Lucas Cruikshank is the creator of Fred, a web-based series on YouTube. Lucas introduced the Fred Figglehorn character in videos on the JKL Production channel he started on YouTube with his cousins, Jon and Katie. On October 16, 2008, Cruikshank's Fred channel became YouTube's most subscribed channel overall with several hundred thousand subscribers, and altogether his Fred channel has received over 22 million channel views and over 158 million video views since its launch on May 1st, 2008.
"Fred" has been sponsored since its inception by Zipit, which has several cameos in various videos posted to the Fred Channel. Though, for the most part, the collaboration has been kept low-key, Fred now has a separate website promoting the Zipit as well as starring in traditional television ads run on American cable networks.
Walden Media hired Cruikshank to promote the film City of Ember with inclusion of the book it was based on and cameos from the film's star Tim Robbins in Fred episodes and a mock movie trailer. Cruikshank recently launched a website to promote the Fred series and selling Fred t-shirts and other merchandise.
Cruikshank has greater aspirations than producing humor videos saying he created the Fred character because "wants to be a Hollywood actor, and this is his calling card." The teen has generated in excess of a hundred thousand dollars from ad revenue and sponsorship, hired a licensing firm to market Fred merchandise, and has appeared on the Nickelodeon show iCarly.
Lucas also was included in "YouTube Live" with Kev Blaze. Lucas has also created items to buy such as the fred season 1 shirt and fred campaign pin.
Lucas currently lives in Columbus, Nebraska with his family. He attends Lakeview High School outside of Columbus. His parents are David and Molly Cruikshank. They live at 7554 48th Ave, Columbus, NE 68601.
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