The Hawaiian shirt.
The legendary Truffle Shuffle.
The lovable chaos machine who stole scenes in The Goonies without even trying.
But what happened to the kid behind the icon—Jeff Cohen—might be one of the most surprising Hollywood transformations of all.
From awkward child star to powerful entertainment attorney, Cohen’s journey is not a story of fading fame. It’s a story of reinvention, resilience, and discovering the kind of power that doesn’t come from a camera.
The Boy Who Became Chunk
Jeff Cohen was born Jeffrey Bertan McMahon on June 25, 1974, in Los Angeles, California—a city where childhood and show business often collide early. Like many child actors of that era, he didn’t grow up dreaming of red carpets. His entry into acting was more accidental than calculated.
His early childhood wasn’t without hardship. When Jeff was around seven or eight years old, his parents separated. The emotional shift left a lasting mark on him. Not long after, he made a symbolic decision that would shape his identity in Hollywood—he adopted “Cohen” as his stage surname, honoring his mother Elaine’s maiden name.
It was a quiet but powerful step in defining who he wanted to be.
Not long after, Hollywood came calling.
Overnight Fame and a Movie That Never Died
In 1985, at just 10 years old, Jeff Cohen landed the role that would etch his face into pop culture forever—Chunk, the clumsy, emotional, food-loving member of the treasure-hunting gang in The Goonies.
The movie became an instant classic.
Chunk wasn’t the hero. He wasn’t the leader. He wasn’t even brave.
But he was real.
Kids saw themselves in him. His fear, his appetite, his vulnerability, his uncontrollable emotions—it all felt authentic. And when the Truffle Shuffle happened, it became one of the most unforgettable moments in 1980s cinema.
Behind the scenes, though, the experience wasn’t always joyful.
That famous dance? It was repeated over and over on set. Crew members laughed. Adults watched. A child stood exposed—physically and emotionally. Years later, Cohen would reflect on that moment with honesty, acknowledging that it was complicated. Funny to the world. Uncomfortable for the kid living it.
And just like that, Jeff Cohen became famous.
When Fame Leaves Faster Than It Arrived
After The Goonies, Jeff booked several television roles, including appearances on shows like Family Ties. For a brief moment, it looked like he might ride the child-star wave straight into adulthood.
Then puberty hit.
Hollywood, ruthless as always, changed its mind.
His voice changed. His body changed. Casting phones stopped ringing.
Almost overnight, the roles disappeared.
Jeff Cohen—once one of the most recognizable kids in America—found himself locked out of the industry that had embraced him just years earlier.
For many child stars, this is where the story turns tragic.
For Jeff Cohen, this is where it turned powerful.
Choosing Brains Over the Spotlight
Instead of chasing lost fame, Cohen made a decision that would define the rest of his life.
He chose education.
He enrolled at UC Berkeley, one of the most demanding universities in the country. There, he studied hard, away from cameras, away from auditions, surrounded by students who didn’t care about the Truffle Shuffle.
For the first time, he wasn’t “Chunk.”
He was just Jeff.
But he wasn’t finished.
After Berkeley, he earned his law degree from UCLA School of Law—one of the top law schools in the United States. While other former child actors struggled to stay relevant in Hollywood, Jeff was mastering contracts, negotiations, and the legal machinery that actually controlled the industry.
He didn’t just re-enter Hollywood.
He returned with authority.
Building a Powerhouse Law Career
Jeff Cohen went on to become an entertainment attorney, specializing in representing producers, executives, and major creative talent. He eventually co-founded the powerful law firm Cohen & Gardner LLP, a firm that would go on to represent some of the most influential projects in film and television.
Ironically, the boy once controlled on set now controls the contracts.
He played a major role in high-level negotiations behind major productions. One of his most notable contributions was helping structure the massive deal that launched “The Hunger Games” film franchise—one of the biggest movie series of the modern era.
From child actor to legal architect of billion-dollar movies.
That kind of transformation is almost unheard of in Hollywood.
The Goonie Who Never Left the Adventure
Despite leaving acting behind, Jeff never ran from his past. He embraced it.
He has appeared in numerous Goonies reunion panels, documentaries, and fan conventions. He speaks honestly about the highs and lows of child stardom—without bitterness, without exaggeration.
At conventions, he’s no longer the nervous kid in a Hawaiian shirt.
He’s a confident man with stories, wisdom, and perspective.
And something rare in Hollywood:
Peace with his past.
The Dark Side of Child Stardom—That He Escaped
Cohen’s story is extraordinary not just because of where he ended up—but because of what he avoided.
The history of child stardom is filled with addiction, financial ruin, exploitation, and identity crises. Many young stars never recover from the sudden loss of attention.
Jeff Cohen stepped off that cliff just in time.
He didn’t spiral.
He studied.
He rebuilt.
And most importantly—he chose a future instead of clinging to a past.
From Being Laughed At to Being Respected
There’s a quiet poetry in Jeff Cohen’s transformation.
As a boy, people laughed at Chunk.
As an adult, people listen when Jeff Cohen speaks.
The same industry that once dismissed him now signs contracts across his desk. The same industry that outgrew him now seeks his expertise.
He didn’t just return to Hollywood.
He returned on his own terms.
Why His Story Matters Now More Than Ever
In an era obsessed with childhood fame, viral kids, and overnight stars, Jeff Cohen’s journey carries a message that feels more relevant than ever:
You are not the role you play at ten years old.
You are not defined by your most famous moment.
You are allowed to change.
You are allowed to outgrow the thing that made people notice you.
And you are allowed to become something even more powerful than what the world expected.
The Final Twist
Today, Jeff Cohen still smiles when fans call him Chunk.
But the truth is far more remarkable:
The kid who once cried over spilled ice cream now negotiates multi-million-dollar entertainment deals.
The boy best known for his body became a man respected for his mind.
And the clumsy sidekick from a pirate movie grew up to become one of the most formidable behind-the-scenes players in Hollywood.
From Chunk to Powerhouse
Jeff Cohen’s story isn’t about escaping fame.
It’s about outgrowing it.
And in an industry built on illusion, that might be the most real Hollywood ending of all.
