Drake Bell found alive hours after his disappearance
News of the disappearance of actor and singer Drake Bell has shocked his fans and the entertainment world. The 36-year-old performer, known for his role as Drake Parker on the Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh, was reported missing and endangered by Florida police Thursday morning.
Last seen Wednesday night
According to the Daytona Beach Police Department, Bell was last seen Wednesday night driving a gray 2022 BMW near Mainland High School. Police shared a photo of the actor on Facebook and asked for help in locating him. «We are very concerned for his well-being,» police wrote.
Found alive
However, hours later, police announced that Bell had been found alive and was in contact with authorities. No further details about his whereabouts or the circumstances of his disappearance were released. «We can confirm that law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe,» the statement read.
I had left my cell phone in the car
Bell, meanwhile, tweeted Thursday afternoon that he had left his phone in his car and had not answered it overnight. «You leave your phone in the car and don’t answer it at night and this?» she wrote alongside a screenshot of a news story about her disappearance. Some fans were relieved by his reappearance, while others were upset by what they considered disrespectful.
A turbulent time in life
Bell’s disappearance comes months after he pleaded guilty to one felony count of attempted child endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disseminating material harmful to minors. The charges stemmed from a 2017 incident when Bell, then 31, struck up a relationship with a 15-year-old girl he met online. According to authorities, Bell and the minor exchanged messages on social media that were «sexual in nature.» He was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service.
Television star
Bell began his acting career in the 1990s, appearing in the series Home Improvement and several television commercials. He rose to fame alongside Amanda Bynes and Josh Peck in the children’s comedy series The Amanda Show, which ran for three seasons between 1999 and 2002. Two years later, Bell and Peck reunited in another Dan Schneider production, Drake & Josh, which ran for four seasons between 2004 and 2007 and spawned the television movie.
