Home Improvement Cast Then and Now (2023)

Do you think you know a lot about TV? Try our quiz and enter to win $500!
Click below to check the trivia question

Tim Allen and the rest of the Home Improvement cast entertained viewers from 1991 to 1999. In this video, we're taking a look at the Home Improvement cast then and now to see how they've changed through the years.

00:00 - Intro
0:18 - Earl Hindman as Wilson W. Wilson, Jr.
1:24 - Pamela Anderson as Lisa
2:31 - Mickey Jones as Pete Bilker
3:24 - Debbe Dunning as Heidi Keppert
4:39 - Richard Karn as Albert "Al" Bordland
5:44 - Tim Allen as Timothy "Tim" Taylor
6:49 - Patricia Richardson as Jillian "Jill" Taylor
7:56 - Zachery Ty Bryan as Bradley Michael "Brad" Taylor
9:00 - Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Randall William "Randy" Taylor
10:06 - Taran Noah Smith as Marcus "Mark" Taylor

Like this content? Subscribe here:

Or, watch more videos here:

Home Improvement had been in the works between Tim Allen and the writing/producing team of Carmen Finestra, David McFadzean, and Matt Williams since the summer of 1990. Originally, the project's proposed title was Hammer Time, both a play on the catchphrase made popular by artist MC Hammer and the name of the fictional fix-it show within the series, which was also called Hammer Time. By the time ABC committed to the project in early 1991, Allen and his team had already changed the title to Home Improvement. The show hosted by Tim Taylor in the shooting script for Home Improvement was still called Hammer Time when the first pilot with Frances Fisher was filmed in April 1991. The catalyst for the series' name change was to represent the aspect of fixing problems within the family and home life, as well as the use of mechanics and tools. Once the second phase of the pilot was produced, with all the actors that made the final cut into the series (including Patricia Richardson), Tim Taylor's Hammer Time became Tool Time.

In the first two years of the show, Pamela Anderson played the part of Tim's Tool Girl, Lisa, on Tool Time, but left the show to focus on her role on the syndicated series Baywatch. Her last episode as a series regular was "The Great Race", which aired on May 19, 1993. Tim's new assistant, Heidi, played by Debbe Dunning, replaced Anderson as the Tool Time Girl for the following third season, starting with "Maybe Baby", which aired on September 15, 1993. Anderson did reprise the role of Lisa on the sixth-season finale episode "The Kiss and the Kiss-Off", which aired on May 20, 1997.

In the show's eighth and final season, the middle child Randy left for an environmental study program in Costa Rica in the episode "Adios", which aired on September 29, 1998. This was done because Jonathan Taylor Thomas reportedly wanted to take time off to focus on his academics. His last appearance on Home Improvement was the eighth season Christmas episode "Home for the Holidays", which aired on December 8, 1998. He did not return to the show for the series finale, only appearing in archived footage.

The series ended after eight seasons in 1999. Richardson was offered $25 million to do a ninth season; Allen was offered $50 million. The two declined the offer and the series came to an end as a result.

During its eight-season run, the show always finished in the top 10 in the Nielsen ratings during a season, despite never making the #1 slot (its highest finish was a second-place spot in the show's third season). The series finale became the fifth highest-rated series finale television program of the 1990s and the ninth overall series finale ever presented on a single network in television history, watched by 35.5 percent of the households sampled in America, and 21.6 percent of television viewers.
Do you think you know a lot about TV? Try our quiz and enter to win $500!
Click below to check the trivia question

[nickiewilson]

I couldn't wait to watch the next show. Pamela Anderson is from the Island where I live. They all look fantastic and so sad to hear Mr Wilson passed in 2013.

[bigbadwolf]

Dude this is actually an amazing video. Cause you don't say a word ;x

[davinp]

I saw Richard Karn in a floor commercial. You could say he went from Tool Time to Floor Time

[lisakeech]

Pamela Anderson was pretty before all surgery

[FactsCeo]

I just lost my job because of the pandemic, so I started a YouTube channel about Top 10s and FACTS. Wish me luck!!!❤❤

[davinp]

Tim Allen currently stars on FOX's Last Man Standing

[Glenrsi]

Debbie Dunning was gorgeous then, and still is.😘

[esands]

Debbie Dunning isn't dead, she just disappeared.

[RoughJusticek]

Tim's trademark grunts, making jokes about Al's flannel shirts/overweight mom and breaking things/blowing stuff up were some of the highlights of Home Improvement.

[edwinvaldivian]

Man television will never be as good not like those times I Miss Wilson fucking great memories

[joshuasizemore]

Thanks for the video man had me in tears I remember many of time me and my mom and my brothers and my dad watching the show back in the 90s memories that you can't get back

[davebusink]

Thanks for the memories from my childhood.

[lailalong]

I loved home improvement I had a crush on Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Debbie dunning is not dead

[kimbrey]

You forgot about the actor who ran the hardware store. Although I don't remember his name, he was a favorite of mine in the show.

[davinp]

Michael Jones also appeared as the father of one of ladies on the forensic team on FOX's Bones

[davinp]

Wait a minute, I don't see any reports of Debbie Dunning dying. Where did you get that?

[richardstahl]

Wilson was the best character on the show
Hopefully people seen the tribute to him in last man standing is was great
This is one of my favorite shows

[davinp]

Zachery Ty Bryan won't turn 40 until his birthday later in 2021 same for Johnathan Taylor Thomas. They were born a month apart in 1991

[tammygouletschrader]

Debbie Dunning hasn't passed away

[kjwsmother]

You seriously need to fix the Debbie dunning report, not cool !