Quick Facts
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Biography
Jonathan Taylor Thomas (born Jonathan Taylor Weiss; September 8, 1981) is an American actor and director. He is known for portraying Randy Taylor on Home Improvement and voicing young Simba in Disney's 1994 film The Lion King and Pinocchio in New Line Cinema's 1996 film The Adventures of Pinocchio.
Early life and education
Thomas was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the son of Claudine (born Gonsalves), a personal manager and social worker, and Stephen Weiss, an industrial sales manager. The two divorced in 1991. His uncle is playwright and actor Jeff Weiss. Thomas has Pennsylvania Dutch (German) and Portuguese ancestry.
In 2000, Thomas graduated with honors from Chaminade College Preparatory School in West Hills, California.
Upon graduation, he enrolled at Harvard University, where he studied philosophy and history and spent his third year abroad at St Andrews University in Scotland.
In 2010, he graduated from the Columbia University School of General Studies.
Career
Television
Thomas began his television career in 1990, playing the role of Kevin Brady, the son of Greg Brady, on The Bradys, a spin-off of the 1970s TV show The Brady Bunch. In 1991, Thomas appeared in three episodes of Fox's sketch comedy series In Living Color. That same year, he was cast as Randy Taylor on ABC's sitcom Home Improvement. Thomas remained with Home Improvement well into his teenage years but left the show in 1998 to focus on academics.
In early 2004, Thomas had a small guest role on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, another ABC sitcom, and appeared in the WB's Smallville in 2002 and 2004. In 2005, he appeared in UPN's high school detective drama Veronica Mars and was also featured on The E! True Hollywood Story's episode on Home Improvement.
On March 22, 2013, Thomas guest starred on the second season finale of his third ABC sitcom Last Man Standing, and again in the fourth episode of the third season on October 11, 2013, reuniting with Tim Allen, his TV father from Home Improvement. On January 10, 2015, Thomas again guest starred on the twelfth episode of the fourth season of Last Man Standing, this time as Randy, reuniting with his TV parents from Home Improvement, Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson.
Film
Thomas appeared in many films during and after his run on Home Improvement. He had a few roles as a voice actor, including Disney's animated feature The Lion King, in which he voiced the protagonist Simba as a cub.
He also appeared in live-action films. Among the ones he starred in are those from Disney: Man of the House, Tom and Huck, and I'll Be Home for Christmas. Other live-action films starring Thomas are an adaptation of The Adventures of Pinocchio (in which he played the titular character), Wild America, Speedway Junky, and Walking Across Egypt.
Personal life
Thomas has been a vegetarian for much of his life.
Awards and nominations
Wins
- 1994 – Young Artist Awards for Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series (Home Improvement)
- 1996 – ShoWest Convention: ShoWest Award for Young Star of the Year
- 1997 – Young Artist Awards for Best Performance in a Voiceover – Young Artist (The Adventures of Pinocchio)
- 1998 – Kids' Choice Awards: Blimp Award for Favorite Television Actor (Home Improvement)
- 1999 – Kids' Choice Awards: Hall of Fame Award
Nominations
- 1993 – Young Artist Awards for Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series (Home Improvement)
- 1995 – Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor (The Lion King)
- 1995 – Young Artist Awards for Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Voiceover – TV or Movie (The Lion King)
- 1996 – Young Artist Awards for Best Young Leading Actor – Feature Film (Tom and Huck)
- 1996 – Kids' Choice Awards: Blimp Award for Favorite Movie Actor (Tom and Huck)
- 1997 – Kids' Choice Awards: Blimp Award for Favorite Television Actor (Home Improvement)
- 1997 – Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor (The Adventures of Pinocchio)
- 1997 – YoungStar Awards for Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Comedy TV Series (Home Improvement)
- 1997 – YoungStar Awards for Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Comedy Film (Tom and Huck)
- 1998 – YoungStar Awards for Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Comedy TV Series (Home Improvement)
- 1999 – Kids' Choice Awards: Blimp Award for Favorite TV Actor (Home Improvement)
