Jeff Cohen failed to convince directors that he was much more than his cult figure from The Goonies.
1985: Jeff Cohen plays Chunk in THE GOONIES | Wogan | Classic Movie Interviews | BBC Archives
Released in 1985, The Goonies was an adventure comedy that went on to become a cult classic. Based on a story by Steven Spielberg, the film also served as a springboard for young Josh Brolin, Sean Astin and Ke Huy Quan to become big stars in Hollywood. One of the main characters in the film was Lawrence "Chunk" Cohen played by actor Jeff Cohen.
Unfortunately, unlike the other actors, Cohen was unable to make a breakthrough in Hollywood as he got older. One of the main reasons for this was his significant weight loss which made him look completely different from his cult character in The Goonies. The star admitted that filmmakers could not look past this avatar when it came to offering him roles.
The Goonies was an adventure comedy directed and co-produced by Richard Donner. The story follows a group of kids from the "Goon-Docks" area of Astoria, Oregon who discover a treasure map that takes them on an adventure to discover the fortune of a legendary 17th century pirate.
