Jerry Trainor Went ‘Nuclear’ In His Audition for Crazy Steve

Jerry Trainor’s Audition for Crazy Steve on “Drake and Josh”

Jerry Trainor, known for his role as Crazy Steve on the Nickelodeon classic “Drake and Josh,” recently revealed the story behind how he landed the iconic role. In a discussion with GalaxyCon, Trainor shared that he actually wasn’t the original choice for Crazy Steve. The role had already been cast, but the actor didn’t quite meet the expectations of the casting directors in terms of portraying the over-the-top character.

Trainor was brought in for a last-minute audition, where he had to quickly impress the casting directors to fill the role. Coming fresh out of college with a degree in theater, Trainor was used to being told to tone down his performances and focus on subtlety. However, for Crazy Steve, the casting directors wanted him to go bigger and crazier than ever before.

During the audition, Trainor initially played the character as calm before exploding into a fit of rage. But the casting director pushed him to go even further, asking him to go as big as possible. Trainor then jokingly warned her that he could go “nuclear” with the character, to which she enthusiastically agreed. He delivered a performance that was larger than life, and the rest is history.

Trainor made his debut as Crazy Steve in “Drake and Josh” Season 2, and he went on to appear in a total of eight episodes. His portrayal of the aggressively temperamental movie theater employee quickly became a fan favorite. Trainor also found success on another Nickelodeon show, “iCarly,” where he played the eccentric brother of internet sensation Carly Shay. The show ran for six seasons and garnered a loyal following.

Jerry Trainor’s audition for Crazy Steve showcases his comedic talent and willingness to go above and beyond to bring a character to life. His portrayal of Crazy Steve continues to be remembered fondly by fans of “Drake and Josh” and “iCarly.”