Contents
Who is Jerry Trainor?
An actor with over 55 acting credits to his name, Jerry Trainor rose to prominence playing in the Nickelodeon series, and his time in “Drake & Josh” was just the beginning of his journey. He quickly became a fan favorite, earning roles in other beloved shows, such as “iCarly” and “T.U.F.F. Puppy”. His quirky characters and undeniable comedic chops made him a household name among kids and teens.
As he matured, he sought out more diverse roles, transitioning from children’s television to more adult-oriented projects seamlessly, thanks to his versatility as an actor. One notable project that showcased his ability to tackle more mature themes was his role as Todd in the hit Netflix series “No Good Nick”.
Early life, family, and education
Born Gerald William ‘Jerry’ Trainor under the zodiac sign of Aquarius on 21 January 1977, in San Diego, California USA, he holds American nationality and comes from a family of Irish descent. Jerry was raised by his parents, Bill and Madelyn, a former Navy fighter pilot and high school teacher respectively, alongside his elder sister, Liz.
Jerry’s passion for performing was ignited at a young age. His family recognized his natural talent, and encouraged him to pursue his dreams. He attended the University of San Diego High School, and upon matriculating in 1995, Jerry enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara, from which he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts (Drama), in 1999.
After graduating, Jerry took the bold step of moving to Los Angeles, California, the epicenter of the entertainment industry, where he studied improvisation at The Groundlings School.
Roles in series
Jerry made his acting debut playing Eric in three episodes of the series “Undressed” in 2000. He followed with guest roles in hit series such as “Malcolm in the Middle” (2001) and “ER” (2002), among others, before he was cast to play Crazy Steve in “Drake & Josh”, from 2004 through 2007. His portrayal of the eccentric, frenetic character won the hearts of viewers, and set the stage for his successful career in the world of children’s television.
From 2007 to 2012, Jerry was seen as Spencer Shay in 93 episodes of the series “iCarly”, which brought him numerous accolades and praise; his character as Carly’s eccentric older brother, a wacky but lovable artist, endeared him to audiences of all ages and solidified his status as a beloved Nickelodeon star. Jerry was nominated for the Teen Choice Award – Choice TV Actor: Comedy, and Kid’s Choice Award, Australia – The Laugh Out Loud Award, and won the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award, UK – Nick UK’s Funniest Person.
'iCarly' star Jerry Trainor promises 'sexual situations' in reboot https://t.co/KQ1iHcHsZp pic.twitter.com/Ffp4N4iorV
— Page Six (@PageSix) June 14, 2021
Concurrently with his role in “iCarly”, Jerry voiced the character of Dudley Puppy in the animated series “T.U.F.F. Puppy”, and from 2010 through 2015, he was heard in 60 episodes and nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program.
Jerry next starred as Vinnie Bassett in the 2013 series “Wendell and Vinnie”, which followed the story of a 12-year-old genius and his goofy uncle, which also achieved significant success. In the following years, Jerry co-starred in “Still the King” (2016-2017) and “Henry Danger” (2018) before he landed the role of Todd in the 2019 comedy-drama “No Good Nick”, also starring Melissa Joan Hart and Sean Austin.
From 2021 through 2023, Jerry reprised his role as Spencer in the revival of “iCarly”, alongside Miranda Cosgrove – for his performance, Jerry was two times nominated for the Kid’s Choice Award, US – Favorite Male TV Star (Family), in 2022 and ’23.
Roles in movies
Jerry made his first big-screen appearance as Lanky Kid in the 2001 critically acclaimed movie “Donnie Darko”, starring Jake Gyllenhaa, and followed with his role as Bailey in the 2003 short movie “Wrong Hollywood Number”.
Four years later, Jerry was cast to play Andrew in the comedy “Waking Dreams”, which although having no nominations, was well-rated by the audience (7.8/10). In the following years, Jerry mostly acted in TV movies before he returned to the big screen as Bro in the 2014 comedy “Sharkproof”, which didn’t achieve much success.
His first lead role came in the 2018 mystery thriller “Cover Version”, written and directed by Todd Berger, which followed the story of four band members who faced a night of drugs, sex, and murder before their debut at the popular music festival.
Most recently, Jerry was seen as Snowplowman in the 2022 family comedy “Snow Day”, however, that’s not all; he’ll be seen starring in the announced romantic comedy entitled “Renaissance Girl”, which is currently in development.
Love life, wife?
Jerry has generally maintained a low profile when it comes to his romantic relationships. Unlike some celebrities who openly discuss their personal lives, Jerry has chosen to keep his love life out of the spotlight. As a result, there have been few confirmed details about his relationships over the years. It’s known that back in the early 2000s, he was in a relationship with the actress Jessica Makinson, and although there were rumors that the two married, the truth is that since 2019 Jessica has been married to editor and producer Grant McFadden.
When it comes to Jerry, another rumor about him was that he’s married to Meghan Trainor, a famous “All About That Bass” singer, however, the truth is that she’s married to the actor Daryl Sabara. As of August 2023, it appears that Jerry hasn’t been married, and is single.
His age, height, and net worth
This 46-year-old actor is known for his towering height of 6ft 3ins (1.89m), and he weighs around 190lbs (86kgs). In one of his interviews, Jerry said that he’s gained around 20lbs (9kgs) and that he plans to lose some weight.
When it comes to his wealth, Jerry is a millionaire. According to sources as of August 2023, his net worth has been estimated at over $1.5 million.