Jared Drake Bell (born June 27, 1986), is an American actor, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He began his career as an actor in the early 1990s, with an appearance on Home Improvement. Bell also appeared in several commercials. He appeared on The Amanda Show and became well-known among young audiences for his role on the series Drake & Josh while playing Drake Parker. Bell starred in a trilogy of The Fairly OddParents movies on Nickelodeon. Bell is the voice of Peter Parker / Spider-Man in the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man on Disney XD. Bell appeared on ABC's reality TV series Splash.
In addition to acting, Bell has a career in music. Bell formed his band in 2003, at the time named Drake 24/7. He also co-wrote and performed the theme song to Drake & Josh, entitled "Found a Way". In 2005 he independently released his debut album, Telegraph. His second album, It's Only Time, was released in 2006 after signing with Universal Motown Records and debuted at #81 on the Billboard 200, selling over 23,000 copies its first week of release. It's Only Time has sold 178,000 copies in the United States as of 2012. His first video album, Drake Bell In Concert, was released in 2008. It debuted at #81 on the Top 100 Mexican Albums Chart. Bell released an EP in 2011 called A Reminder independently. In 2014, Bell released his third album, Ready, Steady, Go! under indie label Surfdog Records. Ready, Steady, Go! debuted at #182 on the Billboard 200, and sold 2,000 copies in its first week of release. Bell's song "Bull" became a hit in Mexico peaking at number 8.
Early life
Bell was born on June 27, 1986 in Santa Ana, California. His parents are Robin Dodson, a professional billiards player, and Joe Bell. He has three older brothers, Joey (born 1972), Robert (born 1974) and Travis (born 1980), and one older sister, Kellie (born 1969). Bell is a cousin of former Tampa Bay Rays closer Heath Bell.
Career
1991â€"2003: Films, Initial Guitar Lessons, and The Amanda Show
Bell started acting at the age of five, encouraged by his father. He stated "I was five, and my dad kind of said, 'Hey, you wanna be an actor?' and I said, 'Sure,' that kind of thing, you know? I was kind of put into it by my dad but, you know, good. I really love it, and I still do it." Bell's first televised commercial was for Whirlpool Appliances. "I had to sit under a tree and eat a Popsicle," Bell later stated, "I thought, 'I could get used to this.'" His first television show appearance was on a 1994 episode of Home Improvement. He appeared in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, and had a small role in the Seinfeld episode "The Frogger" in 1998. In 1999, he acted in a commercial for Pokémon Red and Blue and in the movie Dragon World: The Legend Continues. In 2000, he was nominated for a Young Artist Award for his role as Cage Redding in the made-for-television film The Jack Bull. He began to play guitar at the age of twelve. He received his first official guitar lessons from Roger Daltrey when he starred with him in the 2001 film Chasing Destiny. From 1999 until the show was cancelled in 2002, Bell was a featured performer on The Amanda Show. He also made a guest appearance on the series The Nightmare Room. Bell formed his band, at the time named Drake 24/7, in 2003.
2004â€"09: Drake & Josh, Telegraph, and It's Only Time
In 2004, Bell was cast as Drake Parker alongside real life best friend and former Amanda Show costar Josh Peck on the Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh, a spinoff of The Amanda Show. During this time period, he made a guest appearance as himself on Nickelodeon's Zoey 101 and won the first of three consecutive "Blimp Awards" at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in the "Favorite TV Actor" category. His song, "Found a Way" (featured as the theme song for Drake & Josh) is also included on the show's soundtrack, which was released on February 22, 2005. In 2005, Bell co-starred alongside fellow Drake & Josh actress Miranda Cosgrove with Dennis Quaid in Yours, Mine and Ours. Telegraph, Bell's debut album, was released independently on August 23, 2005. The album includes 12 tracks, all written by Bell, but was also co-written with Michael Corcoran or other co-writers. Being an independent release, the album ran out of print, and was re-released on August 7, 2007. Bell's song "Highway to Nowhere" was performed on an episode of Zoey 101. "Highway to Nowhere" is included on the Drake & Josh soundtrack and Bell's album Telegraph. Bell's song "Down We Fall" was played on an episode of Drake & Josh titled "Number 1 Fan". In 2005, Bell performed with Hawk Nelson in a video for the Hawk Nelson song called "Bring 'Em Out," which was featured in the movie Yours, Mine and Ours. The studio version was included on Hawk Nelson's EP Bring 'Em Out and on the special edition of Hawk Nelson Is My Friend.
