The Hawaiian shirt is long gone. The unforgettable Truffle Shuffle lives mostly in nostalgic clips and internet memes. And the chubby kid who helped define one of the most beloved adventure films of the 1980s now spends his days negotiating multimillion-dollar deals in Hollywood boardrooms.
Jeff Cohen’s journey is one of the most surprising reinventions in entertainment history.
Most people remember him as Chunk, the lovable, accident-prone member of The Goonies whose enthusiasm, humor, and iconic dance routine made him an instant fan favorite. What few could have predicted was that the child actor behind that character would eventually leave acting behind and build an entirely different kind of success story.
Born Jeffrey Bertan McMahon in 1974, Cohen experienced significant changes early in life following his parents’ separation. He later adopted his mother’s maiden name, Cohen, as his professional surname. Long before he became part of movie history, he was already gaining experience in television, appearing on programs such as Child’s Play and Body Language. His natural charm and confidence in front of a camera quickly caught the attention of casting directors.
Then came The Goonies.
When Cohen auditioned for the role of Chunk, competition was fierce. Child actors fitting the same casting profile often found themselves competing repeatedly for the same limited opportunities. Yet Cohen stood out. His humor, warmth, and authenticity impressed director Richard Donner, earning him the role that would change his life.
What many fans don’t know is that Cohen filmed much of the movie while dealing with a severe case of chickenpox. Concerned that he might lose the role if producers discovered he was sick, he kept it largely hidden during production. In some scenes, particularly the famous Truffle Shuffle sequence, careful viewers can still spot traces of the illness.
When The Goonies became a cultural phenomenon, Cohen found himself thrust into a level of fame that few children experience.
For a time, he was everywhere.
His face became instantly recognizable, and Chunk became one of the defining characters of an entire generation’s childhood.
But Hollywood can be unforgiving.
As Cohen entered his teenage years, his appearance changed. The roles that had once come easily began disappearing. The image that made him famous no longer matched who he was becoming. Like many young performers, he faced the difficult reality that the industry often struggles to make room for child stars as they grow up.
Years later, Cohen reflected on that transition with remarkable honesty.
He didn’t leave acting.
Acting left him.
Instead of chasing a shrinking number of opportunities, he redirected his energy elsewhere.
He enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where life looked very different from a movie set. College presented new challenges, new friendships, and new opportunities to discover who he was beyond the character everyone remembered.
At Berkeley, he joined the football team and immersed himself in campus life. During one memorable event, after relentless encouragement from fellow students, he reluctantly performed the Truffle Shuffle again. The crowd’s reaction was immediate and unforgettable, proving just how deeply the character remained embedded in popular culture.
Yet college was about far more than nostalgia.
It was where Cohen began building the next chapter of his life.
A major influence during that period was Richard Donner, who remained a mentor long after filming ended. When Cohen sought a recommendation for college, Donner offered much more than encouragement. Deeply impressed by the young man’s determination and character, Donner reportedly helped support his education financially and pushed him to think beyond acting.
Donner believed Cohen had the intelligence and drive to succeed behind the scenes rather than in front of the camera.
That advice changed everything.
After earning a business degree from Berkeley, Cohen went on to complete a law degree at UCLA. He then entered one of the most competitive sectors in entertainment: entertainment law.
Rather than fading from Hollywood, he re-entered it from an entirely different direction.
Over time, Cohen built an impressive reputation as an attorney representing actors, producers, writers, and entertainment companies. His understanding of the industry gave him a unique advantage. He knew firsthand what performers experienced because he had lived it himself.
Today, he is regarded as one of Hollywood’s respected legal professionals, helping shape deals and careers behind the scenes.
Perhaps the most remarkable full-circle moment came decades after The Goonies.
One of Cohen’s clients was his former co-star Ke Huy Quan.
When Quan’s career experienced a remarkable resurgence through Everything Everywhere All at Once, Cohen played an important role in negotiating the agreements that helped make the opportunity possible. Quan’s eventual Academy Award victory became an emotional milestone not only for him but also for the friends who had shared an adventure movie set as children.
It was a reminder that some bonds endure long after the cameras stop rolling.
Now in his fifties, Jeff Cohen views his childhood fame with gratitude rather than regret. He remains proud of the role that introduced him to audiences around the world, but he is equally proud of the life he built afterward.
Unlike many former child stars whose stories became cautionary tales, Cohen successfully navigated the difficult transition into adulthood. He found purpose, stability, and success on his own terms.
His story is not simply about a famous child actor growing up.
It’s about adaptation.
It’s about resilience.
It’s about understanding when one chapter has ended and having the courage to write another.
Most people remember Chunk searching for hidden treasure beneath the Oregon coast.
But Jeff Cohen discovered something far more valuable.
He learned how to reinvent himself.
And that may be the greatest adventure of all.
