You remember Cody Lambert. The dude with the van, the "Whoa!" catchphrase, and that impossibly chill surfer vibe that somehow fit perfectly into a chaotic suburban house in Wisconsin. Sasha Mitchell didn't just play a character on Step by Step; he basically defined a specific brand of '90s "cool cousin" energy that hasn't really been replicated since.
But then, he was just gone.
If you were watching ABC’s TGIF lineup in the mid-90s, the disappearance of the "Codeman" felt like a glitch in the Matrix. One week he was building a gazebo in the backyard, and the next, he was scrubbed from the opening credits. No big farewell. No "Cody moved to Hawaii" special episode. Just an empty van and a lot of questions.
The truth behind why Sasha Mitchell Step by Step era ended so abruptly is a lot heavier than the sitcom’s laugh track would suggest. It’s a story involving a massive career peak, a legal nightmare that played out in the tabloids, and a long-term redemption arc that most people completely missed because it happened away from the cameras.
The Rise of the Codeman
Sasha Mitchell wasn't some random guy they found at a casting call for "goofy surfer." Before he ever set foot on the Step by Step set, he was a legitimate heavy hitter in two very different worlds: high fashion and martial arts.
He started as a model for Bruce Weber. We’re talking elite, Calvin Klein-level photography. He had this unique look—part "pretty boy" heartthrob, part absolute tank. That physicality wasn’t for show, either. Mitchell is a black belt in Taekwondo and was an amateur kickboxing champion.
This background is actually how he landed the role of David Sloane in the Kickboxer sequels, taking over the franchise from Jean-Claude Van Damme. Think about that for a second. The guy playing the lovable ditz on a Friday night sitcom was simultaneously fly-kicking people through walls in direct-to-video action movies.
When he joined Step by Step in 1991, he was reunited with Patrick Duffy. They’d actually worked together on Dallas previously, where Mitchell played James Beaumont, the illegitimate son of J.R. Ewing. Duffy liked him so much he helped get him the role of Frank Lambert’s nephew.
Cody was supposed to be a one-off character. But the audience went nuts for him. He was the show's breakout star, providing a weird, Zen-like balance to the constant bickering of the Foster-Lambert kids.
What Really Happened in 1996?
In 1996, the wheels came off. Mitchell was arrested and charged with domestic violence involving his then-wife, Jeannette Robbins.
The media went into a frenzy. In the mid-90s, the "celebrity fall from grace" narrative was a tabloid goldmine. He was convicted of misdemeanor battery and spousal abuse. He got probation, but after missing some court-ordered counseling sessions, a judge sent him to jail for 60 days.
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Because Step by Step was a "family-friendly" show on a major network, the producers didn't wait around. They fired him.
But here’s where the story gets complicated. For years, the public only knew the "abuser" headline. It wasn't until much later that a different perspective emerged. Mitchell eventually sat down for interviews, including a notable one on Entertainment Tonight, where he claimed he was actually the one trying to protect his four children.
He alleged that his wife struggled with serious drug addiction and that the physical altercations happened while he was trying to prevent her from harming the kids.
The Quiet Victory Nobody Talked About
Usually, in high-profile domestic cases, the "truth" is somewhere in the middle. But there is one factual piece of evidence that suggests Mitchell’s version of events held some weight: he won full custody of all four of his children.
In the 90s (and even now), it was incredibly rare for a father with a domestic violence conviction to be awarded sole legal and physical custody of four kids while the mother was restricted to limited, supervised visits.
"Honestly, I just wanted to be a dad," Mitchell has alluded to in various interviews over the years. He basically traded his Hollywood career for his kids. He spent the late 90s and 2000s out of the spotlight, raising Stacey, Paulina, Ethan, and Caroline as a single father.
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While he did make a brief, emotional return for the Step by Step series finale in 1998, the momentum was gone. He took small roles in shows like ER, JAG, and NYPD Blue, but the days of being a household name were over.
Where is Sasha Mitchell in 2026?
If you saw him on the street today, you might not recognize him—unless you’re looking at his arms.
At 58 years old, Mitchell is, for lack of a better word, absolutely shredded. He’s spent the last two decades leaning hard into his martial arts roots and bodybuilding. Recent sightings and social media updates show he’s arguably in better shape now than he was during his Kickboxer days.
He’s also not "just" an actor anymore. While he still takes the occasional indie film role—like 2025's Anadellia Rises or appearances in Art Camacho's action projects—he’s diversified his life.
- He’s a certified welder.
- He works in elevator maintenance/repair.
- He’s a motorcycle enthusiast who builds Harleys.
There’s something kinda refreshing about it. He didn’t spend thirty years chasing the ghost of his fame or begging for a reboot. He got a "real" job, raised his kids, and stayed in the gym.
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Why We Still Care About Cody Lambert
The reason Sasha Mitchell Step by Step fans are still searching for him in 2026 is that his character represented a certain kind of kindness. Cody wasn't just "the dumb guy." He was the guy who would build you a bookshelf just because he saw you looking at a mess. He was weirdly wise.
Looking back, the show never felt the same after he left. The dynamic shifted from a quirky family comedy to a more standard, slightly drier sitcom.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re looking to reconnect with his work or see what he’s up to now, here are the best moves:
- Watch the "Cody-centric" episodes: Season 2 and 3 of Step by Step are peak Mitchell. His comedic timing with Patrick Duffy is actually a masterclass in "straight man/funny man" dynamics.
- Check out the Kickboxer sequels: If you only know him as the goofy cousin, seeing him as David Sloane is a trip. The fight choreography in Kickboxer 2 is surprisingly solid for the era.
- Follow the fitness journey: While he keeps a relatively low profile, Mitchell’s recent physical transformation is a pretty big inspiration for the "over 50" fitness community.
Ultimately, Sasha Mitchell’s story is a weird, messy, human one. It’s not a perfect Hollywood ending, but in a world where many child and teen stars of that era spiraled out of control, a guy who ended up as a buff, motorcycle-building dad who works a trade is a victory in its own right.
Keep an eye out for his name on the credits of independent action films—he’s still out there, likely doing his own stunts and still hitting harder than most people half his age.
Next Step: You can look for Step by Step on streaming platforms like Max (formerly HBO Max) to revisit those early 90s episodes, or check out his more recent appearances in the independent action circuit to see his martial arts evolution.