The Boy Who Became Chunk
Jeff Cohen was born Jeffrey Bertan McMahon on June 25, 1974, in Los Angeles, California—a city where childhood and show business often collide early. Like many child actors of that era, he didn’t grow up dreaming of red carpets. His entry into acting was more accidental than calculated.
His early childhood wasn’t without hardship. When Jeff was around seven or eight years old, his parents separated. The emotional shift left a lasting mark on him. Not long after, he made a symbolic decision that would shape his identity in Hollywood—he adopted “Cohen” as his stage surname, honoring his mother Elaine’s maiden name.
It was a quiet but powerful step in defining who he wanted to be.
Not long after, Hollywood came calling.
