You probably remember Freddie Benson as the guy with the camera, the one perpetually stuck between Carly’s sweetness and Sam’s... well, Sam-ness. But honestly, if you haven’t checked in on Nathan Kress lately, you’re missing the most interesting part of the story. He isn’t that scrawny kid in the tech vest anymore. He’s 33. He’s a dad of three. And weirdly enough, he’s spent more time calling "action" than waiting for it.
Growing up on a soundstage is a trip. Most child stars either vanish into the "where are they now" abyss or stay stuck in a loop of nostalgia. Kress did something different. He leaned into the technical side of the business that his character, Freddie, was always obsessed with. It’s almost like life imitated art, but with a lot more creative control and way fewer "random dancing" interruptions.
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The iCarly Reboot and the "Grown-Up" Freddie
When the iCarly revival hit Paramount+ back in 2021, fans expected the same old tropes. Instead, they got a version of Freddie Benson that felt painfully real. He was a twice-divorced millennial living back with his mom (the iconic Mary Scheer) after a failed startup. It was a bold move. Kress himself pushed for that direction. He didn't want a "glossy" version of the character where everything was perfect.
He wanted Freddie to be the guy who had been through the ringer.
Kress recently mentioned in an interview with People that it’s "surreal" to have his oldest daughter, Rosie, watching the original show now. She's eight. That’s roughly the age of the original target audience. It creates this weird, full-circle loop where he’s watching himself grow up through his kid's eyes while simultaneously playing the adult version on screen.
More Than Just an Actor: The Directorial Pivot
Here is the thing most people get wrong about Nathan Kress: they think he’s just waiting for the next acting gig. In reality, he’s become a go-to director for Nickelodeon and beyond. This didn't happen by accident.
- Henry Danger: He cut his teeth here, directing 11 episodes.
- Game Shakers: He took the helm for 6 episodes.
- iCarly (The Revival): He stepped behind the camera for 5 episodes of his own show.
Directing your peers—people you’ve known since you were twelve—is "intimidating," according to Kress. He told TheWrap that there’s a specific kind of pressure when you’re directing Miranda Cosgrove or Jerry Trainor. They have a shorthand that spans decades. But that trust is exactly why it works. He knows the rhythm of multi-cam comedy better than almost anyone in the industry because he lived it.
Voice Acting and Modern Projects
If you haven't seen his face recently, you've probably heard his voice. He’s been busy. Very busy.
He voiced Wedge Antilles in Star Wars Rebels, which is a massive win for any sci-fi nerd. More recently, he took on the role of Chuck E. Cheese in the 2025 holiday film A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas. Yeah, the mouse. It’s a 180-degree turn from Freddie Benson, but it shows his range.
The Personal Side: Parenting and "RadioActive Dads"
Life off-set is arguably louder than life on-set for Kress. He married London Elise Moore in 2015. Their wedding was basically an iCarly reunion—Cosgrove, McCurdy, and Trainor were all there. Since then, they've had three kids: Rosie, Evie, and Lincoln.
He’s been very open about the struggles they faced, including London's battle with endometriosis and the miscarriages they endured before their second daughter was born. This transparency is rare for actors who grew up in the Nickelodeon machine. It’s made him a bit of a "dad-fluencer," though he’d probably cringe at that term.
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He even co-hosted a podcast called RadioActive Dads with fellow actor Brett Davern. They basically just talk about the chaos of parenting. It’s raw, it’s funny, and it’s a far cry from the scripted perfection of a sitcom.
Why Nathan Kress Still Matters in 2026
The entertainment industry is brutal to child actors. Usually, the "tech kid" gets pigeonholed forever. Kress avoided that by becoming a multi-hyphenate. He isn't just an actor; he's a director, a voice artist, and a producer who understands the mechanics of how a show is built.
He’s mentioned that his goal is to move into primetime network sitcoms. He wants to write a proper screenplay. Basically, he’s still in the "building" phase of his career.
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What can we learn from his trajectory?
First, don't be afraid to change lanes. Kress saw the writing on the wall and realized that being behind the camera offered more longevity than being in front of it. Second, stay connected to your roots but don't let them define you. He embraces the Freddie Benson legacy without letting it stunt his growth.
If you’re looking to follow his journey or dive into the industry yourself, here are a few actionable takeaways:
- Watch his directed episodes: If you’re a fan of the "Nick" style of comedy, watch the Henry Danger episodes he directed. You can see his specific timing and how he uses the camera to heighten the jokes.
- Listen to the podcast archives: RadioActive Dads is a great resource if you want to hear the "real" Nathan—uncensored and focused on the realities of work-life balance.
- Follow the voice work: His performance as Wedge Antilles in Star Wars Rebels is genuinely good acting, not just a "celebrity cameo."
Nathan Kress managed to do the hardest thing in Hollywood: he grew up, stayed employed, and kept his head on straight. That’s a bigger achievement than any Blimp Award.