If you were a kid in the 1980s, Chunk wasn’t just a character — he was a cultural moment. The loud Hawaiian shirt, the unforgettable Truffle Shuffle, and the pure, chaotic heart made him impossible to ignore. Jeff Cohen didn’t just play Chunk in The Goonies — he was Chunk, and the role cemented him into pop-culture history almost instantly.
Behind the scenes, Cohen’s path into fame was anything but smooth. Born Jeffrey Bertan McMahon on June 25, 1974, in Los Angeles, his childhood was marked by change early on. When his parents separated while he was still young, it left a lasting impact that shaped both his personal life and his drive to succeed.
As his acting career began to take shape, he made a deliberate choice to reinvent himself professionally. He adopted the surname “Cohen” for the screen, honoring his mother Elaine’s maiden name. It was an early sign of the self-awareness that would later define his post-Hollywood career.
Before The Goonies ever entered production, Cohen was already a familiar face on television. In the early 1980s, he appeared on CBS’s Child’s Play, helping contestants solve clues. A few years later, he showed up again as a young celebrity guest on the game show Body Language, slowly building momentum in the industry.
Everything changed in 1985. With Richard Donner directing and Steven Spielberg producing, The Goonies became an instant classic. Cohen’s performance as Chunk — awkward, emotional, and endlessly funny — stood out even among a talented ensemble cast, making him one of the most memorable characters in the film.
What most fans didn’t realize was how close he came to losing that role. During filming, Cohen was battling chickenpox but kept it hidden, afraid he’d be replaced if the studio found out. The gamble paid off — and eagle-eyed fans can still spot the marks during the famous Truffle Shuffle scene.
Despite the film’s success, Cohen’s acting career stalled just as quickly as it took off. Puberty changed his appearance, and with it, Hollywood’s interest. Roles dried up, not because of a lack of talent, but because he no longer fit the narrow boxes the industry demanded.
Looking back, Cohen summed it up with brutal honesty. Acting wasn’t something he walked away from by choice. As he put it, his first love didn’t leave — it moved on without him. That forced ending, however, would ultimately push him toward a second act even more surprising than the first.
Leave a Reply