What Our Favorite Nickelodeon TV Stars Are Up To Now

Did you know that Nickelodeon has been around since 1977? In that time, we have seen some of the biggest stars grace our screens, each bringing beloved characters to life in their own ways. It also means it can be tough to keep up with them all.

While some have remained in the limelight, other former stars have seemingly all but disappeared from Hollywood. A look at what our favorite Nickelodeon TV stars are up to now sure shows just how far many of them have come since their breakout roles.

Jamie Lynn Spears was the star of one of the most popular Nickelodeon shows

One of the most popular Nickelodeon shows comes in the form of ‘Zoey 101,’ but it also caused a lot of drama. Starring Jamie Lynn Spears, it seemed this youngster had everything when she was offered the leading role. Jamie was just a teenager, and it wasn’t long before she had built up an impressive and loving fan base.

‘Zoey 101’ was canceled, and Jamie took a break from acting to welcome her first child at 16 years old, but that’s not all. The actress has been busy working on her acting and music career and has even turned to writing. However, the drama surrounding Jamie and her sister Britney Spears means she’s never far from the headlines.

Christine Taylor initially got her big break as a part of Nickelodeon in the 1990s

Many are familiar with Christine Taylor, as she’s been around for as long as most can remember. Did you know she got her big break on Nickelodeon? Taylor was 17 when she starred as Melody Hanson in ‘Hey Dude.’ While she was only a part of Nickelodeon at the beginning of the 1990s, her fame quickly spread.

After leaving the realm of Nickelodeon, Christine was cast as Marcia Brady in the comedy ‘The Brady Bunch Movie.’ This solidified her place within the world of acting, and her fame continues today. Most notably, she has worked alongside her ex-husband, Ben Stiller, in movies such as the comedy ‘Zoolander’ and in upcoming TV shows, like the comedy ‘High Desert.’

Kel Mitchell became the face of Nickelodeon alongside his best friend

Who loves orange soda? Kel Mitchell was the talk of the 1990s, all thanks to his hilarious charm. In fact, this actor and his best friend were so popular they were given a chance to appear on countless shows. After appearing in the likes of ‘All That’ and ‘The Amanda Show,’ Kenan and Kel were given their own series.

The sitcom ‘Kenan & Kel’ thrust them into the limelight and has allowed Kel Mitchell to continue his career today. While Kel still works here and there, much of his work involves the character that made him famous to begin with. However, Kel returned to Nickelodeon in 2015 for a four-year run on the comedy series ‘Game Shakers.’

Caitlin Sanchez wasn’t overly happy with her time as Dora the Explorer

The animated show ‘Dora the Explorer’ first hit Nickelodeon in 2000 and was instantly a big deal. Running for so many years means plenty still recognize the leading character all these years later, with plenty taking on the part of bringing Dora to life. In 2008, Caitlin Sanchez became the second person to voice Dora.

While there’s no doubt that fans and parents alike loved her dulcet tones on the airwaves, it seems as though Caitlin wasn’t too impressed with her life in the limelight. In fact, Sanchez accused the network of over-working her and breaking child labor laws. Most of her work is linked to Dora, and Caitlin hasn’t acted since 2012.

Mike Maronna instantly won over fans as the older Pete

If you loved ‘The Adventures of Pete and Pete,’ you’ll know you couldn’t have one Pete without the other. What happened to the older Pete from the show? Mike was 15 years old when he was cast as the red-headed lead star of this show, and it wasn’t long before everyone could see the amazing connection between the two boys.

Their relationships made the show a success, which is why Danny and Mike are still working together today. The two men host their podcast together, but that’s not all. Mike has also continued his acting career and even worked behind the scenes on TVtelevision shows as part of the electrical team. It seems he’s the Jack of all trades.

Danny Tamberelli rose to fame as one of the leading faces of The Adventures of Pete & Pete

Amazingly, Danny Tamberelli was just ten years old when he got the chance to play Little Pete in ‘The Adventures of Pete & Pete’ - and the comedy was a pretty big deal. This show proved to be hugely popular, and it’s hard to deny that most people watching the program fell completely in love with the quirky youngster.

