For those who grew up in the 1980s, Jeff Cohen is forever remembered as Chunk—the lovable, scene-stealing kid in the loud Hawaiian shirt who performed the iconic Truffle Shuffle in *The Goonies*. But behind the character lies a remarkable story of reinvention that defies typical Hollywood narratives.

Born Jeffrey Bertan McMahon in Los Angeles on June 25, 1974, he adopted his mother’s maiden name, Cohen, as his professional surname after his parents separated when he was young. Before his breakout film role, he had already appeared on game shows like *Child’s Play* and *Body Language*.

Then came *The Goonies* in 1985. Directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg, the adventure-comedy made Cohen an unforgettable pop culture figure. Few knew he battled chickenpox during filming, spots visible during the famous dance scene for eagle-eyed viewers.

After the film’s success, puberty altered Cohen’s path. As he transformed from “Chunk to hunk,” acting roles disappeared. “It was a forced retirement,” he later reflected. “I didn’t give up acting. Acting gave me up.”

Rather than fade away, Cohen reinvented himself. He attended UC Berkeley, played football, and earned a business degree, followed by a law degree from UCLA. With mentorship from Donner—who even paid his tuition—Cohen redirected his passion for entertainment.

Today, he is a powerhouse entertainment attorney and co-founder of Cohen & Gardner LLP. In a beautiful full-circle moment, he negotiated the deal for his *Goonies* co-star Ke Huy Quan’s Oscar-winning role in *Everything Everywhere All at Once*.

At 51, Cohen jokes that performing the Truffle Shuffle now would require “three martinis.” Yet he remains proud of ten-year-old him, having transformed childhood fame into lasting success without scandal—a story not of loss, but of intentional, inspiring reinvention.