[5][6] Born in Newport Beach, California, he began his career as a child actor in the 1990s, appearing on Home Improvement (1994) and in several commercials.

He independently released his debut studio album, Telegraph (2005), and signed with Universal Motown Records in 2006.

[10] While growing up in Orange County, Bell went to OCSA for school and skateboarded while regularly attending punk rock concerts, the music of which he cites as an influence.

[19] In 2000, he was nominated for a Young Artist Award for his role as Cage Redding in the television film The Jack Bull.

[20] He received his first official guitar lessons from Roger Daltrey when he starred with him in the 2001 film Chasing Destiny.

During this time period, he appeared as himself on Nickelodeon's Zoey 101 in the episode "Spring Fling", where he performed "Highway to Nowhere", which is also featured on the Drake & Josh soundtrack.

[48] He also featured on the theme song for the show iCarly, "Leave It All to Me", with his Drake & Josh co-star Miranda Cosgrove.

[52] The DVD contains footage of him and his band live on stage while they toured in Mexico, filmed during five sold out fall nights.

[55][56] Bell recorded a theme song featuring his co-star Sara Paxton for the film called "Superhero!

[67] In 2010, he made a cameo appearance as Drake Parker in an iCarly episode entitled "iBloop" and a guest role in I Owe My Life To Corbin Bleu.

[72] The EP was produced by John Fields, who previously worked with Rooney, Jimmy Eat World, Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers, and Bleu.

In 2013, Bell participated in an episode of the ABC reality TV series Splash, a celebrity diving competition, in which he made third place.

Throughout 2013 and 2014, Bell had roles in several animated films, such as The Naughty List, Adventure Planet,[80] Birds of Paradise[81][82] and Under Wraps.

[91] It was produced by Peter Collins and childhood idol Brian Setzer, frontman of the rockabilly revival band Stray Cats.

[95] The album's promotional single, "I Won't Stand In Your Way", a cover of the Stray Cats' original song, was released on April 17, 2014.

[101] He starred with his Drake & Josh co-star Miranda Cosgrove in the animated film A Mouse Tale, which was released directly to DVD on February 10, 2015.

[105] He also stars alongside Bella Thorne and Cameron Dallas in the United States dub of The Frog Kingdom, which was released on June 30, 2015, on video on demand and DVD.

On November 5, 2023, after his elimination on the fifth season of the Mexican television series ¿Quién es la máscara?, Bell was revealed to be Baby Alien.

[122] Since 2009, Bell has supported the Thirst Project,[43] a non-profit organization that addresses the issue of the clean water crisis by raising awareness through education.

[126] On April 18, 2015, Bell performed at the Strawberry Bowl in support of the charity Rockin A Cure for cystic fibrosis.

[129] On The Sarah Fraser Show podcast on March 22, 2024, Bell revealed that he went to rehab after his interview for the documentary.

[132][133] On December 29, 2005, Bell, then 19 years old, and a friend of his were driving from Malibu to Los Angeles when, while stopped at a red light on California State Route 1, the two were struck by an oncoming vehicle.

[135] As part of his recovery, Bell required more than 70 facial stitches, had to have his jaw wired shut for two months, and underwent surgery on his chin and mouth.

[149] In August 2020, his former girlfriend Melissa Lingafelt accused him of verbal and physical abuse during their three-year relationship in the late 2000s.

[151] On June 4, 2021, Bell was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio, on charges relating to "attempted endangering [of] children and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

The Cleveland Police also found that Bell had sent the minor "inappropriate social media messages" for "months leading up to the concert".

Bell was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service, which he was permitted to complete in California.

[157][158][159] Bell claimed in a video that he ceased texting his accuser when her age came to light, and that no images of a sexual matter were exchanged.

[173] Bell was nominated for a Young Artist Award twice, once in 2000 for his role in The Jack Bull, in which he won,[174] and another time in 2006 for Yours, Mine and Ours.

[175] He also won a Kids Choice Award in 2007 in the United Kingdom for Best Male Singer, winning over Justin Timberlake.