The Cast ofiCarly: Where Are They Now?

Mar. 15, 2025

The ‘iCarly’ cast: Jennette McCurdy as Sam, Miranda Cosgrove as Carly Shay and Nathan Kress as Freddie Benson.Photo: Everett

WheniCarlypremiered in 2007, it gave children and teenagers alike a new icon to look up to: Carly Shay.

iCarlyfound massive success with Nickelodeon’s audiences, earning five Primetime Emmy nominations for outstanding children’s program. Most notably, the show drew in a total of 11.2 million viewers for a season 2 episode in January 2010, according to apress releasefrom the network.

The teen sitcom was so beloved that eight years after its ending,Paramount+ ordered a revivalof the series with Cosgrove, Kress and Jerry Trainor — who played Carly’s older brother and guardian, Spencer Shay — returning in their original roles.

The reboot, which stuck with the same name, aired in June 2021 and produced three seasons before its cancellation in October 2023,PEOPLE confirmed.

Despite its success, the show has not been without its controversies. As one of the lead actresses, McCurdy made headlines when she announced she wouldn’t be returning to the revival after publicly speaking out against who she referred to as “The Creator” and the emotional abuse she claimed she faced while working on the show.

TheSam & Catstar alleged that “The Creator” pressured her to drink underage and took photographs of her in a bikini — all of which she says she was offered $300,000 not to talk about while on a call with several of her agents and managers after the wrap of the show. McCurdy turned down the offer and explained more about the situation in her 2022 bookI’m Glad My Mom Died.

A few years prior, Nickelodeoncut ties with Schneiderin 2018, with both parties releasing a joint statement announcing his departure from the network after 25 years. The news came among allegations against Schneider that he was verbally abusive to his staff and posted pictures of children’s feet on social media.

In an interview withThe New York Timesthree years later,Schneider denied the allegationsand said if people saw him as “difficult,” it was because he had “high standards” for his work. Though he was not part of theiCarlyrevival, he said he wished everyone involved “the best.”

McCurdy ultimatelychose not to return, citing not wanting to revisit her trauma as the major reason. However, regardless of her issues with the channel, McCurdy stayed close to heriCarlycast, and those who participated in the reboot had no love lost with the actress.

Miranda Cosgrove as Carly Shay and Nathan Kress as Freddie Benson in ‘iCarly.'.Lisa Rose/Paramount+

Lisa Rose/Paramount+

Ahead of the revival’s release, Cosgrove said she waslooking forward to revisitingthe character that left a significant imprint on her.

“iCarlywas a huge part of my childhood and I have so many memories from my time making the show. I feel like I grew up alongside the viewers," Cosgrove toldJ-14at the time. “My biggest hope for the revival is that it brings the people who watched the original series a lot of joy.”

So what has the cast been up to since the show’s finale? Here’s where the original stars ofiCarlyare today.

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Miranda Cosgrove

Miranda Cossgrove as Carly on ‘iCarly’. ; Miranda Cosgrove is seen on June 22, 2023 in New York City.Nickelodeon ; Raymond Hall/GC Images

Nickelodeon ; Raymond Hall/GC Images

However, the actress also took a break from Hollywood to pursue a different interest: going to college. Cosgrove told PEOPLE in 2012 of her plans to attend her father’s alma mater, the University of Southern California, where she originally wanted to major in film.

“I’m looking forward to being back in a school environment after doing home schooling for so long,” the actress told PEOPLE. “I’m just excited to meet people and learn.”

Cosgrove ultimately followed in her father’s footsteps and changed her focus to psychology, which led her to cultivate her love for STEM, she toldSeventeen.

While she was at school, she continued voicing Margo and went on to work in other roles upon graduating.

In 2016, she starred as Shea Moore in NBC’sCrowded, a sitcom about two parents enjoying their empty-nester lives until their two adult daughters and parents move back in with them. Cosgrove also starred in 2019’s sci-fi film3022, which told the story of a group of astronauts navigating space after an extinction-level event hits Earth.

Around the same time, Cosgrove used her STEM knowledge to hostMission Unstoppable, a show designed to highlight women in the field.

“For so many years, I was on a kid’s television show and on a kid’s television network. I think it really excited me to be doing something so positive for young girls,” she toldSeventeenon why the show was important to her. “Because, when I was little, I didn’t have a show like this.”

After news broke about Cosgrove returning in theiCarlyreboot, she teased fans with aphoto of herself with her former costars, Kress and Trainor.

“I feel from this experience in particular,I’ve learned a lot of things really fastthat I never knew about before," Cosgrove told PEOPLE ahead of the show’s release. “I’m getting to help edit all the episodes. I’ve never edited anything in my life … So it’s just been a real learning process and I’ve really enjoyed every second of it.”

