After the movie’s success, puberty suddenly ended his acting career. “I didn’t give up acting — acting gave me up,” he said. With roles disappearing, he focused on school, sports, and eventually college at UC Berkeley, where he briefly played football and became a campus personality.

Director Richard Donner remained a mentor, even paying for Cohen’s college tuition and helping him land studio jobs. Encouraged to learn the business side of Hollywood, Cohen earned degrees from Berkeley and UCLA Law, eventually becoming a prominent entertainment lawyer. He co-founded Cohen & Gardner LLP, making industry “Top Executive” lists and filling his office with mementos from Spielberg and Donner.

In a full-circle twist, Cohen negotiated the Oscar-winning role for his former co-star Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Quan thanked him during his acceptance speech: “My Goonies brother for life.” Now 51, Jeff Cohen may have left acting behind, but he built a remarkable career — proving that even child stars can rewrite their own stories.