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Revision as of 04:34, 15 June 2009

Josh Peck
Born
Joshua Michael Peck
Occupation(s)Actor, Voice Actor, Singer
Years active1996 – present

Joshua Michael "Josh" Peck (born November 10, 1986) is an American actor, comedian, occasional director, producer, and singer well known for playing Josh Nichols in the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh. He started out as a child actor in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and became known to young audiences after his role on the The Amanda Show as well as in the films Snow Day, Max Keeble's Big Move, Mean Creek, Drillbit Taylor, and The Wackness.

Biography

Early life

Peck was born in the Hell's Kitchen area of New York City, New York, where he attended The Professional Performing Arts School. His parents were unmarried at the time of his birth and Peck never knew his father. He grew up with his mother, Barbara, who is a career coach,[1][2] and his maternal grandmother. Peck had asthma during his childhood, and often stayed indoors watching old sitcoms. Peck has described himself as a "Jewish kid that grew up in New York City just trying to hustle and make it in life". [3] He performed in children's musical theater at New York's TADA! Youth Theater when he was nine years old. He was inspired to become involved in stand-up comedy when he was eight years old.

Career

Peck subsequently appeared in local children's theater, as well as performed stand-up comedy at the Caroline's Comedy Club for the Audrey Hepburn foundation. At the age of 14, he was offered a role on Nickelodeon's The Amanda Show and, at his mother's suggestion, accepted the part and moved to Los Angeles to further pursue an acting career.

Peck made his film debut in the 2000 film, Snow Day and appeared regularly on The Amanda Show until the end of its run in 2002. He also starred opposite Alex D. Linz and Zena Grey in the theatrical film, Max Keeble's Big Move, which was released on October 5, 2001. In 2001, he guest starred in an episode of the popular NBC drama ER called Thy Will Be Done. During this time period, Peck appeared in several independent films, including Spun and 2004's Mean Creek, for which he received critical praise. He was cast as Josh Nichols, opposite Drake Bell's Drake Parker, in another Nickelodeon sitcom, Drake & Josh, which began airing in 2004 and gained Peck recognition among young audiences. Josh's character, Josh Nichols, was spastic, crazy, and emphatic. In Drake and Josh, Josh was always being tormented along with Drake Bell's character Drake Parker by Miranda Cosgrove or her character Megan Parker. Both characters sing in a remake of the song "Soul Man" by Sam and Dave. In 2006, Bell and Peck starred in their own TV movie called Drake & Josh Go Hollywood, and in 2007, they starred in a sequel called Drake & Josh: Really Big Shrimp. He was nominated for Favorite Television Actor at the 2008 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for his work on Drake & Josh. Peck also made his debut as a director in the Drake & Josh episode, Battle of Panthatar.He has also appeared in the series finale of What's New, Scooby-Doo?, an episode of Codename: Kids Next Door called Operation: C.A.K.E.D.-F.I.V.E., and the direct-to-video New Line Cinema film Havoc. His latest movie he performed in is called "Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh".

In 2006, Peck appeared in the independent film Special, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and he voiced Eddie, one of two possum brothers, in the animated sequel, Ice Age: The Meltdown, which was released on March 31 of that year. Peck played a high school bully in 2008's Drillbit Taylor, and starred in the films The Wackness (released July 2008), American Primitive, Safety Glass, and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Josh Peck will also star in a new movie called The Hearts of Men, which said to be released next year.[4]

Personal life

Peck's favorite actors and inspirations are Richard Pryor, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Lewis, Bill Cosby, Ben Kingsley, and Morgan Freeman.[2] Peck, like his real-life best friend Drake & Josh co-star Drake Bell, plays the piano. In the third season of Drake & Josh, Peck was significantly thinner than he used to be, and by the fourth season of the show, he had lost even more weight. According to a 2006 interview, Peck stated that:

"I made a conscious effort to lose weight because I knew I could be happier as well as being healthier. I started by going on a diet a year and a half ago and I got a personal trainer, but I definitely have a healthier lifestyle now. Also I feel that because I do so much television, I am a better role model. I don’t really understand why I should be a role model, but I know that kids do look up to me, so it is my responsibility to motivate people and be inspiring. I hope that I can do that for kids. It doesn't really matter what you look like though, it is who you are that matters, of course."[2]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
2000 The Newcomers Callum Jupp
Snow Day Wayne Alworth
2001 Max Keeble's Big Move Robe
2002 Spun Fat Boy
2004 Mean Creek George Tooney
2005 Havoc Josh Rubin
2006 Special Joey
Ice Age: The Meltdown Eddie voice
2008 Drillbit Taylor Ronnie Lampinelli
American Primitive Spoke White
What Goes Up Jim
The Wackness Luke Shapiro
2009 Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Eddie post-production, voice
2010 The Hearts of Men TBA pre-production
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1999 – 2002 The Amanda Show Josh
2001 ER Nick Stevens Episode: Thy Will Be Done
Family Guy Charlie Episode: The Kiss Seen Around the World
Samurai Jack Alien Kid Episode: Aku's Fairy Tales
2002 – 2003 Whatever Happened to Robot Jones? Lenny voice
2004 – 2007 Drake & Josh Josh Nichols
2006 Drake & Josh Go Hollywood Josh Nichols Nickelodeon Made For TV-Movie
Codename: Kids Next Door Numbuh Episode: Operation C.A.K.E.D.-F.I.V.E.
What's New, Scooby-Doo? Damian Episode: E-Scream
2007 Drake & Josh: Really Big Shrimp Josh Nichols Nickelodeon TV-Movie
2008 Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh Josh Nichols Nickelodeon TV-Movie
Stand Up to Cancer Josh AOL

References

  1. ^ Keck, William (2004-08-25). "Josh Peck lightens up". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-01-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ a b c "INTERVIEW: Josh Peck Talks Ice Age: The Meltdown". MovieWeb. 2006-03-29. Retrieved 2008-01-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Douglas, Edward (2008-01-25). "Josh Peck on The Wackness". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved 2008-01-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/01/08/josh-peck-cast-in-hearts-of-men-what-goes-up-photos/