verbal abuse by two of his ex-girlfriends, and charged for sending ‘inappropriate’ messages to a 15-year-old girl when he was 31.
Yet in 2024, Drake offered an insight into the childhood trauma that had led him onto a path of self-destructive behaviour, revealing that he was sexually abused by vocal instructor Brian Peck at the age of 15.
Since his candid admission, Drake has been quietly working on rebuilding his career and reputation, now focusing on his music rather than acting.
On Saturday, Drake marked his 40th birthday, a milestone he is no doubt cherishing after having spun so far off the rails in his youth.
Drake Bell has been quietly working on rebuilding his career and reputation, now focusing on his music rather than acting (pictured on tour this year)
He was thrust into the limelight in his teenage years after starring alongside Josh Peck (left) in Drake & Josh. Yet soon Drake found himself succumbing to the child star curse
Last week, Drake was feeling reflective about his turbulent past, sharing a throwback snap of himself that he captioned: ‘It’s crazy to think how far this kid has come’.
He has credited his music with helping him overcome his childhood trauma, and he is currently travelling the States on his I LOVE YOU tour.
Following the release of the 2024 docuseries Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, in which he discussed his childhood abuse, Drake explained how music helped him tell his story.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I tell my story through my art, and the documentary is one way of seeing my story.
‘But if you really want to know what’s going on in my mind, my heart and my thoughts, to get down to the nitty gritty, you should check out my record and what I’m doing artistically, because that’s a much more pure reflection of what’s gone on in my life and my experiences.
‘In my life, throughout my career and in the public eye, I’ve been lumped in with another young actor that due to an indulgent lifestyle and getting too much at once, at too young an age, made all of the missteps and mistakes that commonly come along with that upbringing.
‘But now the curtain is being pulled back and it’s being revealed that there was a lot more darkness and trauma and turmoil that I was dealing with on the inside, and because of the circumstances I was never able to reveal’.
Drake added in an interview with People: ‘There was a documentary that had come out earlier this year, and it was the first time that I’d shared some really personal and traumatic experiences and some unfortunate events that I had endured in my past as a young actor.
‘But being able to work through those things and come out on the other side and still be able to get up and perform — I’m on tour right now — is a great experience.’
He has released several studio albums over the years, and after seeing his songs do well on the charts in Mexico, Drake made the shocking announcement in 2020 that he was relocating to the country, changing his last name to Campana, and releasing an all-Spanish album.
And while it seemed as though he never actually made the move, he did drop a Spanish album called Sesiones en Casa in 2020.
He also revealed last year that he had began working on an autobiography so that his fans could ‘finally know his true story.’
Drake has been quietly working on rebuilding his career and reputation, now focusing on his music rather than acting. He participated in The Masked Singer Mexico in 2024
In addition, the actor participated in The Masked Singer Mexico in 2024.
Yet while he’s keen to be on the stage, Drake ensures his family comes first. He shares son Jeremy, five, with his ex-wife, Janet Von Schmeling
Noting his career forces him to travel around, Drake said he purchased a property in Celebration, Florida to be close to his son and spend time with him.
‘I carve out tons of time to be home in Florida with my son’, he said on REUNITED! ‘I have a place out there so I do get to wake up in the morning and get him ready for school and have routine with him.
‘I just have a job that takes me on the road for blocks at the time.’
Drake now finally seems at peace after a series of scandals that threatened to derail his career entirely.
The first hammer blow to his reputation came within 10 years of his exit from Nickelodeon, when it was revealed that Drake, now 40, had filed for bankruptcy after racking up more than $1.5 million in debt.
His financial woes marked the beginning of a downward spiral for the star – that saw him face numerous run-ins with the law, public feuds with his fellow stars, bizarre and erratic behaviour, and social media outbursts.
In December 2015, the actor was arrested for driving under the influence after someone saw him swerving and speeding in Glendale, California.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four days in jail and four years probation, and was required to attend an alcohol education program. He ultimately served only one day behind bars and was released on good behavior.
At the time, it was brought to light that he had actually been arrested once before that – for another DUI in San Diego in 2009, but there is very little known about the incident.
In August 2020, the former Nickelodeon star was thrown into the hot seat again when his ex-girlfriend Melissa Lingafelt accused him of verbal and physical abuse.
She claimed in a video shared to her TikTok account that they started dating in 2006, when she was only 16 and he was 20, and that they were together for two years before going their separate ways in early 2009.
‘It wasn’t until about a year [into the relationship] when the verbal abuse started,’ she said.
‘And when I say verbal abuse, imagine the worst type of verbal abuse you could ever imagine, and that was what I got.
‘It then turned to physical – hitting, throwing, everything. At the pinnacle of it, he [threw] me down the stairs of our house. My face hit every step on the way down. I have photos of this.’
In August 2020, the former Nickelodeon star was thrown into the hot seat when his ex-girlfriend, Melissa Lingafelt (seen in 2007), accused him of verbal and physical abuse
Melissa also posted a message she claimed she had received from another one of his exes, actress Paydin Layne (seen with Drake in 2014)
In a statement to People, Drake responded and said he ‘never abused his ex-girlfriend or did’ any of ‘the other things she falsely claimed in her TikTok video.’
