The father of homeless Nickelodeon star Tylor Chase has revealed that the family have struggled for 'over a decade' with his son's 'addiction,' 'bipolar disorder and schizophrenia' in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail.
Fans of Chase, 36, who played Martin Qwerly in kids' TV show Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide in the 2000s, were shocked to learn this month that he had descended into a tragic spiral of homelessness and drug addiction in Riverside, California.
And on Tuesday, his father, Joseph Mendez Jr, told the Daily Mail that problems had plagued Chase - whose legal name according to court records is Tylor Kurtis Mendez - and his family since before 2015.
'He's a wonderful person when he's Tylor,' Mendez, 60, said.
'For over a decade, the family has sought treatment options for Tylor, including support for substance use as well as mental health care,' the Georgia-based realtor added.
'In addition to addiction, Tylor has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which require consistent medical treatment.'
Mendez said that the family had gotten Chase into a rehab around 2021, but the progress did not stick.
'Approximately four years ago, he received treatment in Georgia, and while there was progress for a time, he later chose to discontinue medication and resumed substance use,' he said.
Homeless former Nickelodeon star Tylor Chase's father revealed in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail that the family has struggled for more than a decade with his son's addiction and mental health problems.
As a teenager, Chase had a recurring role as Martin Qwerly in the Nickelodeon series Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.
Joseph Mendez Jr, Chase's father, said his son has been struggling since 2015 with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
He continued: 'More recently, Tylor returned to California to be with his mother in hopes of stabilizing his situation; however, despite continued support, he has refused ongoing treatment and assistance.'
Riverside police also said Chase consistently declined shelter, drug or alcohol treatment, or mental health services offered by the department's outreach division.
Riverside County court records list 12 criminal cases against him since August 2023, including eight this year.
His two most recent arrests were for alleged shoplifting and being under the influence of a controlled substance.
A judge issued a warrant in both cases, which are still ongoing, though police say he is not wanted for any crimes.
'During all of our interactions, he has been cordial and cooperative with our officers,' Riverside Police Department Public Information Officer Ryan Railsback told the Daily Mail on Monday.
'We do not know how long he has been experiencing homelessness,' he said, adding that the department's Public Safety Engagement Team 'contact him at least once a week and consistently offer a variety of resources, including assistance with temporary shelter options.'
Mendez revealed that he had spoken with former Disney actor Shaun Weiss, who publicly pledged to arrange rehab treatment for Chase in an Instagram video posted on Monday.
Weiss, 47, who voiced in the animated Disney show The Mighty Ducks, received professional help himself after a 2020 video showed him at the lowest point of his substance abuse battle.
Chase's father also told the Daily Mail that they had attempted to send the struggling child star to rehab, but that failed when he stopped taking his medication and relapsed.
In a video on Instagram, Weiss said he had '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 thanks to my buddy Mike Jordan at 1111 Recovery,' he said.
'We have also spoken with Shaun Weiss and are working together in an effort to help Tylor,' Mendez said.
'His family has been trying for many years to get him the support he needs, but ultimately, he must be willing to accept help.'
'Tylor is deeply loved by his family and friends, who remain hopeful and are praying that he will accept the help being offered. Their focus continues to be on his safety, health, and well-being.'
This week, Chase's former costar Daniel Curtis Lee, 34, checked him into a hotel room. In a video clip obtained by the Daily Mail, the pair were seen hugging in an emotional reunion.
The Daily Mail found Arizona-born Chase on Monday, digging around in the dirt behind a 7-Eleven on a busy street near the City of Riverside, an hour's drive east of Los Angeles.
He was dressed in a torn purple waterproof, a scruffy LA Raiders polo shirt and ill-fitting pants emblazoned with the faces of characters from the animated Nickelodeon show Rugrats.
Tylor's hands were cut and blistered; dirt caked under his fingernails. He shuffled along the street constantly working his jaw; grimacing and gurning while squinting hard occasionally looking up at the sky.
In one hand, he was clutching a fistful of Christmas cards—and he seemed joyful to hear it was three days until December 25.
'They're very beautiful. I just like to cherish the idea of them, I would say,' he told the Daily Mail.
Chase said he regularly sees his mother, realtor Paula Moisio, who lives nearby, and that he was grateful for food, shelter and clothes he received from friends, family and strangers.
He told the Daily Mail that he 'likes to vape' and takes 'Prozac, Adderall,Sudafed,Wellbutrin or also Zoloft,' all of which he said he received from a psychiatrist - though he denied having a diagnosis of any serious mental health conditions.
'I’m not really active homeless at this time,I’m thinking that I would like to go see my dad,relatively shortly,in the state of Georgia,'he said.
'I have the whole setup to stay out there,a room out there hopefully[...]Probably a housing assistance program in Georgia most likely.'