Back in the '90s, few sitcoms captured the hearts of viewers quite like Home Improvement. With Tim Allen's unforgettable grunts, the chaotic energy of the Tool Time set, and the hilarious antics of the Taylor family, the show ran a successful eight seasons on ABC from 1991 to 1999.
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Nominated for three Emmys and loved for its blend of slapstick and sincerity, Home Improvement was a household favourite. While Tim Allen (as Tim 'The Tool Man' Taylor) and Patricia Richardson (as Jill) stole many scenes, it was the three young actors playing their sons — Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Zachery Ty Bryan, and Taran Noah Smith — who captured the hearts of a generation.
But as the final episode aired and the Taylor boys grew up, they each took very different paths.
Zachery Ty Bryan: From TV's big brother to legal troubles
Zachery Ty Bryan played Brad, the oldest Taylor son, known for his sporty charm and occasional troublemaking. He had already dipped his toes into acting when he joined Home Improvement, and during its run he quickly became a familiar face.
Reflecting on his time with the cast, he told Access Hollywood in 2018:
We were like brothers. We either loved or hated each other.
After the series ended, Bryan kept acting in TV shows like Smallville and Veronica Mars, and even appeared in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. He also took a turn behind the camera, producing films such as Skin and The Kindergarten Teacher.
However, his post-acting life has been marred by legal issues. As per People, his trouble with the law began in 2020 when he was arrested for allegedly strangling his girlfriend.
In July 2023, Bryan was arrested and later pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony assault. Just months later, in February 2024, he was taken into custody again in California for a felony DUI and alleged contempt of court. And in January 2025, he faced another arrest — this time for second-degree domestic violence in South Carolina.
People confirmed that the woman involved in the latest incident accused Bryan of choking and punching her. The report also noted visible bruising and swelling on her face.
Tim Allen, his former TV father, told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023:
Zach is a great kid who has grown into a complex man. All you can do is step aside and let somebody go through their process.
Bryan remains the father of seven children, including three with fiancée Johnnie Faye Cartwright. His journey is a complicated one, far removed from his cheerful days as Brad Taylor.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas: From tween icon to private intellectual
As Randy Taylor, the middle child of the Taylor clan, Jonathan Taylor Thomas became an instant teen heartthrob. Known for his sharp wit and sarcastic charm, his character eventually moved to Costa Rica, a plotline that mirrored Thomas's real-life desire to take a break.
He told People in 2013:
I’d been going nonstop since I was 8 years old. I wanted to go to school, to travel and have a bit of a break.
Adding:
I never took the fame too seriously. It was a great period in my life, but it doesn’t define me. When I think back on the time, I look at it with a wink. I focus on the good moments I had, not that I was on a lot of magazine covers.
And that’s exactly what he did. Thomas stepped out of the spotlight to pursue education, attending Harvard University, then spending a year at Scotland's University of St. Andrews, and finishing his studies at Columbia University. Though he briefly returned to acting — even reuniting with Tim Allen on Last Man Standing — his focus shifted to writing and directing.
Style Magazine reports that Thomas, now 43, has kept a remarkably low profile. His last public sighting was in 2023 at a convenience store — a rare appearance that sent nostalgic fans into a spin.
He also visited the set of Shifting Gears, where his former TV dad Tim Allen now works. Kat Dennings, one of the stars of the show, reportedly said he had visited the set — fuelling rumours of a possible return.
Though he’s no longer in the Hollywood limelight, Thomas is still connected to the industry, reportedly serving as a board member for SAG-AFTRA—the organisation that advocates for performers and media professionals in film, television, and radio.
Taran Noah Smith: Hollywood dropout turned SpaceX technician
Taran Noah Smith, the youngest of the TV Taylor sons, portrayed Mark Taylor — the sweet and shy little brother who underwent a drastic transformation in the later seasons.
Unlike his co-stars, Smith didn’t stay in the entertainment industry. After the show ended, he sued his parents over mismanagement of his earnings.
Though they denied the claims, Smith eventually gained control of his trust fund at age 18. He and his mother later co-authored a book about child fame titled Stardom Happens: Nurturing Your Child in the Entertainment Business.
Smith has had multiple careers during his life. Hedabbled in the food industry with a vegan restaurant and catering company called PlayFood and engaged in volunteer work in the Philippines for a non-profit called Communitere. Now, as per People, a LinkedIn profile for Taran Smith lists his job as a sea recovery technician at SpaceX.
He has maintained a low profile, much like Thomas, and largely stays out of the public eye. However he did recently open up about a unique phase his character went through on the show. He addressed the storyline of Mark Taylor's goth era while on The Best Show With Tom Scharpling podcast. He said:
I found out later the head writer on the show, he had a son that was right around my age and after about halfway through the season, I'm in wardrobe, black fingernails, and dog collar and all the stuff on, and I went backstage and came face to face with his son, who was not in wardrobe, but looked just like me, and we had this very awkward moment of like, 'Oh, I'm your dad's way of kind of dealing with you, sorry.'
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Sources used:
People: Cast of Home Improvement: Where Are They Now?
Style Magazine: What happened to Home Improvement’s Jonathan Taylor Thomas?
People: Home Improvement Star Zachery Ty Bryan Arrested for Alleged Domestic Violence, 3 Months After His Last Arrest
Entertainment Weekly: Youngest Home Improvement actor explains why his character went goth: Very awkward moment
