"What Happened to Him?": Tyler Chase, Once a Nickelodeon Star, Found Living in Filth on the Streets

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A Troubling Turn of Events for Tyler Chase

A shocking development has unfolded involving Tyler Chase, a former star of "Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide." Recently, he was spotted looking disheveled and unclean on the streets of Riverside, California. The image of the Nickelodeon actor left many fans in disbelief and concern.

The incident began when a TikToker captured a video of Chase outside a liquor store. In the clip, she asked him a series of rapid-fire questions to confirm his identity. When she asked if he had been on the Disney Channel, he corrected her, saying it was Nickelodeon. His appearance was far from his usual polished look — his hair was messy, and he wore an unclean grey shirt with dirty denim shorts that revealed his boxers. His fingers were dark and appeared to be covered in dirt.

The woman then asked him to name the show he was on, and he responded, “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.” She confirmed that he was indeed Tyler Chase, expressing surprise at his current state.

This video quickly went viral, prompting an outpouring of support from fans who wanted to help. Among those who stepped up was Shaun Weiss, an actor known for his role in "Mighty Ducks," who had previously struggled with homelessness and addiction. On December 22, Weiss shared an Instagram video where he mentioned that he had managed to secure a bed for Chase at a detox center and a place for long-term treatment.

However, finding Chase proved difficult. Social media investigators eventually helped locate him. Despite their efforts, the situation remained challenging. On December 24, Daniel Curtis Lee, Chase’s co-star, shared an update stating that while efforts to get Chase into a hospital had initially seemed successful, he ultimately backed out.

Lee described how they tried to get Chase into a car to take him to the hospital but were unsuccessful. Instead, Lee took Chase to Blaze Pizza, where they shared a meal, and later convinced him to get into his car and head to what looked like a local hotel. The two former co-stars shared a long hug in the hotel room, with Lee reassuring Chase, “I believe in you and we’re going to win, bro. All we got to do is stay with it and keep working, dude.”

Chase responded, “Thank you, I’m so happy to see you as well.”

Despite this moment of hope, the situation took a turn for the worse. On Christmas Day, Lee shared another update, revealing that the hotel arrangement didn’t work out. He explained that management was upset about the mess in the room and that the situation was far from ideal. Lee also mentioned that he had spoken to Chase’s mother, who expressed concerns about giving him direct money, believing it might enable rather than help.

Fans were shocked by the developments and shared their heartbreak online. One reader wrote, “Makes me wonder what happened to him when he was a child star.” Another commented, “This is so sad, he has such nice eyes. I hope someone can help him.” A viewer on the TikToker’s video said, “The way this just shattered my heart.”

This isn’t the first time Chase has been recognized on the streets. Earlier this year, a TikToker posted videos of him living on the streets, leading to a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for him. It remains unclear how long Lee has been aware of Chase’s struggles.

On the “Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide” podcast, Lee, along with co-stars Devon Werkheiser and Lindsey Shaw, discussed the viral videos of Chase and expressed how devastating it was to see him in that state.

Chase’s father, Joseph Mendez Jr., revealed that he has been dealing with addiction after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in 2015. Prior to that, Chase had posted poetry videos on YouTube, often discussing his struggles with mental health. He looked very different from his character, with greasy hair and dark eyes, sometimes against a black and white backdrop.

Chase reportedly backed out of rehab in Georgia, choosing to stay with his mother, Paula Moisio, in California. He has also faced 12 criminal cases since 2023.

As fans continue to hope for a positive outcome, the situation highlights the challenges faced by former child stars navigating life beyond the spotlight.