From Nickelodeon fame to the streets: The troubling fall of Tylor Chase

Tylor Chase was once a familiar face to millions of Nickelodeon viewers, appearing as the quirky student Martin Qwerly on the hit early-2000s sitcom Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.

Today, the former child actor has been found living on the streets of Riverside, California — a stark reversal that has shocked fans and prompted a wave of concern from former colleagues, police and family members.

Chase has been living unhoused on the streets of Riverside, California, for quite some time now. Videos from September to December 2025 have shown his current state, in which his untidy appearance makes it hard to believe he was once a cherished child artist.

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Now 36, Chase came back into the public eye after videos showing him dishevelled and living outdoors circulated online.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Chase acknowledged his situation but rejected the label of homelessness.

“I’m not homeless,” he said, adding that he remains in the area because his mother lives nearby. “I stay around here locally.”

Chase rose to fame in the mid-2000s during Nickelodeon’s peak years, when Ned’s Declassified became a staple of children’s television.

Although he never reached leading-man status, his role made him instantly recognisable to a generation of viewers. After the show ended in 2007, Chase stepped away from mainstream acting, later turning to poetry, online videos and self-published writing.

His life since then, however, has been marked by instability. In his interview, Chase admitted to using several prescription medications, including antidepressants and stimulants, which he said were prescribed by a psychiatrist. He denied having a formal mental health diagnosis but acknowledged struggling to maintain structure in his life.

Local authorities have confirmed they are aware of his situation.

Riverside police said their Public Safety Engagement Team has been checking on Chase weekly and offering support services. Officers described him as “kind and cooperative,” but noted that he has consistently declined shelter, housing assistance and treatment options.

Concern grew further after Chase’s former co-star Daniel Curtis Lee, who played Simon “Cookie” Nelson on Ned’s Declassified, tracked him down following the viral videos.

Lee said he was alarmed by Chase’s condition and stepped in personally, taking him out for meals and arranging temporary hotel accommodation during the holiday season.

Lee has also spoken publicly about trying to put longer-term safeguards in place. He revealed plans to set up a trust fund that would only release money if Chase agrees to structured treatment or housing support, saying the goal is to help without enabling self-destructive behaviour.

Additional help has been offered by actor Shaun Weiss, best known for The Mighty Ducks, who has publicly shared his own recovery journey. Weiss said he was willing to help Chase enter a detox or treatment facility, stressing that recovery “has to be a choice.”

Chase’s parents have also weighed in. His mother, Paula Moisio, asked that a GoFundMe campaign started by a social media user be shut down.

"Tylor needs medical attention, not money. But he refuses it. 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,” she said.

As friends and family continue to search for ways to help, Chase’s story has reignited discussion around the pressures faced by former child actors, the long-term effects of early fame, and the fragile safety nets available once the spotlight fades.

For now, the future of a once-familiar Nickelodeon face remains uncertain — balanced between the help being offered and his willingness to accept it.