Homeless Nickelodeon Actor Tylor Chase Gets Lifeline From Former Co-Star

In the early 2000s, Tylor Chase played the nerdy Martin Qwerly on Nickelodeon comedy Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.

Chase has since fallen on hard times. Now 36, he is homeless and has addiction issues, according to those who know him.

A fan recently recognized the actor and posted a video of the disheveled former child star living on the streets in Riverside, California, about an hour from Los Angeles.

The fan’s TikTok video went viral and prompted an outpouring of support, including from Chase’s former co-stars and other actors.

Chase’s ex-castmate Daniel Curtis Lee, who played Simon ‘Cookie’ Nelson-Cook on the series, posted a video to Instagram earlier this week, saying he was trying to help.

Lee noted that he was previously aware of Chase’s situation, but said it’s been difficult to stay in touch. “He’ll have a phone one day and then maybe not the next,” Lee explained.

Lee is also a director and continues to work in Hollywood. He hosts a podcast as well called “Ned’s Declassified Survival Guide” with former co-stars Devon Werkheiser and Lindsey Shaw.

The actor-director went to Riverside and recorded footage of himself approaching Chase on a street corner. Lee said another former child star, Shaun Weiss of The Mighty Ducks fame, tried to get Chase to a hospital, but the struggling star “backed out.”

“A lot of you are concerned about Tylor Chase this holiday season, and I just wanted to give you an update,” Lee said in the video he posted to Instagram on Dec. 23. “Shaun Weiss and his team put a lot of effort into trying to get him into a hospital last night…  but it turns out he kind of backed out. So, today I went to have pizza with him.”

The footage showed Lee eating with Chase. He set up a video call with their co-star Devon Werkheiser, and took Chase to a hotel as a major storm closed in on Southern California.

Lee told Chase, “I’m going to come back and holler at you man,” and said the plan is to get Chase into rehab.

While some people in the comments section criticized Lee for filming the interactions, others praised him for taking the time to go to Riverside and find Chase.

In a second-video, Lee said he had spoken to Chase’s family. He noted that Chase’s mother discouraged giving him “direct funds,” suggesting cash could be “dangerous” because of addiction issues.

Instead, Lee made an appeal for a financial advisor to contact him so they can set up a trust for Chase and give him access to money once he completes a treatment program.

“I really think we can get him back on his feet,” Lee said in the video. “He seems really excited.”

Lee captioned the video, “We want to do this the right way — safe, structured, and supportive.”