Exclusive Interview: Nathan Kress on Growing Up With Chuck E. Cheese—and What It Means to Pass That Magic Forward

Some characters don’t just belong to our childhoods—they grow up alongside us. For Nathan Kress, stepping into the animated world of Chuck E. Cheese feels less like taking on a role and more like coming home. In A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas, Nathan brings fresh heart and intention to a character long associated with joy, celebration, and formative first memories. It’s a full-circle moment rooted in nostalgia, guided by a desire to respect what made Chuck E. Cheese iconic while opening the door for a new generation.

In A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas, Chuck E. Cheese and his close-knit crew—Helen Henny, Jasper Jowls, Bella Brinca, Munch, and Pasqually—embark on a heartfelt holiday mission. Hoping to lift Santa’s Christmas spirit, they set out to create a surprise that reminds even the season’s greatest giver that it’s okay to receive. What unfolds is a festive story filled with music, humor, and warmth, where friendship and generosity become the true center of the celebration.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Nathan Kress about the responsibility of honoring a beloved character without imitation, the importance of chosen family, and how A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas allowed him to pass a piece of childhood magic forward—this time, as the one helping create it.

PC: This is the first time that Chuck E. Cheese is being adapted into the animated space, which I imagine comes with both a huge honor and a great deal of responsibility—especially given the impact he’s had on your younger self. What is your earliest memory of Chuck E. Cheese, and what does it mean to you now to be the one introducing him to a whole new generation?
Nathan: I’m the youngest of three. In my family, the big birthdays were five, ten, and fifteen. Birthday number five was Chuck E. Cheese, so I had to wait for my pilgrimage to finally have my chance to go. I remember that day so clearly. I don’t really remember any birthdays around that time other than my fifth birthday, because there’s something about going there that gets indelibly marked in the psyche of a kid.

Everybody I’ve talked to today says the same thing: they don’t know exactly what it is, but there’s something magical about it. I have very clear memories of being there—going to the arcade, getting the tickets, walking out with prizes, diving face-first into the ball pit, watching the show, and having my pizza. It was one of the best days of my young life.

I’ve seen that happen with my own kids. Now, when they get to go to a Chuck E. Cheese birthday, they still fight over who gets to drink from the Chuck E. Cheese cups we brought home from the parties. It’s in their minds too.

When I found out about this project, there was a lot of pressure. If I feel that way, there are millions of people on the planet who feel that way too—and a whole generation of kids who are feeling that way right now. There was an immense amount of pressure to find that happy medium: something warm, familiar, and nostalgic from our memories, but without doing a caricature or an impression of past iterations of the voice or his singing voice. I remember the commercials, but I wanted to avoid that, because otherwise it would have felt like trying to redo the same thing.

This is a whole different universe. You’re expanding it into a narrative world where it isn’t just music, a dance party, or a high-energy experience. There was so much more room for emotional connection and interaction with his friends—things there wasn’t necessarily time for in the context of the entertainment center locations.

It was great because there was definitely a nostalgic aspect, but there was also a bit of a blank slate. From an actor’s perspective, it’s that perfect mix of challenge—bridging the gap—along with the excitement of bringing something entirely new to the table that you never had the opportunity to do in previous iterations of the character.
PC: You definitely put your own stamp on this character. There are so many life lessons to take away from this film—especially the reminder that when we’re constantly giving to others, we run the risk of running on empty, which we see through the character of Santa Claus. Having had the tenure you’ve had in this industry, how do you keep yourself creatively fulfilled and keep that spark alive?
Nathan: I get fueled by consuming and watching others in my field, because I’ve definitely experienced burnout and moments of, “What am I doing? What new do I have to offer that nobody else does?”

That’s the beauty of the human experience—it’s constantly changing. Every day is new. It’s seeing my peers, my fellow actors, doing what they love to do. Whenever there’s a movie or project that moves me, impacts me, makes me think, and sticks with me, it always inspires me right back again to dig in and find those characters and choices wherever I can.

I feel like I get to cheat a bit in my industry, because all I have to do is watch my friends create, and it becomes a give-and-take relationship. I’m sure there are other fields where that works too, but in the arts, it’s an especially rich well to draw from—because you’re watching everyone else do it right alongside you.

PC: Speaking of that friendship, there’s such a strong sense of chosen family within this film and how these characters are constantly showing up for one another. Who are the people in your own life who have uplifted you along the way? Did you channel them into these dynamics?
Nathan: My fans. I don’t even know how to explain it. In the past year, I’ve started going to fan conventions, and I’m meeting thousands of people who are waiting in line to come up to me and tell me what my work on the show—and in all the projects I’ve done—has meant to them. They share how my work as Freddie has inspired more people than I can count to pursue their own careers in film production, the audio/visual medium, or streaming.

A character that I played as a kid launched lives, careers, and families. I’ve met people who say, “We met because of iCarly, and now we’re married and have three kids.” When you engage with your fans in a meaningful way, there’s this instant familial connection that I personally feel. I’ve heard “You were my childhood” so many times, and I always say it right back to them: “You were mine. We all grew up together.”

If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have had the childhood that I had. I’m incredibly grateful for that. I had an amazing experience—it may have been through a lens, but I truly feel a family connection with the people I’ve met. They’re always so kind, positive, and uplifting that in those moments when I think, “What am I doing? Why am I here?” the answer is always the same: it’s for them. That’s a huge part of it for me, personally.

To keep up with Nathan, follow him on X and Instagram. Watch A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas on Prime Video today.

Photo Credit: Paul Smith