If you grew up in the ’80s, you definitely remember Chunk.
The iconic Hawaiian shirt.
The unforgettable Truffle Shuffle.
And that lovable chaos machine who effortlessly stole scenes in The Goonies.
But the story of the kid behind the legend — Jeff Cohen — might just be one of the most astonishing tales from Hollywood.
Behind-the-scenes
Jeff Cohen’s journey from child star to obscurity happened almost in the blink of an eye.
Born Jeffrey Bertan McMahon on June 25, 1974, in Los Angeles, he experienced a significant family shift early on. When he was about seven or eight, his parents went their separate ways, a moment that left a lasting impact on him.
Shortly after, he decided to adopt a new name for his acting caree
Prior to his breakout performance in The Goonies, Cohen was already making appearances on television. In 1982–83, he was featured as one of the kids who helped provide clues to contestants on the CBS game show Child’s Play.
A few years later, during the summer of 1985, he made a return to TV as a young celebrity guest on the game show Body Language.
While filming the iconic The Goonies, Cohen solidified his status in pop culture with the memorable Truffle Shuffle, infusing the role of the lovable misfit, Chunk, with his infectious energy.
Under the direction of Richard Donner and with Steven Spielberg as producer, this adventure-comedy narrates the tale of a group of misfit kids who set out on a thrilling quest for hidden treasure, hoping to save their neighborhood.
A humorous behind-the-scenes fact that many fans may not know: Jeff Cohen was actually suffering from chickenpox during the filming of Goonies. Fearing he might be replaced, he kept it a secret and still showed up on set. According to the DVD commentary, observant viewers can even see the chickenpox on his chest during the memorable “Truffle Shuffle” scene.
Director Richard Donner once remarked that Jeff’s performance had a true, authentic quality — he was simply himself on screen.
Cohen shared his experience of landing the role of Chunk:
“There were basically about four fat kids in town, so every time there was a fat kid role, you saw the same faces at the audition,” he told the Daily Mail.
“It was survival of the fattest.”
“Acting gave me up”
After the success of The Goonies, Jeff Cohen would have loved to keep acting, but one obstacle stood in his way.
“When I hit puberty, it was a career-ender for me. I was changing from Chunk to hunk, and I couldn’t land roles anymore,” he explained.
Then came the line that broke the hearts of every Goonies fan a little:
“It was terrible. My first love was acting, but puberty had other plans. It was a forced retirement. I didn’t quit acting. Acting quit on me.”
So Jeff completely distanced himself from the industry, immersing himself in school, sports, and the quest to discover an identity beyond being Chunk.
He later joked:
“I’m quite skilled at exercising and maintaining my diet because I know I could easily revert back to being Chunk. But I take great pride in having been a professional fat person. Anyone can be an amateur, but who can claim to be a pro?”
Joined the football team
At UC Berkeley, he became a member of the football team, endured intense hazing (“I was constantly knocked on my a**”), and even took on the role of the school mic man, where thousands cheered for him to do the Truffle Shuffle. He finally performed it once, and the audience erupted with excitement.
There’s no question that Jeff Cohen and The Goonies director Richard Donner developed a strong friendship during the filming. Jeff has since commended Donner for his talent in eliciting authentic emotions and natural performances from the young actors, contributing to the film’s status as a timeless classic.
But Donner’s support extended beyond that. When Jeff requested a college recommendation, Donner not only wrote the letter but was so touched by Jeff’s personal challenges that he generously paid for his entire college education. Donner also assisted him in securing behind-the-scenes positions at studios.
Jeff remembers Donner’s booming voice addressing him:
“Hey kid, what do you want to do?”
“I want to be an actor.”
“That’s foolish. You’re not going to be an actor. You need to understand the business.”
Donner wasn’t being harsh — it was tough love. And it proved effective.
Jeff obtained a business degree from Berkeley, a law degree from UCLA, and stepped into the realm of entertainment law.
A poetic twist
But the interesting part is that the former child star didn’t just turn into a lawyer.
He became one of the prominent entertainment lawyers in Hollywood.
“I still wanted to make a contribution to entertainment because I have always loved the entertainment industry,” Cohen once shared with The Journal News.
He co-founded Cohen & Gardner LLP, earned a spot on Variety’s Dealmakers List, and was recognized in The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen Executives.
His office serves as a tribute to his previous life: He has a Steven Spielberg-signed E.T. poster that reads: “To Jeff (Chunk) Cohen, you are my favorite Goonie” and a Superman poster from Donner that says: “My man, with you anyone can fly.”
During an interview with Daily Mail, he chuckled:
“My clients find it amusing that their lawyer is Chunk. They really enjoy it.”
And in a poetic twist? He brokered the deal for his Goonies brother Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once, the role that earned Quan the Oscar.
Ke Huy Quan expressed his gratitude on stage: “My Goonies brother for life.”
Today, Jeff Cohen is 51 years old and while he may not resemble Chunk anymore. He might not perform the Truffle Shuffle without “three martinis” and the right lighting.
However, he takes great pride, immense pride, in what he has achieved.
“I think it’s wild. I appreciate it and I’m incredibly proud of the ten-year-old me for making such a significant impact,” Jeff remarked.
Unlike many child stars, Jeff Cohen emerged from Hollywood without any scars—a true exception in the industry. Even as a child, his innate comedic ability was evident, and now he utilizes that same humor as a thriving lawyer in Hollywood.
Although it’s a bit sad that he left acting behind, maintaining a connection to the industry in a different capacity was a wise decision.
In spite of the hurdles Hollywood presented during his teenage years, he has created an amazing life—assisting talents like Ke Huy Quan in landing significant contracts, remaining a genuinely wonderful person, and leaving a lasting legacy with The Goonies. By any standard, that’s the definition of success!
