Tylor Chase’s Father Opens Up About the Former Nickelodeon Star’s Long, Painful Battle With Addiction and Homelessness

25 December 2025

The story of Tylor Chase, the actor who once charmed audiences as Martin Qwerly on the Nickelodeon hit Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, has taken a heartbreaking turn in recent months as videos of him living on the streets of Riverside, California, went viral, sparking concern across social media, among former costars and within his own family, with his father speaking candidly for the first time about the deep struggles with addiction and mental health that have upended his son’s life.

Chase, now 36, found early fame in the mid-2000s with a recurring role on the popular children’s television series, but behind the scenes he battled challenges that intensified in the years after his acting career wound down, eventually leading to repeated brushes with homelessness, addiction and instability that his father says have been decades in the making.

Joseph Mendez Jr. recently opened up about his son’s long history with substance abuse and mental illness, revealing that these issues began when Chase was very young, with struggles going unaddressed during his formative years, and that his attempts at rehabilitation including several trips to rehab have not provided lasting relief.

Mendez described his son as a wonderful, creative soul whose life has been deeply affected by untreated mental health disorders and the corrosive grip of drug addiction, recounting how the family has fought for more than a decade to help him find stability and wellness. This candid family account highlights the complexities many former child actors face when early success gives way to adult challenges, and it underscores the heartache of watching someone once full of promise confront a long, uphill battle for recovery.

Chase’s situation drew widespread attention after a December 2025 video surfaced on TikTok showing him disheveled and homeless, confirming that he had been living on the streets and struggling visibly with addiction, including episodes that appeared consistent with methamphetamine use and other behaviors associated with severe substance dependence.

The footage touched a nerve with viewers and sparked concern among entertainment fans, many of whom remembered him from his Nickelodeon days but were unprepared for how drastically his life had changed. The viral visibility of his circumstances also prompted debate about social media’s role when documenting the hardships of vulnerable individuals raising questions about consent, dignity and the balance between raising awareness and exploiting suffering for clicks.

In response to the widespread concern, some of Chase’s former costars have reached out publicly, offering support and encouragement. Daniel Curtis Lee, who starred alongside Chase on Ned’s Declassified, posted a video of himself reuniting with Chase in December, sharing a meal with him and expressing his commitment to helping him get back on his feet, including efforts to guide him toward rehabilitation. Lee’s gentle efforts reflected the genuine care former colleagues still feel for the man behind the character they once shared on screen, and the interaction symbolized how deeply Chase’s struggle has resonated with the tight-knit Nickelodeon community.

Shaun Weiss, known for his role in The Mighty Ducks films and who has also faced his own battles with addiction and homelessness before achieving sobriety, publicly offered to assist Chase by securing a bed for him at a detox facility and long-term treatment centre in Southern California if he could be located and agreed to participate. Weiss, who has been candid about his own recovery journey after years of hardship, urged fans and the public to help locate Chase so that he could be brought in for treatment, emphasizing the need for compassion and the belief that recovery is possible when someone accepts support and resources.

During the holiday season, Chase was taken into a hospital for evaluation and a short medical hold after authorities determined he needed help, yet the process of getting him stable and engaged with sustained treatment has been fraught with challenges, in part because he has resisted certain forms of assistance even as those around him strive to provide paths toward recovery. A mental health crisis team evaluated him and deemed immediate help necessary, leading to his hospitalization around Christmas, a moment that was both a relief and a reminder of how delicate his situation remains as he oscillates between bouts of crisis and temporary care.

Through all of this, his father’s reflections have underscored the profound pain that families endure when a loved one battles addiction and mental health issues without consistent stability or support. Mendez described the toll this struggle has taken on his heart and on the family, expressing both sorrow and a hope that increased visibility and outreach could ultimately contribute to his son finding a more secure place in life. Chase’s journey from child star to struggling adult encapsulates the broader conversation about how child actors transition out of early fame and the kinds of support systems or lack thereof that can influence the trajectory of their lives long after the cameras stop rolling.

What unfolds next in Chase’s life remains uncertain. His story has elicited empathy from fans and former peers alike, many of whom have watched with concern as once fondly remembered faces from their childhood contend with real-world issues that resonate far beyond entertainment headlines.

Conversations sparked by his plight have touched on addiction, homelessness, mental health resources, and the often invisible struggles faced by people who once seemed invulnerable under the glare of television lights. As efforts to support him continue, including offers of treatment and outreach from those connected to him in the industry, there is a shared hope among many that Chase can find a path forward one that leads to recovery, stability, and perhaps a reconnection with the creative talents that once made him a familiar face to a generation of viewers.