In 2006, Bell signed with Universal Motown. Bell's second album, It's Only Time, was released on December 5, 2006. Bell wrote all of the songs. However, as with Telegraph, they were all co-written with C.J. Abraham, Michael Corcoran, or both. It reached Number 81 on Billboard's Top 200. It also charted on the Billboard Rock Charts at number 21. The album was more successful in Mexico, reaching number 4 in the Mexico Top 100. It is his first album to chart on the Billboard 200, and his highest-selling album with more than 178,000 copies sold in the United States as of 2012. He released the lead single, "I Know", on October 17, 2006. The video for "I Know" was released in October 2006. "I Know" also appeared on the 2010 compilation album, Pure Love Songs Vol. 2. His song from It's Only Time, "Makes Me Happy", peaked at number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart, which is an extension of the Hot 100. The song also made an appearance on the Pop 100 at number 67 and on the Hot Digital Songs chart at number 45. Because of the song's popularity, on October 16, 2007, the Radio Disney single edit version of his song "Makes Me Happy", was released on iTunes. He also featured on the theme song for the show iCarly, "Leave It All to Me," with his Drake & Josh co Miranda Cosgrove. The music video for the song was released on Cosgrove's Vevo YouTube channel on September 28, 2010. The song took the lowest position on the Hot 100, peaking at number 100. It also peaked on the Pop 100 at number 83. He performed some Christmas songs in the Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh movie, including "Jingle Bells" and "Christmas Promise". A DVD entitled Drake Bell In Concert was released on December 16, 2008. The video was unable to crack the 2008 or 2009 Top 100 in the U.S., but did chart on the Top 100 Mexican album charts, peaking at number 81. The DVD contains footage of him and his band live on stage while they toured in Mexico, in October 2008. It also features 2 new songs and five covers, all of which are exclusive to the DVD. In the spring, Bell had a starring role in the comedy spoof film Superhero Movie. Bell recorded a theme song featuring his co-star Sara Paxton for the film called "Superhero! Song", which was released on April 8, 2008. In August 2008, he co-starred in the comedy College, which was shot on location in New Orleans. Bell also starred in Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh alongside Josh Peck, which began production in July 2008, and premiered on December 5, 2008. In 2009, his songs "Unbelievable" and "Modern Times", which was featured on a commercial for Twalkin, were released exclusively on MySpace.
2010â€"14: Films, A Reminder, and Ready, Steady, Go!
In 2010, he made a cameo appearance as Drake Parker in an iCarly episode entitled "iBloop" and a guest role in I Owe My Life To Corbin Bleu. He starred as Timmy Turner in the live-action TV-movie adaptation of its hit animated series The Fairly Odd Parents, A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!, released in 2011 and reprised his role in the 2012 sequel, A Fairly Odd Christmas. On May 18, 2011, a music video for Bell's song "You're Not Thinking" was released on YouTube. Bell's EP, titled A Reminder, was released on June 28, 2011. The lead single of A Reminder, "Terrific", was released on June 14, 2011, with the music video being released on December 9, 2012. The EP was produced by John Fields, who previously worked with Rooney, Jimmy Eat World, Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers, and Bleu. Bell said he decided to release A Reminder because he hasn't put out new music in a few years and "a full album will probably not happen until next year." Bell was also sued by Fields, the producer of the EP, for 9 songs at 9,000 dollars each, totaling up to 81,000. Bell only paid for 5 songs for 45,000, but only 4 songs made it to the EP. In February 2012, Bell appeared in a Shane Dawson video entitled Kidnapping Drake Bell. Bell was cast as Spider-Man in the animated TV series: Ultimate Spider-Man based on the comic book of the same name. He later reprised the role in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, replacing Josh Keaton who originally recorded his role for the series. He has also voiced the role of Spider-Man in two video games, Marvel Heroes, an MMORPG, and Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, in 2013 and 2014, respectively. He was also in the 2012 Nickelodeon movie Rags as Shawn and a guest role in Keenan Cahill's story as himself. In 2013, Bell participated in the first season of the ABC reality TV series Splash, a celebrity diving competition, in which he made third place. On November 1, 2013, Bell released the studio version of his unreleased song "Nevermind", on YouTube. He released a holiday single, "Christmas Promise", on December 17, 2013. Throughout 2013 and 2014, Bell had roles in several animated films, such as The Naughty List, Adventure Planet, Birds of Paradise and Under Wraps. Bell starred in the third of the trilogy of The Fairly OddParents Live-action films called A Fairly Odd Summer, reprising his role as Timmy Turner, which was released on August 2, 2014. In 2014, Bell was nominated in the Capital Twitter Awards for Biggest Twitter Feud vs. Justin Bieber. Bell also appeared on Takepart Live, to discuss his bankruptcy and other activities. Bell starred in an animated film entitled Frozen in Time, which was released November 11, 2014.