Being so popular meant Danny got the chance to appear in other Nickelodeon shows, such as the sketch series ‘All That,’ and things haven’t changed much since. While he no longer works on TV shows, Danny did voice Jimmy in 2013’s game ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ and has been running a podcast with his former co-star Mike Maronna since 2013.

Daniella Monet worked her way through some notable Nickelodeon productions

Some Nickelodeon stars make their name on just one show. Others? They get the chance to enjoy a host during their time with the network. Daniella Monet started out on ‘Zoey 101’ before really making a name for herself as Rina Vega on ‘Victorious.’ The best bit? Daniella even transitioned to Nickelodeon movies in the ‘Fred’ franchise.

Unfortunately, things took a bit of a nosedive a few years back when Daniella was one of the many celebrities targeted by a group leaking private photos. While it was a lot to handle, the actress has since bounced back. As well as raising a baby since 2019, Daniela continues to act, including in her latest movie ‘Aloha Surf Hotel.’

David Lascher rose to fame as Nickelodeon’s troublemaker in Hey Dude

In the early ‘90s, everyone knew David Lascher. He was a cool, quirky kid with an impressive acting talent, as well as being the lovable troublemaker in ‘Hey Dude.’ This show took over the world, with David playing Ted McGriff. It pushed the youngster into the limelight, and it wasn’t long before he was making his mark on other shows.

Throughout the ‘90s, he worked on shows such as the sitcoms ‘Blossom’ and ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch,’ and the teen drama ‘Beverly Hills, 90210.’ His diary has since been pretty quiet, but David did reunite with Melissa Joan Hart in 2014 to star in two episodes of the famous sitcom, ‘Melissa & Joey.’ Now, David lives a relatively quiet life.

Larisa Oleynik used her fame from Nickelodeon to carve an impressive career

Hands up if you used to watch ‘The Secret Life of Alex Mack’? This leading lady had more superpowers than we could ever dream of, and there’s no doubt Larisa Oleynik made a name for herself. While she was just a teenager when she rose to fame on ‘The Secret Life of Alex Mack,’ Larisa’s career didn’t end there.

The actress went on to appear in a host of big-screen hits, such as the comedy ‘10 Things I Hate About You.' Still, her popularity meant Larisa had to deal with a stalker in 2013, who even changed his last name to Oleynik. Thankfully, her acting career hasn’t dwindled, with Larisa currently starring in the comedy show ‘Erin & Aaron.’

Meagan Good spent years making a name for herself in Cousin Skeeter

It can be easy for many to forget that Meagan Good was once a Nickelodeon star. However, before her lengthy career, she was one of the stars of the sitcom ‘Cousin Skeeter.’ Although she had a handful of roles before the breakout part, it was landing the role of Nina at 13 years old that turned everything around for Meagan.

The years have been kind to Meagan over the years, as the star has consistently shown just how many acting skills she has under her belt. Appearing on the big screen is now nothing new for the actress, with her recent appearance in the superhero ‘Shazam’ franchise proving why she’s still a prominent part of Hollywood all these years later.

Josh Peck became one of Nickelodeon’s biggest stars after playing Josh Nichols

If you ever watched ‘Drake & Josh’ when you were younger, you’ll probably know that Josh Peck was kind of a big deal. While he was often deemed to be the “uncool” one of the iconic duo, fans seemed to fall in love with his goody-two-shoes nature and his ability to say a name in a way that made everyone laugh.

After making his mark as a child actor in the late ‘90s, the ‘00s really gave this actor a chance to shine - and most expected the best. Well, it seems as though their assumptions were correct because Josh is shining. Over the years, Josh has thrived in his acting, created a podcast, and is prominent on social media.

Darris Love stood out, despite his role as a sidekick on Nickelodeon

While Laris Oleynik took the lead in ‘The Secret Life of Alex Mack,’ no superhero would be complete without their sidekick, right? Ray Alvarado didn’t have superpowers, but he was the only person who knew about Laris’ secret - making him one of the coolest characters. Played by Darris Love, this character allowed the young actor to showcase his acting talents.

