Home Improvement was one of the most-watched sitcoms of the 1990s and one of the highest-rated shows of the decade.
Created by Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra and David McFadzean, there were eight seasons of Home Improvement between September 1991 and May 1999, with 204 half-hour episodes.
The series launched the career of Tim Allen, who went on to a successful film career and also the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story.
It was also the start of the television career of Baywatch star Pamela Anderson who was part of the Home Improvement cast for the first two seasons as Lisa, the “Tool Time girl”.
But what happened to other members of the cast? Here’s a round-up of what happened after the show ended in 1999.
Tim Allen
Tim Allen started out as a comedian but his career hit the rocks early on when he was arrested and imprisoned for drug trafficking back in 1978.
Following his release from prison in 1981, Tim picked up his career and landed the part of Tim “The Toolman” Taylor in Home Improvement, which made him a household name in the US.
After the show ended in 1999, he made several high profile appearances including The Santa Clause films and The Shaggy Dog, but the 67-year-old really hit the big time when he landed the voice part for Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story franchise.
Patricia Richardson
(Image: Getty Images)
Patricia Richardson played Jill, Tim’s long suffering wife who manages to keep him in his place.
Since the show ended she’s continued acting on screen and stage, appearing in TV shows including Strong Medicine and The West Wing, as well as a theatre production of Steel Magnolias.
Last year, Patricia, now 70, revealed she was the reason for Home Improvement coming to an end after she told show bosses she didn’t want to do a ninth series.
She said: “So then they went to Tim, and they said let’s do it with dead Jill.
“And then Tim was like, I don’t think we can do that. So then he went out and said well, I think it’s time to end Home Improvement.”
Patricia has three children with ex-husband, actor Ray Baker.
Taran Noah Smith
Child star Taran Noah Smith was just seven when he first starred as Mark Taylor in Home Improvement and he was 16 when he left the show.
At the age of 17, he married Heidi van Pelt, who was 16 years older. The couple divorced six years later.
When he was 18, Taran gained control of a $1.5 million trust fund, which he accused his parents of squandering by purchasing themselves a mansion.
But he later admitted he was wring, saying: “I’d gotten out of the teenage phase and realised my parents weren’t doing anything wrong but were trying to protect me.”
In 2001, he elaborated, adding: “I started Home Improvement when I was seven, and the show ended when I was 16. I never had the chance to decide what I wanted to do with my life.
“When I was 16, I knew that I didn’t want to act any more.”
Vegan Taran, 37, now teaches people how to pilot submarines.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Now 39, Jonathan Taylor Thomas played Randy Taylor on Home Improvement but he made his name a few years earlier as Kevin Brady in hit show The Bradys, a spin-off of The Brady Bunch.
Jonathan left Home Improvement in 1998 to concentrate on his academics but returned to acting.
He has since appeared in a number of well known films including Man of The House starring Chevy Chase and The Adventures of Pinocchio.
He was also the voice of young Simba in Disney’s 1994 film The Lion King.
Earl Hindman
(Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Before playing neighbour Wilson W.Wilson Jr in Home Improvement, actor Earl Hindman had appeared in several big films of the 70s and 80s including The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Greased Lightning and The Brink’s Job.
Earl also played the role of Bob Reid in American soap Ryan’s Hope. He went on to marry Ryan’s Hope co-star Molly McGreevey who gave up acting to become an episcopal priest.
Sadly, Earl died in December 2003 at the age of 61. He had been suffering from lung cancer.
Zachery Ty Bryan
Zachery Ty Bryan starred as Brad Taylor in Home Improvement and his character was known for experimenting with different hair styles as well as being the child most often in trouble.
He went on to appear in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and played the school bully in 1996 Sinbad comedy First Kid.
In February 2021, the 39-year-old father of twin girls was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend, just two weeks after splitting from his wife Carly Matros.
The charges included felony strangulation and fourth-degree assault.
Debbe Dunning
After playing Heidi the ‘Tool Time girl’ from 1993 to 1999, Debbe went on to appear in Dangerous Curves and the American Gladiators Celebrity Challenge.
Other film appearances include Leprechaun 4: In Space, The Misery Brothers and The Last Guy on Earth.
In 2017, she began hosting Debbe Dunning’s Dude Ranch Round-Up, a travel show on The Cowboy Channel.
The 54-year-old actress married volleyball pro Steve Timmons in 1997 and the couple had three children before splitting in 2018.
Richard Karn
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In 2020, Richard Karn had to deny reports he was dead, taking to Twitter to reassure fans.
He played Al Borland, Tim’s simple-yet-loveable assistant, in Home Improvement.
After the show ended, he went on to host Family Feud, the US version of the gameshow Family Fortunes. He’s also hosted Bingo America and starred in TV commercials.
In 2002, the now 65-year-old appeared in the music video for The Strokes’ single Someday.
Pamela Anderson
Canadian-American actress and Playboy model Pamela Anderson was 24 when she first appeared in Home Improvement.
She played Lisa, the “Tool Time girl” in the first two seasons of the show before gaining international stardom as C.J.Parker in Baywatch.
Now 53 and on her fifth marriage, Pamela was last on British screens on Loose Women earlier this year and made a memorable appearance on Dancing On Ice.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