On April 22, 2014, Bell released his third studio album, his first rockabilly album, Ready, Steady, Go!, under Surfdog Records, which he signed with in 2012. It was produced by Peter Collins and childhood idol, Brian Setzer, frontman of the rockabilly revival band, Stray Cats. He has referred to the album as "a complete concept record. Getting in a time machine and going back to the 40's and 50's." and as "getting in the DeLorian, hitting 88 miles per hour, and going back to the future." The album's lead single, "Bitchcraft", was released on January 28, 2014. The single was remixed by French electro swing band Caravan Palace. The album's second single, "I Won't Stand In Your Way", a cover of the Stray Cats original song, was released on April 15, 2014. It debuted and peaked at number 182 on the Billboard 200 and sold 2,000 copies in its first week of release. Bell's song from Ready, Steady, Go!, "Bull", peaked at number 8 on the Exametro Top Ten De Musica chart, which charts songs in the top ten in Mexico. Bell took part in the High School Nation Tour in support of Ready Steady Go!, touring High Schools all around the U.S. The tour lasted from September 16, 2014, to October 22, 2014. It began in Los Angeles, California, and ended in Charlotte, North Carolina.
2015: Films and music career-threatening injury
He starred with his Drake & Josh co-star Miranda Cosgrove in the animated film A Mouse Tale, which was be released directly to DVD on February 10, 2015. Bell stars in the slasher film L.A. Slasher as The Pop Star, which is planned to be released on June 12, 2015. Other upcoming film roles include Ben in Bad Kids Go 2 Hell, as sequel to the 2012 film Bad Kids Go to Hell, and a documentary centered around him titled It's a Rockabilly World! He is also set to star alongside Bella Thorne and Cameron Dallas in the United States dub of The Frog Kingdom which is set for release on June 30, 2015 on video on demand and on DVD.
On January 4, 2015, Bell revealed a picture of his broken wrist on Twitter saying, "Doctors say I'll never play guitar again, it's over". Even though the injury (which was caused by diving into the shallow end of a pool at his brother's birthday party) at first seemed to threaten Bell's further career as a musician, he has recovered quickly from the injury, and is almost back to playing guitar, as revealed in an interview on February 17, 2015. Bell stated he can play guitar, but "Not like I used to but I'm getting there".
Philanthropy
Bell has supported the non-profit organization The Thirst Project since 2009. The Thirst Project is an organization that addresses the issue of the clean water crisis by raising awareness through education. Bell's contributions include public appeals and concerts to raise funds. In 2010, the organization gave him the Pioneering Spirit Award, the highest honour that The Thirst Project has. Seth Maxwell, founder of the thirst project, recruited Bell to be the 'face' of the campaign. Bell has also made contributions to other organizations, such as the Make a Wish Foundation, Toys for Tots, World Mission, and Audrey Hepburn Children's Foundation. On April 18, 2015, Bell performed at the Strawberry Bowl, in support of a charity, Rockin A Cure, for Cystic Fibrosis.
Personal life
On December 29, 2005, Bell was involved in a car accident on Los Angeles's Pacific Coast Highway. While driving with a friend, another vehicle ran a red light, resulting in a head-on collision. His injuries included a fractured neck and fractured vertebrae and several facial lacerations. Along with losing seven teeth, Bell's jaw was broken in three places and had to be wired shut for healing.
In 2007, Bell purchased a 2,640-sq-ft house in Los Feliz for $2,050,000. After Bell filed for bankruptcy in California in early 2015, the house was taken in foreclosure. Sources claim Bell is in debt for $581,000.
Influences
Bell has described his music as being heavily influenced by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Brian Setzer. Among the other music acts and artists which have influenced Bell are Oasis, Buddy Holly, Elvis Costello, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, Eddie Cochran, and Chuck Berry.
Filmography
Film
Television
Video games
Web
Discography
- Telegraph (2005)
- It's Only Time (2006)
- Ready, Steady, Go! (2014)
Awards and nominations
Bell was nominated for a Young Artist Award twice, once in 2000 for his role in The Jack Bull, in which he won, and another time in 2006 for Yours, Mine and Ours. He has won 10 Kids Choice Awards, 3 in the United States and 7 internationally for his role as Drake Parker on Drake & Josh. He also won an a Kids Choice Award in 2007 in the United Kingdom for Best Male Singer, winning over Justin Timberlake. He was also nominated for Best TV Actor, but lost to Nat Wolff. Bell has also won a Teen Choice Award in 2008 for his role as the Dragonfly in Superhero Movie. He was also nominated for an award in 2014 in the Capital Twitter Awards for biggest Twitter feud against Justin Bieber.
References
External links
- Official website
- Drake Bell's channel on YouTube
- Drake Bell at the Internet Movie Database
- Works by or about Drake Bell in libraries (WorldCat catalog)