Although he was a child actor on Nickelodeon - something that’s turned plenty into everlasting household names - Darris might be even more famous now. Throughout the years, he’s appeared in a host of TV shows and movies. While he hasn’t acted since 2017, it seems Darris continues to rub shoulders with those at the top of Hollywood.

Shawn Ashmore landed a role that changed his life shortly after his Nickelodeon stint

Some of the best shows on Nickelodeon didn’t last long, and ‘Animorphs’ was one. It ran for a year, but this show was incredibly popular - and was the stepping stone Shawn Ashmore needed to propel his career. This young actor took on the main role of Jake Berenson. Still, it was a role in 2000 that really changed Shawn’s life.

That’s because Shawn was cast as Bobby Drake/Iceman in the superhero ‘X-Men’ series, and it seemed as though everyone wanted a piece of him. Since that breakthrough, Shawn has worked on some of the biggest movies of all time, but that’s not all. More recently, fans have seen the actor star in the crime drama show ‘The Rookie.’

Cody Longo enjoyed his Nickelodeon fame but things took a tragic turn

Do you remember ‘Hollywood Heights’? This show first aired in the early ‘10s, and it quickly won the hearts of many fans across the globe. Over 80 episodes, fans got the chance to know each of the actors and the characters they played - including Cody Longo. With his looks and his charm, plenty were sold on the actor.

While many people thought his career would thrive, an incident in 2013 took that future success away from him. That’s because the former Nickelodeon star was arrested for driving under the influence, was placed on three-year probation, and was forced to attend education and AA classes. Sadly, Cody passed away in February 2023 after battling his drinking dependency.

Nick Cannon might be one of Nickelodeon’s biggest success stories

Everyone knows who Nick Cannon is, right? Amazingly, he was just a teenager when he was asked to join ‘All That’ in 1998, and it wasn’t long before he was one of the most popular cast members on the show. In fact, Nick was so popular that he was eventually given his very own Nickelodeon show.

This helped to solidify his place as both an actor and a television personality, and it’s safe to say that his career has continued ever since. As well as his successful hosting gigs and high-profile marriage to Mariah Carey, Nick has even worked on his music career and continues to be the face of the reality show ‘The Masked Singer.’

Emma Roberts had a leading Nickelodeon role before her impressive career took off

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade or so, you’ll know that Emma Roberts is kind of a big deal. Not only is she the niece of the legendary Julia Roberts, but this leading lady has taken over Hollywood. Yet, did you know Emma actually got her start within the realm of the iconic Nickelodeon network?

Emma took on the leading role in ‘Unfabulous,’ and it seemed as though she was on course for an impressive career. However, fans have since become divided over this actress, as some can’t look past an incident that occurred in 2013. That’s because Emma was arrested for domestic violence when she attacked her then-boyfriend, Evan Peters.

Tom Kenny has been voicing SpongeBob for almost a quarter of a century

Can you believe ‘SpongeBob Squarepants’ first appeared on our screens in 1999? All these years later, it’s still one of the most successful shows to come from Nickelodeon and has a legion of fans across the world. Amazingly, we have Tom Kenny to thank for it all, as he voiced the famous sponge, Gary the Snail, and even the narrator.

Over the years, Tom has utilized his voice for characters in shows such as ‘Adventure Time,’ ‘Fairly Odd Parents,’ ‘Powerpuff Girls,’ and more. With most of his time being in animated movies and TV shows, plenty have no idea just how far Tom’s talents spread, but keen fans might have spotted him in 2022’s ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.’

Lori Beth Denberg has never thrived as much as her time on Nickelodeon

Some of the biggest Nickelodeon stars of the ‘90s worked on countless shows, and Lori Beth Denberg was one of them. Many people believed that Lori would simply slip into the background of the Nickelodeon world, but that wasn’t the case. Before we knew it, Lori starred in the likes of ‘All That,’ ‘Figure It Out,’ and even ‘Good Burger.’

