Former child star Daniel Curtis Lee is stepping up to help his Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide costar Tylor Chase after distressing videos emerged showing the 36-year-old living on California streets.
It’s a stark reminder that fame doesn’t shield anyone from life’s darkest struggles.
But amid the heartbreak, there’s hope—old friends are rallying together, refusing to let Chase face this battle alone.
And their efforts are already making a difference.
A Friend Steps In During Crisis
Lee shared an emotional update via Instagram on Tuesday, revealing the behind-the-scenes efforts to get Chase off the streets and into proper care.
A lot of you are concerned about Tylor Chase this holiday season, and I just wanted to give you an update.
According to Lee, fellow former child star Shaun Weiss and his team attempted to get Chase hospitalized the previous night. Initially, it seemed successful—Chase’s father even confirmed it worked.
But Chase backed out at the last moment.
Lee learned that “they couldn’t get [Chase] into the car last night,” which prevented the hospital admission. Undeterred, Lee took a different approach—meeting Chase for pizza and leveraging their old friendship to gain his trust.
Pizza, Trust, and Basic Dignity
The personal connection made all the difference. Chase “trusted an old friend,” allowing Lee to secure him a hotel room during the hectic holiday season.
I just wanted him to have at least basic accommodations. He wanted to stay local, and this was the only one that was open.
Footage from their meal shows two former costars reconnecting over something simple—food and conversation. Before parting, they shared an embrace, with Lee promising to return and help Chase enter rehabilitation.
I believe in you, and all we have to do is stay with it.
Chase’s response revealed both gratitude and vulnerability.
Love you, dude. Thank you. I’m so happy to see you.
Setting Up Support Structures
Lee’s Tuesday update followed an earlier Instagram video from Monday, where he revealed he’d spoken with Chase by phone. According to Lee, Chase was “really excited” that people had been inspired by his story.
However, Chase’s mother advised against providing direct financial assistance to her son. Lee responded by exploring the creation of a trust fund contingent on Chase completing rehabilitation—a structured approach designed to support recovery rather than enable destructive behavior.
He’s on my heart often, on my mind often.
Lee acknowledged the community’s overwhelming support while also expressing concern about certain approaches.
There’s been such a huge outpouring of support from the community. Like I say, I don’t like the way some of you guys are going about the videos and stuff like that. But if it’s real love and genuine love and support, man, I really think we can get him back on his feet.
Recovery Advocate Offers Treatment Bed
Shaun Weiss, who starred in The Mighty Ducks and has become an addiction treatment advocate after his own recovery journey, also responded to videos of Chase’s situation.
On Monday, Weiss offered Chase a bed at Eleven 11 Recovery center in San Clemente, California—if Chase could be found and consented to treatment.
I have received many messages about [Tylor Chase]. I reached out to some friends of mine, and we have a bed for him at a detox, and we have a place for him to go and get long-term treatment.
Weiss, who has openly documented his journey from addiction to sobriety, urged anyone who could “get a face-to-face” with Chase to contact him directly.
The Harsh Reality of Addiction
Devon Werkheiser, who played titular character Ned Bigby on Ned’s Declassified, also weighed in after nearly two decades without seeing his former costar.
Speaking with TMZ on Monday, Werkheiser painted a picture of who Chase was before addiction took hold.
Tylor was a sensitive, sweet, and kind kid. It is heartbreaking to see him this way.
Werkheiser highlighted the brutal truth about severe addiction and mental health struggles—they’re nearly impossible to address when the person doesn’t want help.
Anyone who has dealt with severe addiction and deep mental health issues knows it’s an unbelievably challenging situation if they don’t want help.
Recovery Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Werkheiser emphasized that recovery isn’t quick or linear—it demands sustained commitment from everyone involved.
It’s an everyday uphill battle to course-correct. It requires a ton of support and patience and time. 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.
As Lee and others continue their efforts, Chase’s situation underscores critical realities about addiction:
- Trust matters: Sometimes professional intervention fails where personal connection succeeds
- Structure helps: Contingent financial support protects both the person struggling and those trying to help
- Consent is essential: Recovery cannot be forced—it requires the individual’s willingness to participate
- Community support counts: Multiple people offering different forms of assistance creates a safety net
- Patience is mandatory: Recovery takes time, setbacks happen, and sustained commitment is crucial
For anyone struggling with substance abuse, contact SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
For mental health support, text “STRENGTH” to Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to connect with a certified crisis counselor.