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Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy as Sam on ‘iCarly’. ; Jennette McCurdy attends Magnolia Pictures’ ‘Damsel’ premiere on June 13, 2018 in Hollywood, California.Nickleodeon Network/Schneider’S Bakery/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Nickleodeon Network/Schneider’S Bakery/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

After portraying the sarcastic Sam Puckett for six seasons ofiCarly, McCurdy wasn’t ready to hang up the hat on the character yet. Schneider created a spinoff series,Sam & Cat, featuring McCurdy as Sam andAriana Grandeas Cat Valentine from his other Nickelodeon hit showVictorious.

McCurdy confirmed the rumors of a rift in her 2022 bookI’m Glad My Mom Died, where she described how she was “jealous” of Grande as the “positions” singer was allowed to take time off from the show to pursue her music career and other professional endeavors, while McCurdy was not, including when she booked two features.

In 2022, McCurdy released her memoir, which was met with an overwhelming response from fans and became a bestseller. She detailedthe alleged abuseshe faced from her mother and the toxic environment she grew up in, leading her to struggle with eating disorders and her mental health.

Since her mother’s death, McCurdy has taken back the reigns of her life — even when that meant stepping away from her career, she told PEOPLE in 2021.

“I did not know how to find my identity without my mom,” she said. “And I’m not going to lie. It was very hard to get here. But now, I’m at a place in my life that I never would have thought was possible. And I finally feel free.”

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Nathan Kress

Nathan Kress as Freddie on ‘iCarly.’ ; Nathan Kress attends the 2022 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on April 09, 2022 in Santa Monica, California.Nickelodeon / Courtesy: Everett ; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Nickelodeon / Courtesy: Everett ; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Kress’ work onInto the Stormgave him something more important than another bullet on his résumé: his wife. Kress met London Elise on the film set and the two wed in November 2015 after nine months of dating.

“It’s a joy, and fortunately, I’m able to be home a decent amount with the way that I work because what I do is in short concentrated bursts, so I’ve been able to help out,” he told PEOPLE of his impending fatherhood. “It’s been nice — it’s been a cool time to change the house and get nesting and get things together.”

Kress’ first daughter,Rosie Carolyn, was born on Dec. 21, 2017, and their family expanded again when they welcomed his second daughter,Evie Elise, on March 20, 2021. The pair also celebrated the arrival of their third child, a son namedLincoln William, in June 2023.

On the career front, the Nickelodeon alum was the cohost of his podcast,RadioActive Dads, alongside actor Brett Davern, where they discuss parenting and life. The duo last uploaded an episode in late 2022.

Kress also made his return to the small screen with the reprisal of his role as Freddie in theiCarlyreboot, where he reunited with his former castmates, telling PEOPLE his relationship with Cosgrove was “sibling-type.”

“It’s definitely not a father-daughter thing,” Kress told PEOPLE on giving Cosgrove relationship advice. “We’re very much people who just grew up together and know enough about each other and trust each other enough to value each other’s opinion.”

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Jerry Trainor

Jason Merritt/FilmMagic ; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

As the kooky, eccentric brother of Carly, Spencer Shay was a fan favorite — and Trainor wasn’t ready to leave the character forever.

Speaking on the show in June 2021, he revealed that the show would deal with more mature matters than the original series.

“We’re going to toe that line… I say ‘damn it’ in the trailer, which had everyone in a tizzy, but you know we’re grown-ups,” the actor toldPage Six.

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Noah Munck

Nickelodeon ; Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Since the show, Munck made a guest appearance onSam & Catand starred in 2014’sTom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn. He also landed a recurring role on ABC’sThe Goldbergsas “Naked Rob” Smith, one of Barry Goldberg’s best friends. He appeared in 103 episodes of the show before it concluded in 2023.

Munck did not return to theiCarlyreboot, and while he did not make any public statements at the time, he insinuated previously that he was not interested in returning as his character.

While working onThe Goldbergs, Munck also started a career as a music producer, making electronic music under the alias SADWORLDBEATS and NoxiK.

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Reed Alexander

Reed Alexander as Nevel Papperman on ‘iCarly.’ ; Reed Alexander poses for a photo posted on his Instagram.Nickelodeon ; Reed Alexander Instagram

Nickelodeon ; Reed Alexander Instagram

After playing Carly’s nemesis, Nevel Papperman, Alexander made a pivot in his career. Though he reprised his character for one episode ofSam & Cat, the actor mostly went back to living out of the public eye.

Since his graduation, Alexander has worked for BBC Radio, CNN and, most recently,Business Insider, where he covers Wall Street. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Miami’s School of Communication.

“This job has afforded me the chance to meet such fascinating people, both in terms of titans of business, powerful people on Wall Street, founders of companies, founders of tech startups,” he told PEOPLE in 2021.

Alexander continued, “It’s such a privilegeto be given a look inside their lives and frankly, I would not have had that chance if not for journalism.”

Though he may have strayed from his acting roots, he returned toiCarlyin two episodes of the revival — a role he was excited to reprise.

“I will say that old habits die hard," Alexander told PEOPLE of his character, Nevel, in 2021. “Once a villain, to some extent, always up to some nefarious tricks. I do think people will be incredibly surprised at the storyline arc — and it’s such a clever storyline.”

source: people.com