Jeff Cohen

Few child performers have left a cultural imprint as lasting as Jeff Cohen, whose portrayal of Chunk in the 1985 Steven Spielberg production ‘The Goonies’ remains one of the most beloved performances of 1980s American cinema. Born Jeffrey Bertan McMahon on June 25, 1974, in Los Angeles, California, he adopted his stage name from the maiden name of his mother, Elaine Cohen. His earliest television work included a role on the 1982–83 CBS game show ‘Child’s Play,’ followed by a celebrity appearance on ‘Body Language’ in the summer of 1985 and a part in the 1986 Disney TV movie ‘Ask Max.’

During the filming of ‘The Goonies,’ Cohen showed remarkable resolve: he contracted chickenpox shortly before production began and, fearing he would be re-cast, told no one and reported to set anyway—a detail visible during the film’s famous ‘Truffle Shuffle’ sequence. Director Richard Donner praised the genuineness of his acting, noting that he drew from himself on screen. In a fitting sign of the trust between the two, Cohen later asked Donner for a college recommendation, and after reading Cohen’s notes about his early life struggles, Donner and his wife offered to pay for his education.

Cohen went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in business from the University of California, Berkeley, and later a Juris Doctor from the UCLA School of Law. Today he is a founding partner of the law firm Cohen & Gardner, having built a second career as an attorney after stepping away from acting.

Away from the courtroom, Cohen comes from a creative family—his sister, Eydie Faye, is a playwright and actress who even appeared as Chunk’s sister in ‘The Goonies’ beach reunion scene. His journey from iconic child star to accomplished lawyer makes him a distinctive voice on reinvention, education, and life after the spotlight.