{"id":254601,"date":"2026-07-30T14:51:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T14:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/30\/jonathan-taylor-thomas-will-always-be-jtt-to-his-90s-fans-but-is-he-still-acting\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T14:51:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T14:51:02","slug":"jonathan-taylor-thomas-will-always-be-jtt-to-his-90s-fans-but-is-he-still-acting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/30\/jonathan-taylor-thomas-will-always-be-jtt-to-his-90s-fans-but-is-he-still-acting\/","title":{"rendered":"Jonathan Taylor Thomas Will Always Be JTT to His \u201890s Fans \u2014 But Is He Still Acting?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Jonathan Taylor Thomas<\/strong><\/a> grew up in front of our eyes, transforming into a teen heartthrob<\/a> by the end of his Home Improvement<\/em> run \u2014 but, just like the \u201890s, we blinked and suddenly JTT was no longer in the limelight.<\/p>\n

Thomas, who is affectionately known as JTT by his former teen and tween admirers, stepped away from acting in the early 2000s, but he\u2019s never strayed far from fans\u2019 minds.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t be trapped in this bubble called the acting industry,\u201d Thomas told Premiere<\/em> magazine<\/a> in 1996 at the height of his fame. \u201cThe industry is neurotic and weird, and so when I go home and I play basketball with my friends, I\u2019m not Jonathan Taylor Thomas. I\u2019m just Jonathan. I don\u2019t like hanging out with other actors and actresses.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Former Child Star Jonathan Taylor Thomas Makes Rare Public Appearance\u00a0<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tIt looks like Jonathan Taylor Thomas will be home for Christmas. Thomas, 42, was spotted out and about near his Southern California residence on Wednesday, November 29, according to photos obtained by Page Six. The \u201890s heartthrob rocked a tan Lacoste sweater over a green shirt and denim while sipping a drink and heading into [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Thomas was the ultimate child star, beginning his career voicing Spot on The Adventures of Spot<\/em> from 1987 to 1993. He was just 6 years old when the animated series began. In 1990, Thomas made his small screen debut playing Kevin Brady, Greg Brady\u2019s son, on The Bradys.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The following year, Thomas landed the role that would change his life and career: middle son, Randy Taylor, on Home Improvement<\/em><\/a>. He starred alongside Tim Allen<\/strong>, who played dad Tim \u201cThe Tool Man\u201d Taylor, and Patricia Richardson<\/strong>, who portrayed his mom, Jill Taylor.<\/p>\n

Zachery Ty Bryan<\/strong> played the eldest son, Brad Taylor, while Taran Noah Smith<\/strong> portrayed the youngest kid, Mark Taylor. Home Improvement<\/em> ran for eight seasons, ending in 1999, and shot Thomas into superstardom.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Disney Channel Original Movie Hunks: Where Are They Now?<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tMany actors got their start in Disney Channel Original Movies \u2014 but what happened to the hunky leading men from those films? Leave it to Us to fill you in on what your first crush is doing now. From Motocrossed\u2019s Riley Smith and Trevor O\u2019Brien to High School Musical\u2019s Zac Efron and Corbin Bleu, the [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Despite being busy with the hit sitcom, Thomas didn\u2019t rest on his laurels. Instead, he cemented himself as one of the biggest child stars of all time by taking on other iconic roles whenever possible.<\/p>\n

Thomas voiced young Simba in 1994\u2019s The Lion King<\/em><\/a>, which is still one of his most memorable performances. He showed off his comedy chops in 1995\u2019s Man of the House<\/em> alongside Chevy Chase<\/strong> and transported viewers into Mark Twain\u2019<\/em>s famous novel in Tom and Huck<\/em> that same year.<\/p>\n

