Josh Peck

Background

Joshua Michael Peck was born on November 10, 1986, in New York City. He grew up in Hell’s Kitchen and was raised by his mother Barbara, a career coach, and his maternal grandmother. Peck is Jewish like both his parents. As a child, Peck struggled with asthma and spent much of his time indoors watching sitcoms. He developed an interest in stand-up comedy at eight years old and appeared on the “Rosie O’ Donnell Show” when he was 10. He attended P.S. 40 and The Professional Performing Arts School. Peck appeared at TADA! Youth Theater and Carolines on Broadway performing stand-up comedy for the Audrey Hepburn foundation. At 13, he was offered a part on Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show” and subsequently moved to Los Angeles to further his acting career.

Peck was a regular on “The Amanda Show” for the entirety of its run (2000 to 2001). He appeared as a voice star and in minor roles on many shows such as “E.R.”, “Family Guy,” and “Samurai Jack” until being offered the role of Josh Nichols in “Drake & Josh” in 2004. Peck gained popularity among young audiences in the successful Nickelodeon show. During his time on the show, he sang a duet and made his debut as a director for one of the episodes. Along with his co-star Drake Bell, he starred in the T.V. movies “Drake & Josh Go Hollywood” (2006), “Drake & Josh: Really Big Shrimp” (2007), and “Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh” (2008). He was nominated for ‘Favorite Television Actor’ for “Drake & Josh” at the 2008 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

Peck also appeared in several movies during the 2000s. He made his debut on the silver screen in “Snow Day” (2000) and starred in several independent films such as “Spun” (2002), “Mean Creek” (2004), and “Special” (2006), which earned him critical praise. Peck has been active on television and in movies throughout his career. He has appeared or provided his voice to mostly youth-focused television shows such as “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?” (2006), “Victorious” (2011), “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2013 to 2017), and “iCarly” (2022). He voiced Eddie in the animated movie “Ice Age: The Meltdown” (2006) and reprised his role in the sequels in 2009 and 2012. In 2012, he also featured in the remake of “Red Dawn”. Peck currently stars in the Hulu series “How I Met Your Father” and hosts a podcast titled “Curious with Josh Peck.” Peck conducts discussions with celebrities about current topics and their personal lives on the podcast. On March 15, 2022, he released a memoir called “Happy People Are Annoying.” He is active on social media posting regularly on Instagram and TikTok.

He regularly contributes to David Dobrik’s vlog and “The Vlog Squad” while running his own YouTube channel. Peck’s upcoming projects include a role in the biographical drama “Oppenheimer” set to release in 2023. Sometime around the fourth season of “Drake & Josh”, Peck made a conscious effort to work on his health and body. He adopted a healthier lifestyle, hired a professional trainer, and was noticeably slimmer. In June 2017, he tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Paige O’Brien. A year later in December, they welcomed their first child Max Milo Peck. In 2022, Peck spoke up about his past struggles with addiction and mental health. Since 2008, Peck has been sober.