Former Nickelodeon actor Tylor Chase, who appeared to be living on the streets in a recent viral clip, has reconnected with an old castmate.
Daniel Curtis Lee, who worked with Chase on Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, shared that he took Chase out for pizza and helped secure him a place to stay in the Los Angeles area, according to a video Lee posted on Instagram on December 23.
The Context
Lee and Chase both appeared in Nickelodeon’s live-action sitcom Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, which ran for three seasons from 2004 to 2007. Lee played Simon “Cookie” Nelson Cook, while Chase played Martin Qwerly.
A TikTok video posted earlier this week by creator ricecrackerspov appeared to show Chase experiencing homelessness. The clip quickly spread online and had been viewed 4.9 million times as of reporting. It echoed similar TikTok videos shared in Septembers.
The posts sparked widespread concern, with viewers offering prayers and searching for ways to help. They also reignited debate about the challenges child stars can face later in life, as well as the ethics of filming unhoused people for social media content—an approach many criticized.
Chase has previously spoken publicly about his mental health challenges in content he shared on YouTube. In the 2010s, he began posting videos and live poetry performances and said he had experienced bipolar disorder.
What To Know
After the latest video circulated, Lee posted on social media to say he was trying to help his former co-star.
“A lot of you guys are concerned about Tylor Chase this holiday season, and I just wanted to give you an update,” Lee said in a recent Instagram post, adding that he and other former castmates were working to support Chase.
In another Instagram video, Lee said actor Shaun Weiss—who has previously spoken about overcoming homelessness and addiction—had made significant efforts to get Chase admitted to a hospital, but those efforts ultimately did not succeed.
“I thought it worked, his dad told me it worked, but it turns out, he kind of backed out,” Lee said.
The video then showed Lee and Chase spending time together over pizza. Lee also said he arranged for Chase to stay in a hotel due to the weather.
“It’s raining out, and I just want them to have at least some basic accommodations. He wanted to stay local, and this was the only one that was open and accepted people,” Lee said.
This isn’t the first time Lee has commented publicly. In September of 2025, after earlier social media videos showed Chase apparently unhoused, Lee and fellow castmates Devon Werkheiser and Lindsay Shaw—who played Ned Bigby and Jennifer “Moze” Mosely—discussed the situation on their podcast, Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide, and said they were trying to help.
What People Are Saying
Daniel Curtis Lee, in a post on Instagram: “Tylor Chase and Cookie reunite with Ned on FaceTime. Well fed and safe from the rain. Hotel secured! One step closer to long term treatment.”
Ashley Argota Torres, a fellow actor and former Nickelodeon star, in a comment on Lee’s video: “Annnnnd I’m crying. You guys are amazing.”
The account @ManiamAkash, in a post on X viewed over 50,000 times, responding to a repost of Lee’s video: “Wonderful gesture but they need to stop recording this man’s distress and broadcasting it.”
Shayne Jansen, a fitness coach, in a comment on Lee’s Instagram post: “I just don’t understand the people who “why film this it’s just for likes” like WHO CARES why is it such a bad thing to see some good in this world for once. It will inspire others to do more good that’s all that should matter I’m glad he filmed it it makes me believe in humanity.”
