Entertainment
Drake Bell Reflects on Coverage of His Teenage ‘Missteps’ (Exclusive)
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- Drake Bell starred in The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh on Nickelodeon in the 2000s
- The actor tells PEOPLE about “trying to figure out life” as an “adolescent” after Drake & Josh ended in 2007
- Bell says “there’s a strong love” for his music “outside the U.S.” and he will be heading to South America for tour dates in support of his latest album, Non-Stop Flight
Life in Hollywood can be tough on anyone, but navigating it as a kid put extra pressure on Drake Bell.
“When you’re an adult, of course, it still has [an] effect, but when you’re this adolescent trying to figure out life and all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Why every time?’” Bell, 38, tells PEOPLE.
The Nickelodeon alum feels like even when he didn’t “make a mistake” while out and about in the 2000s, the media would try to make it seem like he did.
“You’re walking with your friends and you trip outside of the Chateau Marmont on your way to the taco shop, and all of a sudden the next day it’s like, ‘Drake Bell stumbles drunk out of the Chateau Marmont,’” Bell says. “You’re like, ‘There was a crack! I tripped on the sidewalk!’ It’s always just that highlighting of all of your missteps.”
Charley Gallay/WireImage
Bell came up during the peak tabloid era, but he’ll take that over today’s intense social media scrutiny.
“I’m thankful that Josh and I missed the social media era while we were working,” he says of former Drake & Josh costar Josh Peck. “We didn’t have to compare, ‘Why did Josh have more followers than I do on Instagram? Oh, Josh got more likes on his picture than I did that I posted. What do I have to do?’ I’m just so glad that we didn’t have to live through that.”
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Though Bell has been focusing on his music as he tours the world for his latest album, Non-Stop Flight, the “I Kind of Relate” singer hasn’t abandoned acting. Bell reveals he’s been working on a “fun romantic comedy” in Mexico, where he’s amassed a large fan base.
“I’m in Mexico a lot,” Bell says. “I recorded half my record there. I do a lot of work there, but I feel like I don’t have a permanent place right now just because I’m traveling so much. It’s literally spend two days in my apartment and then every other day is in a hotel, on a plane, in a car. I’m not sure where I live right now!”
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The ex-teen star does consider Mexico home now, though, after his music took off there following the end of Drake & Josh.
“I don’t know if in the States maybe sometimes there’s been a stigma of like, ‘Oh, you’re on TV. You’re not a real music [person].’ They just blur the lines outside the United States,” Bell hypothesizes of why his music took off in Mexico and South America. “So they know me from the show, but the first time we went out there, they’re singing all the lyrics from the album, the songs that aren’t on the show, and fans are telling me about my lyrics and my songs. There’s a strong love for the music outside the U.S. It’s really cool.”
Bell says that “loving what I do” has helped him navigate life after opening up about the sexual abuse he endured as a child star under his former dialogue coach Brian Peck in the Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV docuseries last year.
“I want to get on stage and perform. I want to make movies and TV. I want to make people laugh,” he continues. “I got to just stay focused and happy and healthy and keep my mind away from the demons. They’re always there, but being positive, trying not to dwell and keeping people around you that care about you, that’s something that I really gained. I have people that really care about what I have to say, and I need to focus on this.”
Entertainment
Randolph Mantooth, ‘Emergency!’ star who played Johnny Gage, dead at 80

