You probably know Nathan Kress as Freddie Benson. The tech-obsessed, camera-clutching neighbor from iCarly who spent years pining after Carly Shay. But if you’re a die-hard Nickelodeon fan, you might have done a double-take while watching Henry Danger. Seeing Nathan Kress on screen in Swellview feels like a glitch in the multiverse.
Wait, is he Freddie? Is he himself?
The Nathan Kress Henry Danger connection is actually one of the most interesting "full circle" moments in Nick history. It’s not just a quick cameo for clout. It actually marked a massive shift in his career from being the guy in front of the lens to the one calling the shots behind it.
That Bizarre Birthday Cameo
Let’s get the obvious thing out of the way first. Nathan Kress actually appeared as a guest star in the Season 1 episode "Birthday Girl Down." If you blink, you might miss the context. He isn't playing Freddie Benson. He isn't playing a superhero.
He plays himself.
In the episode, he’s essentially a suspect at a birthday party where things go sideways. It’s a meta-joke. The show treats him like a celebrity guest, which is a fun nod to the fans who grew up watching him. But the real meat of his involvement with the show has nothing to do with his acting.
Honestly, the acting was just the appetizer.
The Directing Debut: Caved In
Most people don't realize that Nathan Kress has directed more of Henry Danger than he has acted in it. A lot more.
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His directorial debut happened with the episode "Caved In." This was a huge deal back in 2015. Transitioning from child star to director is a notoriously difficult jump. Most people fail. They get stuck in the "where are they now" articles. But Dan Schneider (the creator) actually gave Kress the reins, and he didn't blow it.
He was only about 22 at the time. Imagine being that age and trying to tell a room full of seasoned crew members and energetic kids like Jace Norman what to do. Stressful? Absolutely.
Kress has mentioned in interviews that it was intimidating. He didn't want to be "the kid from iCarly" trying to play boss. He wanted to be a legitimate director. And it worked. He ended up directing 11 episodes of the series in total.
Every Episode Directed by Nathan Kress
If you want to go back and watch his work, here is the roadmap. You can actually see his style evolve as the show gets weirder and the stunts get bigger:
- Caved In (The big debut)
- The Bucket Trap
- Captain Man: On Vacation
- Indestructible Henry, Part 1
- Scream Machine
- Budget Cuts
- Diamonds Are For Heather
- Car Trek
- Whistlin' Susie (He also did some voice work here!)
- Broken Armed and Dangerous
- Sister Twister, Part 2
He didn't just stop at Henry Danger, either. He took those skills over to Game Shakers and eventually directed episodes of the iCarly revival.
The "Freddie Benson" Confusion
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around TikTok and old forums about a massive iCarly and Henry Danger crossover.
Let’s set the record straight: Freddie Benson does not technically exist in the Henry Danger universe as a "real" person. Because Nathan Kress appeared as himself in "Birthday Girl Down," it implies that iCarly is just a TV show within the world of Swellview.
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This is confirmed in Game Shakers (which exists in the same universe as Henry Danger), where the characters explicitly talk about iCarly as a show.
It’s confusing. I know.
But it makes that one cameo even funnier. When Henry and Ray see Nathan Kress, they aren't seeing a tech wizard from Seattle. They’re seeing a famous actor who used to be on a show they probably watched.
Why This Matters for the Fans
Seeing Nathan Kress on the Henry Danger set was a passing of the torch. Jace Norman (Henry Hart) was the new face of the network, and Nathan was the veteran.
According to behind-the-scenes reports and cast interviews, Kress was like a mentor. He had already lived the "teen idol" life. He knew the pressure of carrying a hit show. Having him behind the camera gave the young cast someone to talk to who actually got it.
He wasn't some corporate director who just wanted to get the shot and go home. He cared about the comedic timing. He understood the "Nickelodeon rhythm"—that specific, high-energy, slightly chaotic vibe that defines these shows.
Common Misconceptions
You'll see people claim that Nathan Kress played a villain. He didn't.
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Others think he was in the "Danger Games" crossover with Game Shakers. While he did direct episodes of both shows, he wasn't part of that specific crossover event as an actor.
People also confuse him with other guest stars like Jack Griffo or Benjamin Flores Jr. (who both had major roles). Nathan stayed mostly in the shadows, which is probably why his episodes are some of the most technically sound in the series. He was focused on the craft, not the screen time.
How to Spot a "Kress Episode"
Next time you're binge-watching on Paramount+ or Netflix, pay attention to the episodes Nathan directed.
They usually have great physical comedy. Think about "Caved In"—the whole episode is about being trapped in a small space. That requires tight directing to keep it from being boring.
He also has a knack for "The Pear" tech jokes. Having spent years using those fake PearPhones and PearPads on iCarly, he knew exactly how to make the Swellview gadgets look natural (or hilariously unnatural) on screen.
Next Steps for the Superfan:
- Re-watch "Birthday Girl Down": Look for the "DanWarp" sign in the background during the party scenes.
- Check the Credits: Seriously, look for "Directed by Nathan Kress." It pops up more often than you'd think in Seasons 2 and 3.
- Compare the Styles: Watch an episode directed by Steve Hoefer (the veteran) and then watch Nathan's "Captain Man: On Vacation." You'll see how Nathan kept the legacy alive while adding his own flavor to the humor.
Nathan Kress didn't just "appear" in Henry Danger. He helped build it. Whether he was a suspect at a party or the guy yelling "action" from the director's chair, his DNA is all over the show's most successful years.