A low-key love story. Drake Bell and estranged wife Janet Von Schmeling kept their romance private for the majority of their relationship.
The Nickelodeon alum revealed in July 2021 that he and Von Schmeling had recently welcomed son Wyatt together after quietly tying the knot in 2018.
“In response to various rumors that are incorrect, I have been married for almost three years, and we are blessed to be the parents of a wonderful son,” he wrote in Spanish via Twitter at the time. “Thank you very much to all my fans around the world for your good wishes.”
The announcement came just two weeks after Bell pleaded guilty to two criminal counts of attempted child endangerment and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles for sending inappropriate messages to a then-15-year-old girl in 2017. He was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service in July 2021.
Von Schmeling, for her part, did not publicly address her then-husband’s legal trouble. However, the model did make headlines in March 2022 for slamming Bell’s former Drake & Josh costar Josh Peck.
“Anytime anybody asked about Josh I would say, ‘He is so nice. Oh, they are so great.’ I am done lying to everyone when Josh Peck is a total piece of s—t,” she said via her Instagram Story at the time. “I stay quiet until lies happen.”
The comments came after Peck claimed during an appearance on the “BFFs” podcast that Bell had created “this narrative that just wasn’t true” regarding his decision to not invite the “I Know” musician to his 2017 wedding to Paige O’Brien.
Despite sparking controversy on numerous occasions throughout the years, Bell and Von Schmeling continued to keep their relationship largely out of the public eye until they called it quits in late 2022. Schmeling seemingly hinted at the separation that December.
“I’m HEALING and trying to find peace. This will be a process,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “My son is with me and will stay with me, we are in Florida with family and we are safe. We are finding our forever home here.”
Despite the exes going their separate ways, they both continued to share moments with their son via social media.
“Disney World with my best friend!!” Bell captioned a February 2023 Instagram snap of himself and Wyatt smiling at the theme park. Two months later, the Daytona Beach Police Department issued a statement via Facebook notifying the public that the Amanda Show alum was “missing and considered endangered.”
“He should be traveling in a 2022 grey BMW and his last known location is potentially the area of Mainland High School on 4/12/2023 just before 9 p.m.,” the statement read. Later that day, the law enforcement agency updated the post, noting that Bell had been found. “We can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe,” the update read.
Keep scrolling for a look at Bell and Von Schmeling’s relationship over the years:
