{"id":8213,"date":"2026-01-29T13:10:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/?p=8213"},"modified":"2026-01-29T13:10:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:10:22","slug":"from-chunk-to-powerhouse-attorney-the-wild-journey-of-jeff-cohen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/?p=8213","title":{"rendered":"From Chunk to powerhouse attorney: The wild journey of Jeff Cohen."},"content":{"rendered":"

If you grew up in the \u201980s, you definitely remember Chunk.<\/p>\n

The iconic Hawaiian shirt.<\/p>\n

The unforgettable Truffle Shuffle.<\/p>\n

And that lovable chaos machine who effortlessly stole scenes in The Goonies.<\/p>\n

But the story of the kid behind the legend \u2014 Jeff Cohen \u2014 might just be one of the most astonishing tales from Hollywood.<\/p>\n

Behind-the-scenes<\/h2>\n

Jeff Cohen\u2019s journey from child star to obscurity happened almost in the blink of an eye.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Shortly after, he decided to adopt a new name for his acting caree<\/p>\n

Prior to his breakout performance in The Goonies, Cohen was already making appearances on television. In 1982\u201383, he was featured as one of the kids who helped provide clues to contestants on the CBS game show Child\u2019s Play.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Jeff Cohen shouting through a hole in the door in a scene from the film \u2018Goonies\u2019, 1985. (Photo by Warner Brothers\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cTruffle Shuffle\u201d scene.<\/p>\n

Director Richard Donner once remarked that Jeff\u2019s performance had a true, authentic quality \u2014 he was simply himself on screen.<\/p>\n

Cohen shared his experience of landing the role of Chunk:<\/p>\n

\u201cThere 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,\u201d he told the Daily Mail.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was survival of the fattest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cActing gave me up\u201d<\/h2>\n

After the success of The Goonies, Jeff Cohen would have loved to keep acting, but one obstacle stood in his way.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I hit puberty, it was a career-ender for me. I was changing from Chunk to hunk, and I couldn\u2019t land roles anymore,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Then came the line that broke the hearts of every Goonies fan a little:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was terrible. My first love was acting, but puberty had other plans. It was a forced retirement. I didn\u2019t quit acting. Acting quit on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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From left to right, Jeff Cohen, Sean Astin, Corey Feldman and Ke Huy Quan in a scene from the film \u2018Goonies\u2019, 1985. (Photo by Warner Brothers\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

So Jeff completely distanced himself from the industry, immersing himself in school, sports, and the quest to discover an identity beyond being Chunk.<\/p>\n

He later joked:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m 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?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joined the football team<\/h2>\n

At UC Berkeley, he became a member of the football team, endured intense hazing (\u201cI was constantly knocked on my a**\u201d), 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.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s 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\u2019s status as a timeless classic.<\/p>\n

But Donner\u2019s support extended beyond that. When Jeff requested a college recommendation, Donner not only wrote the letter but was so touched by Jeff\u2019s personal challenges that he generously paid for his entire college education. Donner also assisted him in securing behind-the-scenes positions at studios.<\/p>\n