From Chunk to Counsel: The Unexpected Hollywood Success Story of Jeff Cohen
The name Jeff Cohen may not immediately ring a bell for some, but for those who grew up in the 1980s, he’s instantly recognizable as Chunk, the lovable, mischievous, adn endlessly quotable character from The Goonies. But what happened to the child star behind the iconic “Truffle Shuffle”? Cohen’s story is perhaps one of the most surprising and inspiring transformations in hollywood history.
Born Jeffrey Bertan McMahon on June 25, 1974, in Los Angeles, cohen experienced a challenging early life. His parents separated when he was between seven and eight years old, a formative experience that profoundly impacted him. Shortly thereafter, he adopted “Cohen” as his stage name, a tribute to his mother Elaine’s maiden name.
Before achieving Goonie-level fame, Cohen was already building a resume in television. From 1982 to 1983, he appeared on the CBS game show Child’s Play, assisting contestants by explaining clues. He later made a guest appearance on the summer 1985 game show Body Language.
However, it was his role in The Goonies, directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg, that cemented Cohen’s place in pop culture history. His portrayal of Chunk, with the unforgettable Truffle Shuffle, brought an infectious energy to the screen. The film, a beloved adventure comedy, followed a group of children on a perilous quest for lost treasure to save their neighborhood.
A little-known fact surrounding the filming of The Goonies is that Cohen was battling chickenpox. Fearing replacement, he kept his illness a secret, even appearing on set while infected. Keen-eyed viewers can reportedly spot the remnants of the chickenpox on his chest during the iconic Truffle Shuffle scene, as noted in the DVD commentary. Donner himself remarked that Cohen’s acting felt remarkably authentic, stating he was simply “himself on screen.”
Cohen recalled the audition process as a matter of necessity.”There were about four obese kids in the town, so every time there was a role of an obese kid, you always saw the same people at the audition,” he explained in an interview with the Daily Mail. “it was the law of the strongest.”
Despite the success of The Goonies, Cohen’s acting career faced an abrupt end with the onset of puberty. “When I hit puberty, that ended my career. I went from Chunk to Hunk, and I didn’t get any more roles,” he lamented. He
