Devon Werkheiser has expressed deep sorrow over the plight of his former Nickelodeon co-star Tylor Chase, who is currently homeless.
This week, a distressing video surfaced showing Chase, now 36, living on the streets of Los Angeles. In response, Werkheiser, 34, shared his thoughts with TMZ, noting that he has not been in contact with Chase since their days together on “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” which concluded nearly two decades ago.
“Tylor was a gentle, kind-hearted individual,” Werkheiser commented. “It breaks my heart to see him in such a state.”
Werkheiser continued, “Anyone who has experienced severe addiction and profound mental health challenges knows how incredibly difficult it is when someone is not ready to seek help.”
The viral video, initially recorded in September, depicts Chase in a very unkempt condition as he roamed the streets of Riverside, California. During the encounter, the former actor confirmed to a fan filming the scene that he once played Martin Qwerly on “Ned’s Declassified.”
Werkheiser, who starred as Ned Bigby on the popular Nickelodeon series from 2004 to 2007, emphasized to TMZ that merely giving Chase money will not resolve the underlying issues he is facing.
“It’s an everyday uphill battle to course correct. It requires a ton of support and patience and time,” he explained.
Werkheiser also said that while he doesn’t agree with fans posting videos of Chase online, he hopes the attention can lead to something positive for Chase.
“My only hope is that from this exposure, someone with real understanding and resources can step in, get Tylor into treatment, and help him get back on track,” “Werkheise told the outlet. “We all want a happy ending.”
Riverside Police Department confirmed to TMZ that officers are familiar with Chase and interact with him at least once a week.
However, Chase has consistently denied help including temporary shelter, drug and alcohol treatment and mental health services, police said.
Authorities also noted that Tylor is not wanted for any crimes.
Werkheiser and his former co-stars Lindsey Shaw and Daniel Curtis Lee previously addressed the video of Chase in September on their “Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide” podcast.
Lee, who played Simon “Cookie” Nelson-Cook, said that the footage “was a lot to process for me.”
“After I was angry at the people who were filming it, I was upset with myself in that I feel powerless,” he said. “I feel like there’s not much I can do.”
Chase’s former co-stars all vowed to try to help him in anyway they can — but they swore that they won’t have him on the podcast.
“That’s not at all what needs to happen here. There’s a lot more that needs to happen before that,” Werkheiser said.
A GoFundMe was launched in the fall to help Chase with the page reportedly raising over $1,200 before it was shut down by Chase’s mother, who insisted her son “needs medical attention, not money.”