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The actor turned up the heat in 1997 costarring with Devon Sawa<\/strong> and Scott Bairstow<\/strong> in Wild America<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a great time on that [movie]. Jonathan was amazing to work with. I remember we did school together and we had tons of great times,\u201d Sawa exclusively told Us <\/em><\/a>in August 2021. \u201cI spoke to [Jonathan] recently, within the last year or so. I don\u2019t keep in touch with him as much as I should, I think. He\u2019s a great dude.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas won over even more hearts in 1998 when he played Jake in I\u2019ll Be Home for Christmas <\/em>alongside Jessica Biel<\/strong>. (JTT stranded in the desert wearing a Santa suit is something we didn\u2019t know we needed but still watch on repeat every holiday.)<\/p>\n

In 1998, Thomas took a break from Hollywood to go to college<\/a>. He even skipped out on the remainder of Home Improvement<\/em>\u2019s final season, missing the series finale.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d been going nonstop since I was 8 years old. I wanted to go to school, to travel and have a bit of a break,\u201d he explained to People<\/em><\/a> in 2013. \u201cTo sit in a big library amongst books and students, that was pretty cool. It was a novel experience for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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While his choice surprised his costars, Thomas was proud to attend Harvard and study philosophy and history. \u201cI made such a good decision because had I stayed at the show and tried to do academically what I\u2019m doing now, I would\u2019ve, you know, put myself in an early grave,\u201d he said at the 1999 Nickelodeon Kids\u2019 Choice Awards.<\/p>\n

Thomas returned to his TV roots in the 2000s guest starring on Ally McBeal<\/em>, Smallville<\/em>, 8 Simple Rules <\/em>and Veronica Mars<\/em>. In 2006, he stepped away from acting in a more permanent capacity \u2014 briefly returning in 2011 to voice young Simba for The Lion King Read-Along<\/em>.<\/p>\n

During the first few years of his Hollywood hiatus, Thomas furthered his education, graduating from Columbia University in 2010.<\/p>\n

In a surprise turn, Thomas reunited with his Home Improvement<\/em> dad in 2013 for a cameo on Allen\u2019s Last Man Standing<\/em><\/a>. He played John Baker, a former colleague of Mike Baxter\u2019s (Allen) eldest daughter, Kristin Baxter (Amanda Fuller<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\u201cMan, you look familiar,\u201d Allen\u2019s Mike said during the episode, to which John smirked and explained, \u201cWell, you know, I used to work with Kristin.\u201d Mike replied, \u201cThat\u2019s not it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Thomas made two more cameos as John Baker in 2013 and 2014, before playing a separate character, Randy, for one episode of the sitcom in 2015. Thomas also directed three episodes of the show. Since then, he has been quiet on the acting front.<\/p>\n

Thomas, however, was spotted in June 2021<\/a> walking his dogs in California. In photos obtained by Us<\/em>, the actor was seen vaping while wearing jeans, a hoodie and sneakers with a New York Mets hat in a rare public moment.<\/p>\n

Thomas was photographed again two years later near his Southern California residence, according to pictures obtained by Page Six<\/em> in November 2023<\/a>. He wore a tan Lacoste sweater over a green shirt and jeans as he sipped a drink walking into a local convenience store.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Patricia Richardson Says Jonathan Taylor Thomas Doesn’t Want to Act Again<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tPatricia Richardson is shooting down former costar Tim Allen\u2018s campaign for the chance of a Home Improvement reboot with the original cast, including Jonathan Taylor Thomas. During an appearance on the Friday, March 29, episode of the \u201cBack to the Best\u201d podcast, Richardson, 73, explained why getting the OG cast back together would never work, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The following year, Thomas\u2019 TV mom and longtime friend Richardson teased whether he had plans to step back in front of the camera. \u201cJonathan\u2019s not really interested in acting, he wants to direct and write,\u201d she revealed during a March 2024 episode of the \u201cBack to the Best\u201d podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Allen, meanwhile, exclusively told Us<\/em><\/a> in January that he\u2019s not ruling out Thomas making a cameo on his latest ABC sitcom, Shifting Gears<\/em><\/a>. \u201cEverything is a possibility,\u201d Allen explained, noting, \u201cHe just came back [to the last episode we filmed]. He showed up on the set.\u201d<\/p>\n

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