The figure of Tyler Chase, an actor who rose to fame in the 2000s with his role as Martin Qwerly in the television series Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guideis back in the news after a video was posted on social media showing him in homelessness in Riverside, California. The scene has shocked thousands of people who grew up watching his performances and has generated widespread debate about the difficulties many former child actors face when fame fades.
From television to the streets: how Tyler Chase got here
Tyler Chase was born on September 6, 1989 in Arizona and began his acting career as a teenager. His role as Martin Qwerly in the Nickelodeon saga made him a familiar face to millions of children who followed the series between 2004 and 2007.
In addition to his presence in Ned’s Declassified, Chase had appearances in other projects such as Everybody Hates Chris in 2005 and the independent film Good Time Max in 2007, according to IMDb records. Although his name was not always remembered, his face was remembered by the generation that grew up watching him on screen.
However, a video released in September that subsequently went viral again showed Chase in a very different state than many remembered: living on the street in Riverside, California, looking disheveled and seemingly destitute. In one of the clip’s most talked-about scenes, the person filming asks him if he had acted on Disney Channel. “Nickelodeon,” he corrects, before confirming that he participated in Ned’s Declassified and giving his full name. “Oh yeah, you’re that guy,” the person replies, in a moment that has touched those who recognized him immediately.
Reactions in networks and the controversy over the viral video
The dissemination of the video provoked a wave of reactions in networks, from surprise and sadness to debates about the ethics of photographing or recording people in vulnerable situations. The clip was shared massively, reactivating interest in Chase’s trajectory and, at the same time, raising concerns about his current condition.
Following this, a TikTok user identified as @lethallalli (Citlalli Wilson) created a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to help Chase cover basic needs such as food. The page went on to raise more than $1,200 before being voluntarily shut down at the request of the actor’s mother.
The mother’s version: mental health and health care needs.
Tyler Chase’s mother explained why she felt that raising money was not the right solution. As she shared in text messages later disseminated by the same user, her son’s main problem was not a lack of monetary resources, but his mental health and difficulties in handling any form of financial assistance.
The mother detailed, “Yes, Tyler needs medical care, 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 or his medications on his own…it could even harm him…he’s a good, sweet boy. But he does need medical help.”
🇺🇸 FROM CHILD STAR TO HOMELESS IN CALIFORNIA – THE TYLER CHASE STORY
Tyler Chase, who played Martin on Nickelodeon’s Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, was recently spotted homeless in California.
In a viral street clip, he calmly explains he was on Nickelodeon and even… pic.twitter.com/ArPzugXqA0
– Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 21, 2025
This testimony shifted the focus of the discussion from immediate financial help to the need for long-term medical and mental health support, and opened up a broader debate about how society and the entertainment industry handle cases of young people who achieve fame prematurely and then face personal hardship.
Reflections from fellow cast members
Tyler Chase’s situation was also discussed by his former Ned’s Declassified teammates on the Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide, where they shared their reactions to seeing the viral video.
One of the most significant reflections came from one of them, who expressed, “When I first saw it, I was angry because I thought, why put a camera in the face of someone who is going through a bad time? But then, after being angry at the people who were filming it, I got frustrated with myself because I feel like there’s not much I can do.”
Another relevant intervention was that of Daniel Curtis Lee, who personally visited Chase and asked fans not to look for “quick fixes” or superficial solutions to the problem. He emphasized that what is really needed is stability, housing and long-term medical care.
Persistence of difficulties at year-end 2025
Despite the media attention and the affection expressed by fans and former colleagues, local reports indicated that, by the end of 2025, Chase was still living on the streets. The story has prompted reflections on the lack of support structures for someone who was a public figure in childhood and subsequently fell by the wayside in the industry.
Some fans and observers have expressed frustration, and others have questioned whether it was ethical to film and share the actor’s situation, arguing that it may worsen the life of someone who is already going through very sensitive times.
