You’ve probably seen the thumbnail. Maybe it was a TikTok edit or a blurry "leaked" cast list that caught your eye while scrolling late at night. The internet has a funny way of making us believe things that never actually happened, and the idea of Josh Peck—the guy we all grew up with on Drake & Josh—showing up in the brutal, post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us Part 2 is one of those persistent myths that just won't die. It’s a wild thought. Imagine the guy who gave us "Hug me, brotha!" trying to survive a Clicker attack in a rainy Seattle basement.
But let’s get the big answer out of the way immediately. Josh Peck is not in The Last of Us Part 2. He didn't voice a character, he didn't do motion capture for a WLF soldier, and he isn't a secret cameo hidden in the Seraphite woods.
So, why are thousands of people still searching for this?
The Josh Peck The Last of Us 2 Connection: Where It All Started
The confusion usually stems from a mix-up of names and a very specific era of Naughty Dog's development cycle. When The Last of Us Part 2 was in heavy production, the cast was expanding significantly. We were getting huge names like Laura Bailey as Abby and Ian Alexander as Lev. During this time, Josh Peck was actually becoming much more active in the digital space, frequently collaborating with influencers and appearing in various media projects that put his name back in the "trending" cycle.
Actually, the real "Josh" people often confuse him with is Josh Scherr.
Scherr is a long-time veteran at Naughty Dog. He was a writer on The Last of Us Part 2 and has been a massive part of the studio's success since the Uncharted days. When fans see the name "Josh" in the credits or in behind-the-scenes interviews regarding the game's narrative, the brain sometimes does that weird thing where it autofills with the most famous "Josh" it knows.
Then there’s the Troy Baker factor. Troy, who plays Joel Miller, is essentially the Kevin Bacon of the voice-acting world. He knows everyone. Because Josh Peck has transitioned into a successful podcast host and personality, he’s crossed paths with many actors in the gaming industry. People see a photo of Peck with a voice actor or at a Sony-related event and suddenly the Reddit threads start spinning. "Is Josh Peck playing a Scars leader?" No. He was just grabbing coffee or doing a guest spot on a podcast.
Why This Rumor Stuck Like Glue
The internet loves a "what if."
There is a strange, ironic appeal to seeing a comedic actor jump into a role that is devastatingly serious. Look at what happened when people found out that certain comedic actors were taking on dramatic roles in other prestige titles. It creates a buzz. In the case of Josh Peck and The Last of Us Part 2, the rumor benefited from the game's massive, multi-year hype train.
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During the "drought" between the 2016 announcement and the 2020 release, every scrap of information was scrutinized. If a voice actor followed Josh Peck on Instagram, it was "evidence." If Josh mentioned he liked video games in a vlog, it was "foreshadowing."
It’s also worth noting that The Last of Us franchise does have a history of using recognizable talent from various backgrounds. We saw Jeffrey Wright (from Westworld) show up as Isaac. We saw Logic (the rapper) and Travis Willingham make cameos. When a game casts that wide of a net, it’s not entirely outside the realm of possibility that a guy like Peck would be involved. But in this specific instance, it’s a case of digital Mandela Effect.
The "Lookalike" Problem
If you squint—and I mean really squint—some players claimed that some of the generic WLF (Washington Liberation Front) character models bore a passing resemblance to Peck’s more recent, leaned-out look.
It’s a reach. A huge one.
Naughty Dog uses highly sophisticated facial scanning technology. Their "NPCs" are often based on real-life employees or local actors in Los Angeles. While some random soldier in the background of a Seattle encounter might have a similar jawline, it wasn't him. The game features hundreds of unique character models to make the world feel lived-in, and our brains are naturally wired to find patterns and familiar faces in the crowd.
What Josh Peck Was Actually Doing During Development
While Ellie was trekking through the ruins of the Pacific Northwest, Josh Peck was busy with a massive career pivot.
- The Podcast Boom: He was building Good Guys with Ben Soffer.
- The Disney+ Transition: He was filming the Turner & Hooch series.
- Acting Roles: He appeared in How I Met Your Father and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.
Yes, you read that right. Josh Peck is in Oppenheimer. He plays Kenneth Bainbridge, the guy who actually pushes the button for the Trinity test. If you want to see Josh Peck in a high-stakes, tension-filled environment, that is the project you are looking for, not a Naughty Dog title. His performance in Oppenheimer proved he has the dramatic chops for "prestige" media, which might be why people are so willing to believe he could fit into the world of The Last of Us.
