Who Is Drake Bell's Estranged Wife? All About Janet Von Schmeling (2024)

Drake Bell dated his estranged wife Janet Von Schmeling for five years before they got married in 2018.

The Drake & Josh star’s marriage with Schmeling, however, came to an end in 2023 when she filed for divorce. The former couple share a son who was born in 2021.

Bell first announced he was married in July 2021, a few days after he pled guilty to attempted endangering children and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles following his arrest for sending inappropriate text messages to a 15-year-old fan.

"In response to various rumors that are incorrect, I have been married for almost 3 years, and we are blessed to be the parents of a wonderful son,” he wrote in a statement in Spanish on X (formerly known as Twitter) at the time. “Thank you very much to all my fans around the world for your good wishes."

In March 2024, a year after he and Schmeling divorced, Bell participated in the Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV documentary where he spoke about his experiences being sexually abused by his dialogue coach, Brian Peck, when he was a minor at Nickelodeon.

In 2004, Peck pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 and performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old in connection with Bell's case. After spending 16 months in prison, Peck was required to register as a sex offender.

Here’s everything to know about Drake Bell’s estranged wife, Janet Von Schmeling, and her relationship with the actor.

She is passionate about martial arts

Schmeling appears to have a career in the martial arts, as well as her own passion for the sport. She has the Instagram of Victory Martial Arts, a school in Winter Park, Florida, tagged in her Instagram bio and is featured on the company’s profile as well.

She seems to have picked the sport back up in October 2023 when she posted a video of her training on her personal Instagram.

“Rekindling the fire within as I return to the mat after a decade,” she wrote in the caption. “Day 1 was a challenge, but every step brings me closer to my 4th-degree black belt. Home isn’t just a place; it’s that feeling in my heart. I am finally back home.”

She is based in Florida

Per Schmeling’s Instagram bio, she lives in Florida. She frequently posts photos and videos of her and her family spending time in Disney World in Orlando and attended Taylor Swift’s Eras tour in Tampa.

She and Bell got married in 2018

Schmeling and Bell dated for five years before they got married in 2018. However, they kept their relationship private until Bell announced the news on X in July 2021, shortly after photos surfaced in the Daily Mail of him and Schmeling walking through Disney Land in California pushing a stroller with rings on their fingers.

The announcement came a few days after Bell pled guilty to having inappropriate communication with a 15-year-old girl. The alleged incident occurred on Dec. 1, 2017, the same day the actor was scheduled to perform at a venue in Cleveland, according tolocal NBC affiliate KXAN.

Bell was ultimately sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service.

They have a son together

Schmeling and Bell’s son was born in 2021. Though neither frequently speaks publicly about him, both parents have posted a number of photos of the little boy on their Instagram.

In January 2022, Bell shared a compilation of slides on Instagram of himself with his son, including a photo of him and Schmeling holding the baby in Disney World.

“I couldn’t ask for more happiness coming into 2022!” he wrote in the caption.

Ten months later, the singer posted photos of the toddler enjoying a day in the pumpkin patch.

“Thank you to my beautiful wife Janet for bringing us the most amazing gift in the world,” he captioned the shots.

She and Drake separated in early 2023

In January 2023, a source told PEOPLE that the former couple had separated, adding Schmeling left Bell “a few months ago.” However, the two were prioritizing raising their son together.

"Janet is devoted to raising their son," the source said at the time. "Drake and Janet are committed to maintaining a peaceful co-parenting relationship and giving their son the best life possible."

The news came after the Daily Mail published photos and videos of Bell seemingly inhaling a balloon in a car in front of a California vape shop. In some photos, their son was in the backseat.

The source told PEOPLE Bell was seeking outpatient help for substance abuse issues.

"Drake needed to take time to get help and focus on his health," they said.

She filed for divorce a week after Bell was reported missing

Several months later, in April 2023, Schmeling filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences.” The filing came a week after Bell was first reported missing in Daytona Beach, Florida, by his brother, who told the Orlando Police Department that he was concerned after Bell claimed he did not want to be alive following child custody concerns.

Bell was found safe later the same day, per the Daytona Beach Police Department, and he joked about the situation on X.

"You leave your phone in the car and don't answer for the night and this? 😂,” he wrote in a since-deleted post.

Days earlier, Bell was photographed in SeaWorld in Orlando with his son, per TMZ.

After Schmeling filed, Bell wrote on X that he was blindsided, but also used the opportunity to promote his new music.

"I found out my wife filed for divorce from TMZ ... check out my new song," he wrote in a since-deleted post.