Drake Bell, who starred in the Nickelodeon blockbuster series Drake & Josh, has been located after being listed as “missing and endangered” by US authorities.
Local law enforcement verified on social media that they had been in contact with Mr. Bell and that he was safe.
Previously, the Daytona Beach Police Department posted on Facebook that the actor was missing.
Authorities added that his last known location was “potentially” near a high school in Florida on April 12.
In a comment on the initial post, the police stated,
“For those asking, this is a legitimate post from the Daytona Beach Police Department.”
Between 2004 and 2007, Bell, 36, appeared in 56 episodes of Drake & Josh.
In the Nickelodeon series, he and his co-star Josh Peck portrayed step-brothers with contrasting personalities. In addition, they appeared in two Drake & Josh films.
Police stated that the actor “should be traveling in a 2022 grey BMW” and that he was last seen on Wednesday night at approximately 21:00 local time (01:00 BST).
Bell, who began his career as a child actor and also appeared on The Amanda Show, went on to win nine Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. In addition to releasing two albums, he has recently lent his voice to children’s animations.
However, he has been scrutinized in recent years due to high-profile criminal cases.
In June 2021, he pled guilty to charges of attempted child endangerment and dissemination of harmful material to minors.
In California, he was sentenced the following month to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service for offenses related to a girl who met him online and accused him of sexual contact after attending his concert when she was 15 years old.
According to the Associated Press, he stated prior to sentencing, “I embrace this plea because my conduct was wrong. I regret that the victim was injured. “That was not my intent.”
In January, it was reported that Bell and his wife, Janet Von Schmeling, had separated and were “heading for divorce” after four years of marriage. Jeremy Drake Bell, the couple’s firstborn, was born in June 2021.
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