The Actual Cast of The Last of Us Part 2
To put the Josh Peck rumors to bed, it helps to look at who actually carried the emotional weight of that game. The cast is a powerhouse of talent that doesn't need "celebrity" cameos to feel authentic.
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- Ashley Johnson (Ellie): The heart of the series.
- Laura Bailey (Abby): The most controversial and complex character in modern gaming.
- Troy Baker (Joel): Despite his smaller role in the second game, his presence looms over everything.
- Shannon Woodward (Dina): Known for Westworld, she provided the voice and face for Ellie's partner.
- Stephen Chang (Jesse): A standout performance as the moral compass of the group.
When you look at this roster, it’s clear Naughty Dog was looking for specific "types" that fit the gritty, grounded aesthetic of the series. Peck’s energy—even his more serious modern energy—has a certain "Hollywood" sheen to it that might have actually felt distracting in the world of The Last of Us.
Fact-Checking the Cameos
There are cameos in the game. But they are mostly industry insiders.
The most famous "real person" cameo is probably the "PS Vita Girl" (Whitney), who is playing Hotline Miami when Ellie finds her. She was voiced and modeled after a real-life developer. There are also several developers from Naughty Dog whose faces were scanned to be used as corpses or random enemies.
If Josh Peck were to be in a game like this, it wouldn't be as "Soldier #4." It would be a promoted role. Sony’s marketing machine is too smart to hide a name like that. They would have used his casting to bring in a different demographic or to generate more mainstream press, much like they did with Norman Reedus in Death Stranding.
Exploring the "Josh Peck Gaming" Meta
The reason this topic keeps coming up is that Josh Peck has actually become a bit of a "gaming" figure in his own right.
He’s been on various gaming-adjacent podcasts. He has joked about his past and his "glow up" on platforms where the gaming community lives (YouTube and TikTok). There is a huge overlap between people who grew up watching Nickelodeon in the 2000s and people who are now the primary audience for Mature-rated PlayStation exclusives.
This is "Nostalgia Bait" at its finest.
Creators know that if they put "Josh Peck" and "The Last of Us 2" in a title, they will get clicks from curious Millennials and Gen Z-ers who are looking for a connection between their childhood and their current hobbies. It's a classic SEO trick that has turned a non-existent fact into a "known" rumor.
How to Verify Voice Casts Yourself
If you ever find yourself wondering if a celebrity is in a game, don't trust TikTok.
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- IMDb is okay, but not perfect: Sometimes fans edit IMDb pages with "rumored" roles that aren't real.
- Behind The Voice Actors: This is the gold standard for verifying who voiced who. They require credits or official confirmation.
- The Credits: Just watch the end of the game. If Josh Peck was in The Last of Us 2, his name would be there in a very large font.
Honestly, the fact that we're even talking about this shows how much the lines between "traditional celebrity" and "gaming" have blurred. We want our favorite actors to be in our favorite games. It makes the medium feel more validated.
The Wrap-Up on the Rumors
Josh Peck is a great actor. He’s had one of the most successful "child star to adult actor" transitions in recent memory. But he isn't in The Last of Us Part 2.
The game is a masterpiece of storytelling and performance, but it belongs to the likes of Ashley Johnson and Laura Bailey. If you’re looking for Josh Peck, go watch Oppenheimer or check out his podcast. If you’re looking for The Last of Us, go play the Remastered version on PS5 and appreciate the work of the actual cast.
To stay grounded in the reality of gaming news, always look for the official Naughty Dog "Inside the Episode" videos or cast interviews on the official PlayStation YouTube channel. These sources provide the definitive list of who brought these characters to life. Avoid the "leaks" and "hidden cameo" videos that rely on low-resolution screenshots and clickbait titles. The real story of the game's development is fascinating enough without needing to invent celebrity guest stars.
If you are a fan of both the actor and the game, the best way to bridge that gap is to look for Peck's interviews where he discusses his own interest in tech and media. He's an insightful guy, and while he might not be dodging Clickers in Seattle, his perspective on the entertainment industry is always worth a listen.
Next Steps for Gaming Fans:
- Check out the Official Last of Us Podcast for deep dives into the actual casting process.
- Follow Naughty Dog's official blog for real updates on future projects like the rumored Part 3.
- Verify any "celebrity casting" news through The Hollywood Reporter or Variety, as major game roles are now reported there just like movie roles.
The world of The Last of Us is dark, heavy, and complicated. Adding a childhood icon like Josh Peck to the mix is a fun "what if," but for now, it remains firmly in the realm of internet fiction.