Devon Werkheiser is heartbroken that his former Nickelodeon co-star Tylor Chase is homeless.
After a troubling video of Chase, 36, living on the streets in LAmade headlines this week, Werkheiser, 34, spoke out to TMZ, revealing that he hasn’t seen Chase since “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide” ended almost 20 years ago.
“Tylor was a sensitive, sweet, and kind kid,” said Werkheiser. “It is heartbreaking to see him this way.”
“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,” Werkheiser added.
In the viral video originally taken in September, Chase appeared extremely disheveled walking on the streets of Riverside, Calif. The former actor confirmed to the fan recording that he played Martin Qwerly on “Ned’s Declassified.”
Werkheiser, who portrayed Ned Bigby on the hit Nickelodeon show from 2004 to 2007, told TMZ that people giving Chase money isn’t the solution.
“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.”
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