‘As our relationship ended – more than a decade ago – we, unfortunately, both called each other terrible names, as often happens when couples are breaking up,’ he added.
‘Clearly, Melissa still felt close enough to me just last year that she was comfortable reaching out to ask me to provide her with financial support during a tough time (which I did).
‘I do not know if today’s behavior is some kind of misguided quest for more money or attention.
‘But I cannot and will not allow these offensive and defamatory allegations to go unchallenged and I am reviewing my legal options.’
In response to his denial, Melissa shared an alleged police report, as well as several of her journal entries detailing the abuse, which were seemingly written by her during their relationship.
She posted photos of herself with bruises and scars that she said came from Drake, as well as a message she claimed she had received from another one of his exes, actress Paydin Layne.
Paydin, who dated him from 2011 to 2016, allegedly told Melissa: ‘I will stand by your side and back you up as I went through the same horrific verbal, physical and mental abuse.’
Drake tied the knot with Janet Von Schmeling in 2018, and together, they welcomed a baby boy together in June 2021, and it seemed like things were looking up for the star.
Yet things went downhill again in December 2022, when he was seen inhaling inflated balloons in the front seat of his parked car outside of his Los Angeles home, while his son was asleep in the back seat. It is not clear what, if anything, was inside the balloon.
Following the incident, news hit the web that Drake and Janet had ‘separated,’ and that the actor had entered into a treatment program.
Drake tied the knot with Janet Von Schmeling in 2018, and together, they welcomed a baby boy together in June 2021, and it seemed like things were looking up for the star (pictured in 2017)
However, the couple split in 2022 and Drake went on a dramatic social media rant in which he claimed he had found out about Janet filing for divorce through TMZ
Sources told Page Six in January 2023 that Janet ‘had enough’ and moved to Florida with their son, while he stayed in LA to receive professional help.
‘They had some incredible beautiful times before. He needs to focus on being healthy, and they’ll be great co-parents in the future,’ an insider dished.
‘It’s a bad moment in time for Drake. But he is a great dad when he is healthy and sober.’
Then, in April 2023, the Daytona Beach Police Department asked the public to provide any information on Drake’s whereabouts after they said he had gone ‘missing.’
Hours later, they confirmed that they were ‘in contact’ with him and that he was ‘safe.’
Days later, TMZ obtained 911 call logs that alleged Drake had threatened to kill himself before vanishing.
In the audio, an officer was heard stating that Drake had ‘texted his family’ saying that he was ‘going to get drunk and hang himself.’
It was also said that the incident had stemmed from ‘a falling out’ with his wife.
Soon after, Janet filed for divorce from the star, stating in court documents that they had been separated since September 2022.
She requested primary legal and physical custody of their son, and said she was open to Drake receiving visitation.
After the news hit the web, Drake went on a dramatic social media rant in which he claimed he had found out about Janet filing for divorce through TMZ.
He also addressed some of the online hate he was getting, writing that it was ‘going to kill him’ and that the online trolls would have his ‘blood on their hands.’
‘Do a second of research. This is what I have to live with everyday. They are literally going to kill me. Blood [is] on their hands,’ he replied to someone who had called him a ‘pedophile.’
He added that it blew his ‘mind how mean people’ could be, despite him ‘clearly dealing with mental health issues.’
In 2024, Drake revealed he was sexually abused as a teenager by dialogue coach Brian Peck (pictured), a story detailed in Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV
Unfortunately, Drake continued the cycle of abuse by pleading guilty in 2021 to ‘attempted endangering [of] children and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles’
In 2024, Drake revealed he was sexually abused as a teenager, a story detailed in Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
He disclosed that he was the unidentified minor who came forward in 2003 about being molested at age 15 by dialogue coach Brian Peck (no relation to Josh).
Brian, now 65, served 16 months in prison between 2004 and 2005 after being arrested on 11 charges, including sodomy, lewd acts on a child aged 14 or 15 by a person 10 years older, and oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substance.
Unfortunately, Drake continued the cycle of abuse by pleading guilty in 2021 to ‘attempted endangering [of] children and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.’
The Every Day Is Christmas With You singer was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service after a 19-year-old woman accused him of grooming her from ages 12-15 and sexually assaulting her at his 2017 Cleveland concert.
Drake said he only took the plea deal to end the scandal quickly, and claimed he didn’t know her age and denied ever sending her sexual photos or engaging in sexual activity.
He also denied all the verbal and physical abuse allegations in 2020 from his ex-girlfriend Melissa Lingafelt, who also accused him on TikTok of ‘having inappropriate conversations online with underage girls.’
‘I took responsibility for that, you know, I did what was asked of me, but the media grabbed a hold of so much misinformation, and it absolutely destroyed me,’ The Masked Singer Mexico contestant said in Quiet On Set.
‘And I started to spin out of control. If I had continued down that path, that could very likely be the end of my story.’
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