Nathan Kress, the actor who became a household name playing tech-whiz Freddie Benson on the hit Nickelodeon series iCarly, is now almost unrecognisable over a decade after the show concluded. The 33-year-old, who shot to fame at just 15, has swapped the spotlight for family life and is now a father of three, with his acting career taking a quieter path in recent years.
From Teen Sensation to Family Man
Kress was launched into stardom when iCarly premiered in 2007, starring alongside Miranda Cosgrove, Jennette McCurdy, and Jerry Trainor. The series ran for six successful seasons, cementing itself as a defining part of many childhoods before ending in 2012. Thirteen years on, Kress's life has transformed. He and his wife, actress London Elsie Moore, have welcomed two daughters and a son, and he has largely stepped back from the public eye.
A 'Daunting' Return to Acting
However, Kress has now made a return to the microphone, taking on what he describes as a 'daunting' new role. He provides the voice for the titular character in the Amazon Prime animated film A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas. In an interview with People magazine, Kress admitted feeling significant pressure in voicing such an iconic figure.
'It was a lot of pressure. It sounds crazy... it's just a cartoon character. But it's not though,' he explained. 'I feel like people have this weird innate expectation of what that character might actually sound like.'
He revealed that the process required deep acting consideration to capture the heart and energy of the character, a challenge he ultimately found rewarding. Kress praised the heartfelt script and believes the movie, with its mix of slapstick for kids and clever one-liners for adults, will 'resonate across generations.'
Career Evolution and iCarly Revival
Kress's career began in commercials before landing small TV roles. His part in Drake & Josh in 2006 caught the eye of creator Dan Schneider, leading to his life-changing iCarly casting a year later. Post-iCarly, he appeared in films like Into the Storm and did voice work for Star Wars Rebels.
In 2021, he reprised his role as Freddie Benson for the Paramount+ revival of iCarly, which lasted for three seasons. Since that project concluded, he has again opted for a lower profile, focusing on his young family while selectively choosing new creative ventures like the Chuck E. Cheese film.
