Where is Jeff Cohen from The Goonies now? Life after playing Chunk

Where is Jeff Cohen from The Goonies now? Life after playing Chunk

Jeff Cohen from The Goonies captivated audiences with his memorable role as Chunk. As a beloved child actor, he left a lasting impression in the iconic 1985 adventure film. He retired from acting in 1991 and is now an entertainment lawyer based in Beverly Hills.

Anybody who says they intentionally give up acting is lying.
Jeff Cohen from The Goonies is now a lawyer
Jeff on November 23, 2014 (L). Cohen and his mother, Elaine Cohen, on May 9, 2016 (R). Photo: @jeff_b_cohen on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Jeff's last film was Perfect Harmony.
  • Chunk from The Goonies has since forged a career as an entertainment lawyer in Beverly Hills.
  • Cohen co-founded Cohen Gardner LLP, a law firm focusing on "transactional representation" in entertainment.

Jeff Cohen's profile summary

Full nameJeffrey Bertan McMahon
Gender Male
Date of birthJune 25, 1974
Age51 years old (as of 2025)
Place of birthLos Angeles, California, United States
Current residenceBeverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States
NationalityAmerican
Ethnicity White
Height5 feet 4 inches
MotherElaine Cohen
SiblingEydie Faye
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, Los Angeles
ProfessionFormer child actor and lawyer
Net worth $4 million
Social mediaInstagramFacebook

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Exploring the whereabouts of Jeff Cohen from The Goonies

Jeff Cohen retired from acting in 1991, with his last film being Perfect Harmony. He now works as an entertainment lawyer in Beverly Hills, California. Revealing why he quit acting, Jeff said,

It was fun being an actor, but by the time college rolled around, I was ready to try some new things. By the time I graduated, I realized I enjoyed having a normal life and I never went back.
Jeff Cohen at "The Goonies" 25th Anniversary event
Jeff Cohen at "The Goonies" 25th Anniversary event held at Warner Bros. Studios on October 27, 2010, in Burbank, California. Photo by Michael Tran (modified by author)
Source: Original

A look at Jeff Cohen's age and early life

Jeffrey Bertan McMahon, 51 years old as of 2025, was born in Los Angeles, California, United States, on June 25, 1974. Cohen's parents separated when the child actor was young, and he grew up alongside his sister Eydie Faye.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Jeff attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1996. In 1997, he enrolled at UCLA Law School and received his Juris Doctor in 2000 with an emphasis in business law.

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Is Jeff Cohen married?

There are no public details of Jeff Cohen's wife. The former child actor is probably single or prefers to maintain a low profile about his romantic life.

Jeff Cohen's sister is Eydie Faye
Jeff on September 22, 2023, in Los Angeles, CA, United States (L). Cohen with his sister Eydie Faye on April 22, 2019. Photo: @Jeff B. Cohen, Esq. on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: Facebook

A look at Jeff Cohen's acting career

Jeff rose to fame as a child actor with his iconic role as Chunk in the 1985 film The Goonies. He appeared in over 16 movies and TV shows before retiring in 1991. Some of his other movies and TV shows include:

  • Family Ties
  • The Living Century
  • Amazing Stories
  • Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School
  • She's the Sheriff

FAQS

What happened to Chunk in The Goonies?

Chunk is depicted as being bullied in The Goonies. The movie portrayed him as the "fat kid"; thus, he was teased for his weight and clumsiness.

For instance, Corey Feldman, who portrayed Mouth, bullied Chunk by forcing him to do the "Truffle Shuffle dance before being allowed into a friend's home. Other Goonies cast members include Sean Astin, who portrayed Mikey, Ke Huy Quan, who played Data, and Josh Brolin, who was featured as Brand.

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Jeff Cohen' age is 51 years old
Jeff on November 17, 2016 (L). Cohen and his mother, Elaine Cohen, on May 12, 2015 (R). Photo: @jeff_b_cohen on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

What happened to Jeff Cohen from The Goonies?

Jeff Cohen has been practising law, specialising in entertainment deals, and is a founding partner of Cohen Gardner LLP. He has represented many high-profile clients, including his former co-star Ke Huy Quan.

In 2015, Jeff published a book, The Dealmaker's Ten Commandments: Ten Essential Tools for Business Forged in the Trenches of Hollywood. He has also written multiple articles on business and legal matters for publication sites, including CNBC, The Huffington Post, Backstage, Lawyerist, and others.

What is Jeff Cohen's net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Jeff Cohen from The Goonies has an estimated net worth of $4 million. His wealth primarily stems from his career as an American attorney and former child actor.

Jeff Cohen at the ceremony honoring Kevin Feige with a star
Jeff Cohen at the ceremony honoring Kevin Feige with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 25, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by JC Olivera (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Who from The Goonies has passed?

Some notable cast members from The Goonies who have passed away include John Matuszak, who played Sloth, and Anne Ramsey, who played Mama Fratelli. John died in 1989 at the age of 38 due to an accidental prescription drug overdose. Anne Ramsey died in 1988 at the age of 59 from oesophageal cancer.

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Trivia

  • Richard Donner and his wife, Lauren Shuler Donner, financially helped the retired child actor to pursue his undergraduate studies.
  • Jeff took up his stage name, Cohen, from his mother's maiden name, Elaine Cohen.
  • Cohen reportedly contracted Chicken pox after he landed the Chunk role and was afraid that he would be replaced from the role.
  • During his time in college, Jeff was the president of the University of California Associated Students.

Final word

Jeff Cohen from The Goonies remains a cherished figure in the entertainment industry for his role as Chunk in the 1985 film. Beyond acting, Cohen successfully reinvented himself as a top entertainment lawyer. His journey from Hollywood stardom to legal prowess inspires many fans.

READ MORE: Corey Feldman's net worth

Briefly.co.za published an article about Corey Feldman, an American actor, musician, philanthropist, Author, and public speaker.

Corey rose to fame as a child actor due to his role as Mouth in The Goonies in 1985. He has since forged a career spanning decades in the entertainment industry, hence his considerable fortune.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Bennett Yates avatar

Bennett Yates (Lifestyle writer) Bennett Yates is a content creator with over six years of working experience in journalism and copywriting. He graduated from the University of Nairobi (2017) with a Bachelor's in Information Technology. In 2023, Bennett finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. He has worked for Briefly.co.za for six years now. He specializes in topics like technology, entertainment, travel, lifestyle and sports. You can reach him via email at bennetyates@gmail.com.

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