It seemed as though there was nothing she couldn’t do, and many fans thought Lori would become the hottest new ticket on the Hollywood hit list. However, that wasn’t the case. She now typically just stars as herself in Nickelodeon revivals and hasn’t really worked on anything else since her heyday. We’re still holding out hope, though.

Lucas Cruikshank was already an internet star before joining Nickelodeon

Whether you loved him or hated him, there’s no doubt Lucas Cruikshank became one of the most famous people of the early ‘00s. Remember Fred? After making his mark on YouTube with his hilariously funny videos and voice, Lucas was offered the chance to have his very own movie franchise on Nickelodeon - and, of course, he couldn’t turn it down.

While this franchise eventually spawned three movies and a television show, Nickelodeon decided to part ways with the star when ‘Fred: The Show’ received low ratings and was dubbed one of the worst TV shows of all time. Thankfully, it was no big deal to Lucas, who has continued to reign supreme on social media ever since.

Irene Ng hasn’t been seen much since her time as Shelby Woo

If you were just as baffled as others ‘The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo’ in the 1990s, you’ll know that the show wouldn’t have been a success if it wasn’t for Shelby Woo herself. Played by Irene Ng, this character took the show to a whole new level. Shelby was the ultimate brainiac, but what about the actress behind her?

Well, after her stint as Shelby, Irene stayed in the acting world for a short while, working on the likes of ‘Law & Order’ and ‘Teen Angel.’ However, she then decided to step away from the limelight and pursue a formal education. After graduating from college, Irene worked for a bank before forming her own Mandarin school.

Christopher Massey is set to return as his famous Zoey 101 character

‘Zoey 101’ was full of countless young actors, and Christopher Massey was one. He was 15 years old when he took the role of Michael Barret, and it wasn’t long before fans fell for his comedy and acting skills. This role truly thrust the actor into the limelight, but this all came to an end when the show abruptly finished.

Most recently, Christopher has been announced as part of the cast for the ‘Zoey 101’ revival film, ‘Zoey 102.’ However, things haven’t been great for the actor. In 2015, Christopher was assaulted and robbed by rapper Lil Twist and assailants, with the actor being arrested himself for domestic issues the following year. No charges were pressed.

Melissa Joan Hart enjoyed a host of successful leading Nickelodeon roles

There are two kinds of people in this world. There are those who know Melissa Joan Hart for her role in ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch,’ and there are those who know her from ‘Clarissa Explains It All.’ If you’re part of the latter, you probably loved Nickelodeon in the ‘90s, and it gave Melissa her chance to shine.

As well as becoming a Nickelodeon star, Melissa has continued to build an impressive career. Working behind the camera is one thing, but starring in the sitcom ‘Melissa & Joey’ gave Melissa an entirely new generation of fans. Most recently, fans have been able to enjoy Melissa in the latest season of ‘The Masked Singer,’ where she was unveiled as Lamp.

Matthew Underwood turned to working behind the scenes after his Zoey 101 days

Another member of the ‘Zoey 101’ alumni comes in the form of Matthew Underwood. This young actor was the ultimate troublemaker on this show, and there’s no doubt that his bad-boy image thrust him into the hearts of many fans. However, you might be wondering why you haven’t seen that much of this actor since his heyday.

Although he’s spent plenty of years working behind the camera as a filmmaker, Matthew is set to reprise his role in the upcoming ‘Zoey 102’ reboot. However, things haven’t been entirely smooth. Matthew was arrested in 2012 for narcotics and having a 17-year-old in his bed, but things did improve when he rescued a baby in 2017.

Ricardo Medina Jr. fell off his Nickelodeon fame after several legal issues

The Power Rangers might be some of the most famous heroes out there, as the guys and gals have dominated the TV and movie game for decades. As if that wasn’t enough, there have been plenty of revivals in that time. In 2011, it was Nickelodeon’s turn with ‘Samurai.’ Here, Ricardo Medina Jr. got the chance to play Red Ranger.

