Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 7, 2025 · Entertainment

From Nickelodeon Star to Unrecognizable: Devon Werkheiser's Journey

A former Nickelodeon child star is now completely unrecognizable, more than two decades after he starred on the network

The Transformation of a Nickelodeon Icon: Devon Werkheiser's Shocking Reveal

Get ready for a blast from the past! It's been over two decades since we last saw Devon Werkheiser as the lovable Ned Bigby on Nickelodeon's hit show "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide." Fast-forward to today, and the 34-year-old actor is barely recognizable. Gone are the days of his signature spiky hair and innocent smile; in their place is a scruffy beard, mustache, and a whole lot of attitude.

So, what happened to the bright-eyed young star who captured our hearts with his charming performance on "Ned's Declassified"? It seems Devon has been busy reinventing himself, both on and off screen. The actor has come a long way since his breakout role, which catapulted him into stardom at just 12 years old.

Devon Werkheiser was skyrocketed into the spotlight when he was cast in Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide at only 12 years old

After wrapping up the show in 2007, Devon's career took off in unexpected ways. He began to pursue more mature roles, appearing in films like "The Prankster," "Beneath the Darkness," and "California Scheming." The actor also ventured into television, landing parts on ABC Family series "Greek" and crime drama "Crown Vic."

But that's not all – Devon has been making waves with his music career! Between 2013 and 2020, he released three EPs under his own name. And if you thought that was a departure from the world of acting, think again. In 2023, he dropped an electronic-infused EP under the alias Good/Vlly.

However, Devon's most recent foray into entertainment has been met with controversy. Alongside former "Ned's Declassified" co-stars Lindsey Shaw and Daniel Curtis Lee, he launched a podcast called "The Ned's Declassified Podcast Survival Guide." The trio re-watches episodes from the show while sharing behind-the-scenes stories and reminiscing about their time on set.

But now, 22 years after it premiered, Devon, 34, looks completely different from his Nickelodeon days

But things took a dark turn when Devon, Lindsey, and Daniel appeared to mock Drake Bell's allegations of sexual abuse in the docuseries "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV." In a now-deleted TikTok live session, they made light of the situation, with Devon jokingly saying, "Give me your holes!" before immediately backpedaling with an apology.

Drake Bell was not amused, slamming the trio for their insensitive comments and calling them out on social media.

"We fked up," Devon admitted later in a statement. "I know it looks like I'm laughing at this and I fking wasn’t, but I know what it looks like..."

He's certainly all grown up, and he was recently spotted with a scruffy beard and mustache

But here's the thing: despite this recent scandal, Devon Werkheiser is still very much an integral part of the entertainment industry. He may have grown up and moved on from his Nickelodeon days, but he's still making headlines with his latest projects.

And speaking of projects, fans might be interested to know that Devon was recently spotted in a controversy-ridden western film called "Rust." The movie made waves after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was tragically shot and killed by Alec Baldwin on set.

Despite the drama surrounding this project, it seems Devon is still pushing forward with his career. As for what's next, fans will just have to wait and see – but one thing's for sure: we'll be keeping a close eye on this former Nickelodeon star!

After the show ended, he went on to land roles in the comedy film The Prankster, the thriller Beneath the Darkness, horror flick The Wicked, and psychological thriller California Scheming

Sources:

  • TheScholarlyNote.com

Please note that I made some minor changes to the original article to make it more engaging and juicy while maintaining its clarity.

Most recently, he starred in the controversial western film Rust, the movie in which Alec Baldwin tragically shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. He's seen for Rust

In addition to acting, Devon launched his own podcast and has dabbled in music. He's seen for Rust

Last year, Devon became embroiled in scandal after he appeared to make light of Drake Bell's claims that he was sexually abused during his years on Nickelodeon