‘Home Improvement’: What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years

"Home Improvement" was on air for eight years and became a top-rated sitcom in the 1990s thanks to the loyal fanbase they built through the years. Take a trip down memory lane and see what happened to the lives of its stars in more recent years.

If you're a fan of the show "Home Improvement," then you definitely know this catch phrase: "Does everybody know what time it is?" It was a huge part of the show, marking the beginning of "Tool Time," Tim "The Toolman" Taylor's show that centered around his mediocre handiwork.

The series paved the way for the actors to lead different lives, with some continuing on with their acting careers, and some choosing to quit the industry altogether. Read on to find out how the "Home Improvement" stars chose to live their lives after the show.

1. Tim Allen (Tim "The Toolman" Taylor)

Tim Allen found widespread fame by the end of "Home Improvement." He was offered to do one final season for a whopping $50 million, but he turned it down to pursue other projects.

This paid off for him, as he landed the voice acting role for Buzz Lightyear in the long-running "Toy Story" franchise. He also starred in several films, like "The Santa Clause" trilogy, "Wild Hogs," and more.

In 2011, Allen ventured into production. He was the executive producer for "Last Man Standing," which went on for nine seasons.

Aside from his budding entertainment career, Allen also has an eventful personal life. The actor-producer was married to Laura Deibel for almost two decades before their divorce. Together they share a daughter named Katherine.

In 2006, he took another shot at love by marrying actress Jane Hajduk and they welcomed their now-teenage daughter, Elizabeth.

2. Richard Karn (Al Borland)

Richard Karn played Al Borland, Tim's trusty best friend. After his stint on "Home Improvement," he went on to become a staple face on television through "Family Feud."

Karn will go down in history as one of the four people to ever host "Family Feud," a job he held for four years from 2002 to 2006. He also continued acting, with one of his most significant shows being "That '70s Show."

Karn has been in a longstanding marriage to actress Tudi Roche. Together they have a son named Cooper.

3. Patricia Richardson (Jill Taylor)

Patricia Richardson played Jill, Tim's wife. She was focused on making sure her husband and three children were always in check, until she finally had time to pursue her own passions once they got older.

The same way her on-screen husband declined $50 million to star in another "Home Improvement" season, she too turned down a $30 million paycheck. She went on to act in different projects through the years, and had no regrets declining the "Home Improvement" offer as she was able to spend more time with her children.

Years later, she reunited with her "Home Improvement" cast members when they appeared on Allen's sitcom, "Last Man Standing." She appeared on the show for two episodes.

Richardson found love with actor Ray Baker, with whom she was married to from 1982 to 1995 before filing for divorce. They have three kids togethe, a son named Henry and twins Roxanne and Joseph.

4. Zachery Ty Bryan (Brad)

Zachery Ty Bryan played Brad, Tim and Jill's popular athlete child. He always got into trouble, and shared the same interests as his dad.

After the end of "Home Improvement," Bryan continued appearing on television shows like "Family Law" and the teen drama "Veronica Mars." His most notable film appearance was on the blockbuster movie "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift."

Bryan has four children with his ex-wife, Carly Matros. They split in 2020, and in the same year, he was arrested for assaulting his new girlfriend and pleaded guilty.

5. Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Randy)

Jonathan Taylor Thomas played the Taylors' intelligent second child, Randy. He got along with his older brother Brad, who would often get into trouble with him.

Thomas became a pop culture icon in the 1990s thanks to his role on the show. His move to quit "Home Improvement" to go back to school shocked his fans and his co-stars at well.

Publications claimed lead star Allen himself was annoyed at Thomas' decision, especially when he learned Thomas went on to star in two films after leaving the show.

Ultimately, Thomas graduated preparatory school in 2000, and went on to attend two Ivy League universities. Ten years after graduating from preparatory school, he got a degree from Columbia University.

Like Richardson, Thomas also appeared on "Last Man Standing," proving he and Allen made amends through the years. He has since walked away from being an actor, and his last role was on Allen's sitcom in 2015.

6. Taran Noah Smith (Mark)

Taran Noah Smith played the Taylors' youngest son and the ultimate mama's boy, Mark. He was always the butt of his two older brothers' jokes and grew up to be an outcast on the show.

After "Home Improvement," Smith walked away from the industry. He had a tumultuous personal life, cutting ties with his family after a dispute regarding money and because they did not support his relationship to a woman twice his age.

Smith married the woman, Heidi van Pelt, but they ultimately divorced after six years. The most significant news heard about him following the divorce was a DUI arrest in 2012.

7. Pamela Anderson (Lisa)

Pamela Anderson played Lisa, the very first "Tool Time Girl" on the show. Anderson wasn't the first choice to play the role, which was first given to Ashley Judd, who backed out at the last minute as she preferred appearing on movies rather than a TV sitcom.

Anderson agreed to fill in for Judd and played the Tool Time Girl for two seasons. She's the voice behind the famous line "Does everybody know what time it is?" which ultimately became the show's catch phrase.

Anderson went on to star on "Baywatch" after leaving the sitcom. She also starred in the series "V.I.P." Meanwhile, she was also a highly-coveted model, landing one magazine cover after the other, and making her one of the most famous women in the planet.

With her famous life came a complicated personal life, as Anderson was married multiple times. She wed musician Tommy Lee, with whom she shares two children, then went on to marry Rick Salomon, Kid Rock, and Jon Peters. She later admitted she was not legally married to Peters.

8. Debbe Dunning (Heide Keppert)

When Anderson exited the show, Dunning's character, Heide Keppert, took over. She was the second "Tool Time Girl" and played the role until the show's end. After which, she starred in several comedy shows like "Now You Know" and "The Misery Brothers." In 2017, she got her big break after launching a travel show titled "Debbe Dunning's Dude Ranch Round-Up."

Dunning shares three children named Spencer, Stoney, and Sysco with volleyball player Steve Timmons. They married in 1997 and split in 2018 after two decades.

9. Earl Hindman (Wilson)

Earl Hindman played Wilson, the Taylor family's mysterious neighbor. He remained an unknown actor until the final episode of the show, when his name was finally revealed to the viewers.

Hindman's character was inspired by Tim Allen's real-life next-door neighbor, whom he used to see a lot but never face-to-face, as he was too short. Hindman's appearance on the show paved the way for a career in the industry, and he went on to star in "Law & Order," "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three," and "Ryan's Hope."

Unfortunately, the actor's life was cut short when he died of lung cancer in 2003 at the age of 61. He was survived by his actress wife, Molly Wheaton McGreevy, who died two years after his passing.

If you enjoyed "Home Improvement" and are all about '90s pop culture, you're likely familiar with the sitcom "Family Matters." Like "Home Improvement," it's been decades since its cast members took a bow from the show. See what they've been up to in recent years by clicking here.