Drake Bell and Josh Peck break their silence on friendship and speak out about their Nickelodeon experience
The former Nickelodeon actors look back on their work environment and open up about abuser Brian Peck.
After years of silence and personal distance, Drake and Josh stars, Drake Bell and Josh Peck have finally reunited —this time, not on a sitcom set, but in a heartfelt episode of the Good Guys podcast. Their candid conversation dives deep into their complicated friendship and sheds light on the disturbing revelations brought to the surface by the Quiet on Set documentary.
The two actors, who rose to fame on Nickelodeon in the early 2000s, revisited the highs and lows of their relationship, including the emotional toll of childhood stardom and the impact of Bell’s past trauma.
Drake Bell and Josh Peck discuss 'Quiet on set' revelations
The Quiet on Set documentary, which aired last year, exposed troubling behind-the-scenes accounts from former child actors at Nickelodeon and sparked widespread concern about the lack of protection for young performers.
One of the most harrowing revelations came from Bell, who publicly accused dialogue coach Brian Peck of sexually assaulting him when he was 15. Bell also revealed that he was involved in the investigation that ultimately led to Brian Peck’s 2004 conviction.
During their podcast conversation, Peck expressed his shock and sympathy upon watching the documentary, admitting that as a teenager, he was unaware of what Bell was going through. He recalled Bell telling him that he had cut ties with Brian Peck, calling him "a really bad guy." That was all the explanation Peck said he needed at the time.
Bell worried that if the investigation went public, it might jeopardize the show or damage his relationship with Peck. He admitted he struggled with carrying that burden while trying to maintain their partnership.
Drake Bell remembered the difficult time to film "Drake & Josh" despite the abuse. Photo: Deadline
Are Drake Bell and Josh Peck good friends?
The two actors, who haven’t appeared together much since Drake & Josh ended in 2007, had a well-publicized falling out over the years. In 2022, Peck clarified that they were not close friends.
On the podcast, however, they reflected on how their once inseparable friendship during The Amanda Show gradually faded. Bell shared that his emotional distance was largely due to the trauma he was privately coping with during the early days of Drake & Josh, as he was silently navigating the investigation into his abuser.
Despite the past distance, both acknowledged that their friendship eventually began to mend. Bell described their bond as having ups and downs—times of closeness and periods of separation. He also reflected on how the pressures from their personal lives often bled into their working relationship.
In the first part of their emotional podcast discussion, Bell grew tearful remembering how much he loved working on Drake & Josh, emphasizing that fans shouldn’t feel guilty about revisiting the show. “I’m very proud of what we created,” he said. Part two of their conversation is set to be released on Thursday.
After Quiet on Set aired, Peck shared a statement online in which he expressed support for survivors and confirmed he had reached out to Bell privately. "Children should be protected," he wrote. "Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it leads to healing and necessary change within the industry."