More Power! Where The Tool Time Cast Is Now: Fresh Updates On Tim Allen, JTT, And A Shocking 2025 Arrest

What time is it? It's Tool Time! The beloved cast of the 1990s sitcom Home Improvement, centered around the fictional home improvement show Tool Time, is back in the news with a flurry of fresh updates as of late 2025. From major TV reunions to surprising career changes and even recent legal headlines, the actors who played the Taylor family and their co-hosts have been busier than ever, proving the enduring power of Tim "The Toolman" Taylor's legacy. The biggest news? A massive cast reunion on Tim Allen's new sitcom, Shifting Gears, and the show's arrival on Netflix in 2025.

The chemistry between Tim Taylor and Al Borland remains as strong as ever, but the lives of the supporting cast—especially the three Taylor sons—have taken dramatically different paths since the show wrapped in 1999. This deep dive reveals the definitive, most current status of every major star from the iconic Tool Time crew, including a major legal update for one of the Taylor boys in early 2025.

The Tool Time Crew: Complete 2025 Cast Biographies and Current Status

The main cast of Home Improvement, who brought the Tool Time segment to life, has seen a dynamic mix of continued stardom, career pivots, and personal challenges. Here is a detailed look at what each member is doing right now.

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Tim Allen (Tim Taylor / "The Toolman")

• Date of Birth: June 13, 1953 (Age 72 in 2025)
• Key Roles: Tim Taylor (*Home Improvement*), Mike Baxter (*Last Man Standing*), Santa Claus (*The Santa Clause* film series).
• Current Status: Allen is the driving force behind the cast's recent resurgence. He is starring in the new ABC sitcom, Shifting Gears, which features a highly anticipated Season 2 premiere reunion with Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning. He also co-hosts the History Channel series More Power with Richard Karn, a show dedicated to exploring the history and use of tools, a spiritual successor to Tool Time.

Richard Karn (Al Borland)

• Date of Birth: February 17, 1956 (Age 69 in 2025)
• Key Roles: Al Borland (*Home Improvement*), Host of *Family Feud* and *Bingo America*.
• Current Status: Karn has fully re-embraced his "Tool Time" persona. He co-hosts the unscripted series More Power with Tim Allen, following their previous collaboration on *Assembly Required*. He also made a guest appearance alongside other cast members in the Season 2 premiere of Allen's new sitcom, Shifting Gears. He is also slated to appear at 90s Con in 2026 for a reunion panel.

Patricia Richardson (Jill Taylor)

• Date of Birth: February 23, 1951 (Age 74 in 2025)
• Key Roles: Jill Taylor (*Home Improvement*), Dr. Andy Campbell (*Strong Medicine*).
• Current Status: Richardson remains active in television and film. She recently made a special guest appearance on the Season 2 premiere of Shifting Gears, reuniting with her on-screen husband Tim Allen. She is also scheduled to attend 90s Con in 2026.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Randy Taylor)

• Date of Birth: September 8, 1981 (Age 44 in 2025)
• Key Roles: Randy Taylor (*Home Improvement*), Voice of Young Simba (*The Lion King*).
• Current Status: The former teen heartthrob has largely stepped away from the spotlight to pursue his education and private life. His last major public sighting was in 2023. His final acting credit was a guest role on Tim Allen's second sitcom, *Last Man Standing*. He is estimated to have a net worth of $15 million in 2025, a reflection of his successful child acting career.

Zachery Ty Bryan (Brad Taylor)

• Date of Birth: October 11, 1981 (Age 44 in 2025)
• Key Roles: Brad Taylor (*Home Improvement*), various film roles.
• Current Status: Bryan has been in the headlines for repeated and severe legal issues. He was arrested again in January 2025 in Oregon for allegedly violating his domestic violence probation. This marks his sixth arrest in five years, following multiple prior charges related to domestic violence. He was booked by the Horry County Sheriff's Office in early 2025.

Taran Noah Smith (Mark Taylor)

• Date of Birth: April 8, 1984 (Age 41 in 2025)
• Key Roles: Mark Taylor (*Home Improvement*).
• Current Status: Smith left acting immediately after the show ended. He has since become a businessman and entrepreneur. In a surprising career pivot, it was recently reported that Smith works for Elon Musk's SpaceX as a sea recovery technician, based in Los Angeles, where he recovers "orbital boosters." He has a relatively low profile but has occasionally spoken about his time on the show.

