Here’s What The Cast Of ‘Home Improvement’ Looks Like Now

Then: Tim Allen landed the role of a lifetime when he was cast in the lead role on Home Improvement. His turn as Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor cemented the actor as a household name. Home Improvement documents Taylor’s life and various family squabbles and also features Tool Time – a handyman show Taylor hosts with his friend Al. Allen’s character is forced to juggle the responsibilities of being the star of a series and being a good dad.

Now: Allen is still active in television and film. He starred in The Santa Clause movie franchise and even voiced Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story films. The experienced actor also stars in the sitcom Last Man Standing. Many fans of the show were disappointed when ABC canceled the program, but Fox has since picked up the show, returning it to its Friday night time slot. Allen is set to reprise his role as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 4, scheduled for a June 2019 release.

Then: Patricia Richardson played Jill Taylor, the anti-June Cleaver. Richardson’s character is caring, but she isn’t afraid to use a little sarcasm. The mom keeps everyone in line, and the family knows this matriarch is the head of the Taylor household.

Now: Since playing Jill on Home Improvement, Richardson has continued to work as an actor. From 2002 to 2005, she played Dr. Campbell on Strong Medicine. She also enjoyed success in the stage version of Steel Magnolias. Outside of acting, Richardson is the mother of three children (Henry, Roxanne, and Joseph). She also serves on the national board of the Screen Actors Guild.

Then: Zachery Ty Bryan played Brad, the well-intentioned but sometimes troublesome oldest son in the Taylor household. One crucial storyline saw Brad get caught with marijuana, but his parents were able to talk to him about responsibility and keep him in line.

Now: After Home Improvement, Bryan remained active in television. He had guest spots on Boston Public and Veronica Mars and even landed the title role in the 2009 made-for-television movie Thor: Hammer of the Gods. These days, Bryan works as a film producer. He released Prowl in 2010 and Dark Tourist in 2013. Bryan is also married with children. He credits his parents for keeping him grounded throughout his days as a child actor.

Then: Jonathan Taylor Thomas played Randy Taylor, the middle sibling on Home Improvement. He was an instant favorite among adolescent girls at the time, and Thomas found himself on the cover of many magazines as a teen heartthrob.

Now: After Home Improvement, Thomas appeared in a few films. He notably voiced young Simba in Disney’s now-iconic animated blockbuster The Lion King. However, Thomas eventually walked away from the spotlight – and did so without regrets. He attended Harvard, Columbia, and St. Andrew’s University in Scotland. Thomas has said that he “never took the fame too seriously.” The actor guest starred on several episodes of Tim Allen’s hit television show Last Man Standing.

Then: Taran Noah Smith played Mark Taylor, the youngest of the three siblings on Home Improvement. Smith was cast on the show at only 6 years old, and he was 16 years old when the show ended. In the show, Mark struggled to find his place within his television family, which resonated with a lot of “youngest child” viewers. The audience got to watch Smith grow up on screen.

Now: After Home Improvement ended in 1999, Smith left acting. At only 17 years old, Smith married Heidi Van Pelt, who was 16 years his senior. With Van Pelt’s help, Smith was able to unlock his earnings from Home Improvement, which were secured by his parents at the time. The pair started a vegan food company called Playfood, Inc. In 2007, he and Van Pelt divorced, and in 2012, Smith was convicted of a DUI and cannabis possession.

Then: Richard Karn played Al Borland, The Tool Man’s assistant on Tool Time. Al was the true handyman on the show, and he often had to clean up after Tim’s blunders. Karn’s character was always ready with an understated but sarcastic quip about Tim Taylor’s handyman talents. However, Tim Taylor made sure to rib Al during the show, so it was all in good fun.

Now: Karn has remained active in the television industry in the years following Home Improvement. He’s had roles in other beloved shows like Recess, That ’70s Show, and Watching Ellie. He was also the host of the television series Bingo America. His most famous role after Home Improvement was as the host of Family Feud. He remains married to his spouse, Tudi Roche, whom he met before Home Improvement.

Then: Debbe Dunning played “Tool Girl” Heidi Keppert on Tool Time, in which she famously sported a skintight Binford Tools t-shirt. The fictional company was the sponsor of Tim’s show on Home Improvement. She replaced Pamela Anderson on the show after the iconic blonde actress left to star in Baywatch. Dunning was a fan favorite at the time, and she found herself on magazine covers and posters in her famous Binford Tools shirt.

Now: Dunning has more or less left the spotlight since Home Improvement, although she continues to work in television. She’s had roles in shows including Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Wicked Wicked Games. She has three children (a daughter and two sons) with former professional volleyball player Steve Timmons.

Then: During the first two seasons of Home Improvement, Pamela Anderson played Lisa, the original “Tool Girl” on Tim Taylor’s fictional show, Tool Time. The actress even made a cameo appearance as Lisa on the show during Season 6.

Now: Anderson left Home Improvement to take on the role of C.J. Parker in the television show Baywatch. Anderson’s role as C.J. Parker catapulted her into stardom. She has had a successful television and film career, appearing in movies like Barb Wire and Scary Movie 3. In 2017, Anderson reprised her role as C.J. in the Baywatch reboot. She also took part in the 10th season of Dancing with the Stars. She has long been an outspoken advocate of animal rights and even appeared almost completely nude in a  PETA ad campaign.

Then: William O’Leary played Marty, Tim’s much younger brother on Home Improvement. Tim was a father figure to Marty since their father passed away when Marty was a young child. O’Leary appeared in 30 episodes during the show’s run.

Now: O’Leary has appeared in major blockbusters like Bull Durham, Hot Shots!, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous. He’s a professionally trained actor, having earned his MFA in Theater Production at the University of Washington. He is set to act in the film BitCoin, which is currently in pre-production.