Former child actor Tylor Chase has been spotted living on the streets.
The American appeared on the sitcom Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide (2004 to 2007), where he played geeky, fast-talking Martin Qwerly.
Now 36, he was filmed in a TikTok video uploaded on Dec 21 by user @RiceCrackersPOV. It was captioned: “This is so sad... ran into the boy that used to play (sic) on Nickelodeon. I remember watching him as a kid.”
In the clip, Chase appeared dishevelled, in worn-out jeans and with his hair unkempt. When asked: “Did you play (sic) on Disney channel?”, he clarified, “Nickelodeon”. He added that he appeared on the show Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.
The video was reportedly taken in Riverside, a city in the greater Los Angeles area. Some media reports, such as those on website SheKnows, say the video was first uploaded to TikTok in September.
Photos and clips of Chase apparently living on the streets have appeared as early as in mid-September.
Several were posted by TikTok user Citlalli Wilson, who launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Chase with safe housing, food and basic necessities.
According to website Primetimer, the fund-raiser collected more than US$1,200 before Chase’s mother – who is not named in reports – asked for it to be shut down.
Chase’s mother said her son has bipolar disorder and needs medical attention but refuses it. She reportedly said: “I appreciate your effort. But money would not be a benefit to him. I have gotten him several phones, but he loses them within a day or two. He can’t manage money for his meds by himself.”
Following this, Wilson stopped the campaign, and instead decided to give Chase new footwear and clothes, as well as wash his hair.
After Wilson’s posts in September, Chase’s situation was discussed on Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide. The podcast features fellow cast members Devon Werkheiser, Lindsey Shaw and Daniel Curtis Lee from Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.
Lee said he was at first angry that people were filming Chase, but he later felt upset with himself for being “powerless” to help. He added: “Looks like our brother is going through some stuff.”
Shaw said: “You can’t do much, but I would just love to go and speak with him. I miss Tylor. I love Tylor so so much.”
Werkheiser added: “We haven’t been in each other’s lives in a very long time. It’s a lot to process and know what to do, feel, say.... It is painful and shocking to see that this is where he is currently at.” – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
