Updated on April 14, 2023 at 7:57 a.m. EST:
Drake Bell has broken his silence and publicly addressed his “disappearance” that sent social media into a tailspin on Thursday afternoon.
A few hours after the 36-year-old actor was reported missing by local police in Florida, Bell took to Twitter to confirm that he is in fact safe, and in seemingly good spirits. “You leave your phone in the car and don't answer for the night and this?” Bell tweeted jokingly with the laughing emoji. (Well, at least he found his way.)
X content
Original story follows.
Updated on April 13, 2023 at 1:51 p.m. EST:
Drake Bell has been found safe and confirmed to be in contact with the Daytona Beach Police Department in Florida.
Local authorities confirmed Bell's safety by updating their initial Facebook post, which detailed their concern for his wellbeing after his whereabouts were uncertain for over 12 hours. The Daytona Beach Police had encouraged the public to come forward with any information they might have about Bell's location. “At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe,” the department shared in their updated post.
Previously (April 13, 2023 at 12:25 p.m. EST):
Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell is reportedly missing and "considered endangered," Florida police say.
As noted by Variety, the Daytona Beach Police Department shared news of Bell's disappearance in a post on Facebook. Law enforcement officials stated that the actor, whose real name is Jared Drake Bell, was last seen in his 2022 gray BMW and his last tracked location was around Mainland High School on the evening of April 12. "He is considered missing and endangered," a department representative wrote in the post.
Bell is best known for his role on Nickelodeon's comedy series All That, The Amanda Show, and Drake & Josh, the latter of which ran from 2003 to 2007 and also starred actor Josh Peck. Bell also works as a musician and released several singles and albums, with the most recent release in 2017.
In recent years, however, Bell has mostly been in the news for a semi-feud with his former co-star after Peck didn't invite him to his wedding, as well as a string of legal issues, including driving under the influence in 2015 and a 2021 arrest in Ohio, where he was charged with “attempted endangerment of a child and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles," per Deadline. (Bell pled not guilty and ultimately received 2 years of probation.)
In early 2023, Bell and his wife Janet Von Schmeling separated after five years of marriage; the couple has a son together.
Teen Vogue will update this story as new information becomes available.