Although fans loved to see this man overpower the bad guys, nobody had any idea what would really happen in 2015. Ricardo’s roommate lost his life, and all eyes were on the former star. He wasn’t arrested until the following year, with Ricardo pleading guilty to voluntarily ending someone’s life. He served his sentence and was ultimately released in 2020.

Kenan Thompson is arguably the more famous half of Kenan & Kel

Kel wouldn’t be complete without his Kenan, with Kenan Thompson becoming one of the most-loved Nickelodeon stars of his time. Like his co-star, Kenan was able to show off his comedic talent within various shows on the network, and this allowed him to build up a fan base that is still going strong all these years later.

Being cast in the sketch show ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2003 and still being there two decades later means he’s the longest-serving cast member of all time and is incredibly loved across the nation. Amazingly, Kenan somehow found time to appear in the sitcom ‘Kenan,’ which ended after a year in 2022, alongside his busy schedule.

Josh Server auditioned several times before he landed a role in All That

Josh Server made his Nickelodeon debut in 1992, with the network changing his life forever. The young actor auditioned for ‘All That’ five or six times, but his hard work eventually paid off. In fact, Josh became the only member of the cast who appeared in all six seasons, and he soon became one of the most iconic characters.

His larger-than-life personality and acting talent also allowed Josh the chance to work on other Nickelodeon shows, such as ‘The Amanda Show’ and ‘Figure It Out,’ and his fame has continued to this day. He recently appeared on the revival of ‘All That,’ with his latest show, the Nickelodeon comedy series ‘Warped!,’ acting as his latest credit.

Summer Sanders was already an Olympic legend before joining Nickelodeon

With a name like Summer Sanders, most people knew this star was going to succeed. Unlike some of the other Nickelodeon stars, Summer was actually already in her 20s when she made her network debut. In fact, she was already a famous name in the world of swimming before appearing as the host of the ‘Figure It Out’ quiz show.

She won her first set of Olympic Gold medals in 1992, a whopping seven years before ‘Figure It Out’ hit our screens. While her time on Nickelodeon was short-lived, her time in Hollywood hasn’t been. Although she no longer competes, Summer still works as a sports commentator and television personality. We don’t think she’ll be going away anytime soon.

Drake Bell was so popular on Nickelodeon that he was given his own show

There would be no ‘Drake & Josh’ without Drake, right? Drake Bell made his professional acting mark when he was just five years old and was ultimately cast in ‘The Amanda Show’ on Nickelodeon. Apparently, he was such a popular addition to the series that Drake was given his own show with his best friend: ‘Drake & Josh.’

Sadly, while his time on Nickelodeon paved his music career, things have been far from perfect for Drake ever since. Several legal issues, such as driving under the influence and assault, have seen him in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Most recently, Drake was reported missing before he was found safe, and his wife filed for a divorce.

Nate Richert earned plenty of fans during his time as Harvey in Sabrina the Teenage Witch

‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’ introduced Melissa Joan Hart to the world, but the series would have been nothing without Harvey Kinkle. The loveable character was brought to life by none other than Nate Richert, who joined the show at the beginning and went on to appear in a whopping 123 episodes. Thankfully, it all ended perfectly for the two characters.

While most fans loved his work and couldn’t wait to see what he would do next, it seems Nate wanted to embark on a quieter life. In 2018, he confirmed in a tell-all interview that his battle with anxiety and depression stopped him from pursuing the acting career he really wanted, but Nate has been busy working on his music.

Daniel DeSanto became a Nickelodeon star before transitioning to the big screen

When you see Daniel DeSanto, there's a chance you want to call him a “Skeeze” because that’s what Gretchen Weiner called him, right? What many don’t know is that ‘Mean Girls’ Jason actually made his mark on Nickelodeon in the 1990s. In fact, Daniel took on a leading role in the 1994 horror anthology, ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’

He quickly became a staple on the small screen and even starred in the likes of ‘The Magic School Bus’ and ‘Goosebumps.’ So, what is he up to now? As well as being a big name in the world of children’s TV, Daniel has also taken on recent roles in the dark comedy show ‘Imposters’ and the sitcom ‘Workin’ Moms.’