Randolph Mantooth, the actor best known for playing firefighter-paramedic Johnny Gage on NBC’s hit 1970s series “Emergency!,” has died. He was 80.
Mantooth died Thursday at a hospice facility in Ventura, Calif., after a long illness, his brother Donald Mantooth told The Hollywood Reporter.
Donald said the actor had “been ill for a number of years and kept getting thinner and thinner.”
Mantooth shot to fame in 1972 when he was cast as Johnny Gage on “Emergency!,” the NBC drama that introduced the profession of paramedics to millions of viewers.
He starred alongside Kevin Tighe on the series, which ran for six seasons, and performed most of his own stunts.
The actor later reprised his role as Gage on shows including “Adam-12” and remained a longtime advocate for firefighters, paramedics and EMTs.
Mantooth recalled the positive reception he received from firefighters after the show aired, saying the “Emergency!” cast “did not want to make them look bad.”
“They were so ecstatic that they had a show about them,” Mantooth said in a 2013 interview, according to the Television Academy. “Because there’s always shows about cops. There’s always shows about lawyers and doctors. But here’s a show about the fire department! I mean, their hair stood up on end. It’s like, ‘yeah, honey, that’s what I do!’”
“They took to us well because we did not want to make them look bad. We wanted to make them look like exactly who they were — heroes,” Mantooth added. “Now, everyone’s got to have a flaw. It drives me crazy. I don’t care about your flaws. Just show me what you do. How’s the job done? And do it real. Show me!”
Born in Sacramento, Calif., Mantooth discovered acting through school plays after his family settled in the Santa Barbara area, according to IMDb.
He attended Santa Barbara City College before earning a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
After being spotted in a stage production of “Philadelphia, Here I Come,” he signed with Universal and launched his television career.
Before “Emergency!,” he appeared on series including “Ironside,” “The Virginian,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “The Bold Ones,” “McCloud” and “Alias Smith and Jones.”
After the show ended, Mantooth continued acting for decades, appearing on “Dallas,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “The Love Boat,” “Criminal Minds,” “Ghost Whisperer” and “Sons of Anarchy.”
He also had a lengthy run in daytime television, playing Clay Alden and later Alex Masters on “Loving,” Richard Halifax on “General Hospital,” and appearing on “One Life to Live,” “As the World Turns” and “The City.”
Mantooth’s “Loving” co-star Rena Sofer mourned her “dear friend” and mentor, who “took me under his wing.”
“I have so much to say about him, so much love for him that I am left speechless,” Sofer posted on Instagram on Friday night. “This man came into my life when I was 18 years old and never left. He took me under his wing as he did to most young actors he ever met. He treated me with respect and kindness but most of all friendship.
“We have been lifelong friends and I cherish every moment I had with him. He was a friend to so many, a true great friend.”
Mantooth is survived by his wife, Kristen, and his siblings, Donald and Tonya.
Entertainment
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle’s kids reunite with grandpa King Charles for first time in 4 years
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s kids reunited with their grandfather King Charles for first time in four years, Page Six can confirm.
Markle joined Harry in the United Kingdom with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 after initially canceling their plans due to security concerns.
Reps for Harry and Markle declined Page Six’s request for comment.


He and Markle have not brought their children to England since 2022.
Page Six first confirmed on Thursday that the Duchess of Sussex and the little ones would make it across the pond, but have no plans to make public appearances.
According to our insider, the family of four hopes to travel to Princess Diana’s burial site at Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, England.
The couple are attempting to make plans for their little ones to visit their grandfather, King Charles III, who has been battling cancer, per our source.
The Mirror also reported Thursday that Harry is “frantically” planning a reunion between his children and his father and working to get private security for their travels.
Last month, Page Six reported that the Markle, 44, and Harry, 41, scrapped plans to have the whole family return to his homeland after they were denied taxpayer-funded security.
“Their plans to see family, friends and visit various charitable causes close to the duke’s heart have been pulled out from under their feet at the 11th hour,” a source told the Guardian at the time.
Per the insider, the Duke of Sussex is still “looking at every option to try and get” Markle and their kids to England “safely and keep them safe when they’re on the ground.”
Harry ended up traveling to the UK on his own to promote various charities, including kicking off the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.
The “Spare” author lost security privileges in 2020 after he and his wife resigned from their royal duties.
As a result, he has refrained from traveling to England with his family because he “does not feel safe.”
Entertainment
‘Real Housewives’ star reveals son was involved in starting a wildfire

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
“Real Housewives of Orange County” star Jennifer Pedranti confirmed the “rumblings” Thursday that one of her sons was involved with starting a wildfire in Ladera Ranch, California, and is now facing “consequences.”
Pedranti did not name which son, but she shares four sons with ex-husband William Pedranti — 22-year-old Harrison, 19-year-old Dawson, 16-year-old Greyson and 12-year-old Dominic.
The former couple also share daughter Everleigh, 14.
“He and others were involved,” Jennifer wrote. “My ex husband and myself take this very serious. This behavior is unacceptable and we are deeply sorry to our community. This is a tough learning moment for our son and our family.”
“We were so thankful there was no property damage and nobody was hurt. The fire and police were absolutely amazing and gave these boys a lesson they will never forget,” she continued.
The reality star, 49, said that while there were no arrests made, their son will be disciplined.
“He will be taking a fire safety course to make sure a mistake like this never happens again,” she shared. “There are consequences within our family and we will make sure our son learns from this accident.”
The Ladera Ranch fire was reported at 4:45 p.m. local time Tuesday, but firefighters — both on the ground and in the air in a coordinated effort — were able to contain the flames after it spread across seven acres.
Firefighters were able to stop the blaze before it reached nearby homes.
According to Reuters, the brush fire broke out in the backyard hills of Ladera Ranch and prompted a rapid response from the Orange County Fire Authority, which used aircraft to drop fire retardant on the flames alongside ground crews.
Jennifer, who has been a main cast member on “RHOC” since Season 17, split from William in 2021 after nearly 20 years of marriage.
She got engaged to real estate developer Ryan Boyajian, 48, in April 2024.
Jennifer’s post about her son’s involvement in the Ladera Ranch wildfire comes the same day “The Real Housewives of Orange County” returns for its milestone 20th season on Bravo.
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