Debbe Dunning (Heidi Keppert)

• Date of Birth: July 11, 1966 (Age 59 in 2025)
• Key Roles: Heidi Keppert (Tool Time Girl).
• Current Status: Dunning, who played the final "Tool Time Girl," remains active in entertainment. She recently guest-starred alongside her former castmates in the Season 2 premiere of Tim Allen's *Shifting Gears* and is scheduled to attend 90s Con in 2026.

Earl Hindman (Wilson W. Wilson, Jr.)

• Date of Death: December 29, 2003 (Died at age 61)
• Key Roles: Wilson W. Wilson, Jr. (The neighbor).
• Status: Earl Hindman, who famously played the neighbor whose face was always partially obscured by the fence, passed away from lung cancer in 2003. His character's wisdom and mysterious nature remain a beloved part of the show's legacy.

The Tool Time Reunion: From 'Assembly Required' to 'Shifting Gears'

The most exciting news for fans of the original Tool Time segment is the ongoing professional reunion between Tim Allen and Richard Karn. Their on-screen chemistry as the bumbling host and the strait-laced co-host has been successfully translated into a new format.

The duo first reunited for the History Channel competition series Assembly Required, where contestants rebuilt household items. This led to their current collaboration, the unscripted series More Power, which premiered on the History Channel. This new show is a high-octane exploration of the world's most powerful and fascinating tools, from massive industrial machinery to the latest DIY gadgets. It is essentially a real-life, updated version of Tool Time, complete with the playful banter fans remember.

The reunion buzz hit a fever pitch in 2025 with the Season 2 premiere of Tim Allen's new ABC sitcom, Shifting Gears. The episode featured a spectacular cameo reunion, bringing back Patricia Richardson (Jill Taylor), Richard Karn (Al Borland), and Debbe Dunning (Heidi Keppert). This marked the first time the core adult cast has appeared together on a scripted series in decades, delighting longtime fans and proving that the cast’s personal relationships remain strong, despite the show ending over 25 years ago.

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The Surprising Fates of the Taylor Sons

While Tim Allen and Richard Karn are building new projects, the actors who played the three Taylor sons have had the most divergent and headline-grabbing post-show careers.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas: The Reclusive Star

Jonathan Taylor Thomas (JTT), who played the middle son Randy, famously walked away from the show in its final season to focus on his education, a move that shocked fans at the time. After studying at Harvard and Columbia, he has chosen a life almost entirely out of the public eye. His decision to prioritize privacy makes him one of Hollywood's most successful examples of a child star who successfully transitioned to a normal life, only occasionally surfacing for rare public appearances.

Zachery Ty Bryan: The Troubled Path

Zachery Ty Bryan, who played the eldest son Brad, has had a well-documented and troubling series of legal incidents that have placed him back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. His January 2025 arrest for probation violation, which stemmed from earlier domestic violence charges, is a stark reminder of the challenges some child stars face after their initial fame fades. His ongoing legal battles cast a shadow over his legacy as the jock of the Taylor family.

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Taran Noah Smith: The SpaceX Engineer

Taran Noah Smith, the youngest son Mark, also left acting behind. After some early personal struggles, he found a unique and unexpected career path. His reported work as a sea recovery technician for SpaceX, recovering orbital boosters, is perhaps the most surprising career pivot of the entire cast. This non-traditional, highly technical career is a complete departure from his life as a child actor, demonstrating a commitment to a life away from the entertainment industry.

Topical Authority: The Enduring Legacy of Home Improvement

The continued interest in the Tool Time cast is a testament to the show's cultural impact. The show's focus on family dynamics, the humorous clash between Tim's "More Power!" mantra and Al's cautious safety-first approach, and the philosophical advice from the unseen neighbor Wilson, created a perfect blend of comedy and heart. The show's popularity is set to surge again with its arrival on Netflix in 2025, introducing a new generation of viewers to the classic sitcom. Furthermore, the ongoing reunions on *Shifting Gears* and *More Power* ensure that the spirit of Tool Time, and the beloved chemistry of its cast, remains a powerful force in television today.