Miranda Cosgrove was so popular on Nickelodeon that she earned her own show

While some people know her for her role in ‘School of Rock,’ Nickelodeon fans in the 1990s and 2000s might have other ideas. After taking on the role of Summer Hathaway, Miranda was given a chance to become a leading lady in ‘Drake & Josh.’ This thrust her into the limelight, and also earned her the attention of Nickelodeon executives.

It wasn’t too long before she was given another role on ‘iCarly.’ Since then, the actress has continued her impressive career and worked on various blockbuster movies, including the animated film ‘Despicable Me,’ but that’s not all. Miranda has continued to show off her talents in the likes of the horror movie ‘The Intruders’ and the comedy-drama ‘North Hollywood.’

Robert Ri’chard showcased incredible acting talents during his Cousin Skeeter run

You had to watch at least one show that involved a puppet when you were younger, right? Thankfully, Nickelodeon provided us with the perfect show to watch in 1998. ‘Cousin Skeeter’ aired for two years, and it was down to the young Robert Ri’Chard to not only impress us with his own acting but also his interaction with a puppet.

This couldn’t have been easy, but Robert absolutely smashed it - and the rest of the world seemed to agree. After Nickelodeon, Robert was cast in countless other television shows and movies. Most recently, Robert has been seen in the comedy shows ‘The Rich and the Ruthless’ and ‘Harlem’ as well as the musical drama show ‘Empire.’

Ryan Rottman lost his Nickelodeon fame almost as soon as it came

If you cast your mind back to 2010, you might remember ‘Gigantic’ making its way onto our screens. This show was pretty short-lived, but it gave Ryan Rottman a chance to showcase his acting talent. His role as Joey Colvin seemed to work wonders for his career, and many believed that he would be a hot new name in Hollywood.

The following year that all came to an end when Rottman was pulled over by police who noticed him driving erratically. Although he failed a sobriety test and was taken to the station, he was later released. Thankfully, his career bounced back, with Ryan appearing in a handful of TV movies and short films since.

Ariana Grande has created an entirely new career after her Nickelodeon days

Ariana Grande has one of the greatest voices of this generation, and it was through Nickelodeon that the world first got to see that. Ariana appeared as part of the ensemble cast on ‘Victorious,’ where she got to showcase her acting skills as the bubbly and hilarious Cat Valentine. When the show ended, she continued the role on ‘Sam & Cat.’

Younger fans of Ariana probably don’t even realize that she has all this acting talent, given she’s spent much of the last decade releasing chart topping hits. However, she has continued to act at times, including the black comedy series ‘Scream Queens.’ Her biggest role is yet to come, though, with the upcoming musical film ‘Wicked,’ where she’ll play Glinda.

Amanda Bynes became one of Nickelodeon’s biggest stars with her own show

Not many people can say they were famous at ten years old, but Amanda Bynes can. The actress landed her big break when she was cast in ‘All That’ in the ‘90s, but her popularity soon soared - and she was given her own show. ‘The Amanda Show’ proved to be popular and allowed the teenager to forge an incredible career.

While Amanda went on to star in several movies, including the musical ‘Hairspray’ and the comedy ‘She’s the Man,’ things haven’t always been bright. The actress struggled with her mental health and showcased this within her social media posts and her illegal actions. After being in a conservatorship until March 2022, Amanda has since worked on turning things around.

Jennette McCurdy was once on just about every Nickelodeon show possible

There’s a chance Nickelodeon fans have seen Jennette McCurdy a time or two, as the leading star has appeared in a host of the network’s shows throughout her career. Working on ‘iCarly,’ ‘Sam & Cat,’ ‘Zoey 101,’ and ‘Victorious’ has certainly helped Jennette earn more than a few fans, but things haven’t always been easy for the actress.

In 2019, McCurdy confirmed that she had been struggling with numerous eating disorders at the height of her Nickelodeon fame. At one point, her eating disorder became so bad her tooth enamel became worn down, and she would often pass out in between filming. Then, in 2022, Jennette released a tell-all book about the abuse she suffered from her mom.