Jonathan Taylor Thomas grew up in entrance of our eyes, reworking right into a teen heartthrob by the tip of his Residence Enchancment run — however, identical to the ‘90s, we blinked and abruptly JTT was not within the limelight.
Thomas, who’s affectionately often called JTT by his former teen and tween admirers, stepped away from performing within the early 2000s, however he’s by no means strayed removed from followers’ minds.
“You may’t be trapped on this bubble known as the performing business,” Thomas informed Premiere journal in 1996 on the peak of his fame. “The business is neurotic and bizarre, and so once I go dwelling and I play basketball with my mates, I’m not Jonathan Taylor Thomas. I’m simply Jonathan. I don’t like hanging out with different actors and actresses.”
Thomas was the last word youngster star, starting his profession voicing Spot on The Adventures of Spot from 1987 to 1993. He was simply 6 years previous when the animated collection started. In 1990, Thomas made his small display screen debut taking part in Kevin Brady, Greg Brady’s son, on The Bradys.

The next 12 months, Thomas landed the function that may change his life and profession: center son, Randy Taylor, on Residence Enchancment. He starred alongside Tim Allen, who performed dad Tim “The Device Man” Taylor, and Patricia Richardson, who portrayed his mother, Jill Taylor.
Zachery Ty Bryan performed the eldest son, Brad Taylor, whereas Taran Noah Smith portrayed the youngest child, Mark Taylor. Residence Enchancment ran for eight seasons, ending in 1999, and shot Thomas into superstardom.
Regardless of being busy with the hit sitcom, Thomas didn’t relaxation on his laurels. As an alternative, he cemented himself as one of many greatest youngster stars of all time by taking over different iconic roles at any time when potential.
Thomas voiced younger Simba in 1994’s The Lion King, which remains to be one in every of his most memorable performances. He confirmed off his comedy chops in 1995’s Man of the Home alongside Chevy Chase and transported viewers into Mark Twain’s well-known novel in Tom and Huck that very same 12 months.

The actor turned up the warmth in 1997 costarring with Devon Sawa and Scott Bairstow in Wild America.
“I had a good time on that [movie]. Jonathan was wonderful to work with. I keep in mind we did college collectively and we had tons of nice instances,” Sawa solely informed Us Weekly in August 2021. “I spoke to [Jonathan] not too long ago, inside the final 12 months or so. I don’t be in contact with him as a lot as I ought to, I believe. He’s a terrific dude.”

Thomas gained over much more hearts in 1998 when he performed Jake in I’ll Be Residence for Christmas alongside Jessica Biel. (JTT stranded within the desert sporting a Santa go well with is one thing we didn’t know we would have liked however nonetheless watch on repeat each vacation.)
In 1998, Thomas took a break from Hollywood to go to school. He even skipped out on the rest of Residence Enchancment’s remaining season, lacking the collection finale.
“I’d been going nonstop since I used to be 8 years previous. I wished to go to highschool, to journey and have a little bit of a break,” he defined to People in 2013. “To sit down in an enormous library amongst books and college students, that was fairly cool. It was a novel expertise for me.”

Whereas his alternative stunned his costars, Thomas was proud to attend Harvard and research philosophy and historical past. “I made such a very good choice as a result of had I stayed on the present and tried to do academically what I’m doing now, I’d’ve, you realize, put myself in an early grave,” he mentioned on the 1999 Nickelodeon Youngsters’ Alternative Awards.
Thomas returned to his TV roots within the 2000s visitor starring on Ally McBeal, Smallville, 8 Easy Guidelines and Veronica Mars. In 2006, he stepped away from performing in a extra everlasting capability — briefly returning in 2011 to voice younger Simba for The Lion King Learn-Alongside.
Through the first few years of his Hollywood hiatus, Thomas furthered his schooling, graduating from Columbia College in 2010.

In a shock flip, Thomas reunited along with his Residence Enchancment dad in 2013 for a cameo on Allen’s Final Man Standing. He performed John Baker, a former colleague of Mike Baxter’s (Allen) eldest daughter, Kristin Baxter (Amanda Fuller).
“Man, you look acquainted,” Allen’s Mike mentioned throughout the episode, to which John smirked and defined, “Effectively, you realize, I used to work with Kristin.” Mike replied, “That’s not it.”
Thomas made two extra cameos as John Baker in 2013 and 2014, earlier than taking part in a separate character, Randy, for one episode of the sitcom in 2015. Thomas additionally directed three episodes of the present. Since then, he has been quiet on the performing entrance.
Thomas, nonetheless, was noticed in June 2021 strolling his canines in California. In images obtained by Us, the actor was seen vaping whereas sporting denims, a hoodie and sneakers with a New York Mets hat in a uncommon public second.

Thomas was photographed once more two years later close to his Southern California residence, in line with photos obtained by Web page Six in November 2023. He wore a tan Lacoste sweater over a inexperienced shirt and denims as he sipped a drink strolling into an area comfort retailer.
The next 12 months, Thomas’ TV mother and longtime pal Richardson teased whether or not he had plans to step again in entrance of the digicam. “Jonathan’s not likely eager about performing, he needs to direct and write,” she revealed throughout a March 2024 episode of the “Again to the Greatest” podcast.
Allen, in the meantime, solely informed Us in January that he’s not ruling out Thomas making a cameo on his newest ABC sitcom, Shifting Gears. “Every little thing is a risk,” Allen defined, noting, “He simply got here again [to the last episode we filmed]. He confirmed up on the set.”
Allen added that he’d fortunately share the display screen with Thomas once more. “He’s actually my child. I raised that child for eight years on Residence Enchancment,” he gushed. “All of those are my children and I’m type of sick about this.”