Tim Allen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tim Allen
Allen in 2012
Born	Timothy Alan Dick (1953-06-13) June 13, 1953 (age 72) Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Occupation	Actor comedian
Years active	1975–1979 1981–present
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Laura Deibel ​ ​ (m. 1984; div. 2003)​ Jane Hajduk ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	2
Comedy career
Medium	Stand-up, film, television
Alma mater	Western Michigan University (BS)
Genres	Observational comedy, physical comedy, surreal humour
Subject(s)	Marriage, gender differences, family, everyday life, social awkwardness, politics

Timothy Alan Dick (born June 13, 1953), known as Tim Allen, is an American actor and comedian. He is famous for playing Tim "The Toolman" Taylor on the TV show Home Improvement. This role earned him a Golden Globe Award. He also played Mike Baxter on Last Man Standing.

Tim Allen is also the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story movies. He won an Annie Award for this role. He also played Scott Calvin and Santa Claus in The Santa Clause movies.

His other films include Jungle 2 Jungle (1997) and Galaxy Quest (1999). He also appeared in Christmas with the Kranks (2004) and Wild Hogs (2007).

Early Life and Education

Tim Allen was born in Denver, Colorado, on June 13, 1953. He was the third of six children. His father passed away in a car accident when Tim was 11 years old. Two years later, his mother moved the family to Birmingham, Michigan.

Tim went to Seaholm High School in Birmingham. He enjoyed theater and music classes there. He later studied at Western Michigan University. In 1976, he earned a degree in communications. He focused on radio and television production.

Tim Allen's Career

Starting as a Comedian

Allen in 1993

Tim Allen began his comedy career in 1975. A friend dared him to perform at a comedy night in Royal Oak. He started gaining recognition in Detroit. He appeared in local TV ads and cable comedy shows. After some time away, he returned to comedy in 1981. He moved to Los Angeles and became a regular at The Comedy Store. He also performed stand-up on TV shows.

Rise to Fame with Home Improvement

Tim Allen became very famous with the TV show Home Improvement. It aired from 1991 to 1999 on ABC. He played Tim "The Tool-Man" Taylor, a father of three boys. The show was based on his stand-up comedy.

In 1994, Tim Allen had a huge year. He starred in the hit movie The Santa Clause. His book, Don't Stand Too Close to a ..., was a bestseller. And Home Improvement was a top-rated TV show. He won a Golden Globe Award in 1995 for his role on Home Improvement.

Allen at the 45th Emmy Awards, 1994

In 1995, Tim Allen voiced Buzz Lightyear in Disney/Pixar's Toy Story. This movie was a big success. He returned as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 2 in 1999. That same year, he starred in the sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest. In 2002, he played Scott Calvin again in The Santa Clause 2. He also starred in Christmas with the Kranks (2004).

He continued to act in movies like The Shaggy Dog (2006) and The Santa Clause 3 (2006). In 2008, he took on a more serious role in the film Redbelt.

Tim Allen also narrated "Pure Michigan" commercials. In 2010, he directed his first film, Crazy on the Outside. He also hosted the 8th Annual TV Land Awards. He voiced Buzz Lightyear again in Toy Story 3 (2010).

Last Man Standing and Recent Work

Tim Allen returned to ABC with the TV show Last Man Standing. It aired from 2011 to 2021. He played Mike Baxter, a father living in a house with many women. The show was very popular and ran for nine seasons.

In 2017, he appeared in the film El Camino Christmas. He also had a voice cameo as Buzz Lightyear in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018). In 2019, he voiced Buzz in Toy Story 4.

In 2022, Tim Allen returned as Scott Calvin in The Santa Clauses, a Disney+ mini-series. This show is based on The Santa Clause movies. He also co-hosted the History Channel series More Power with Richard Karn. This show explores the history of tools. In February 2023, it was announced that he would voice Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5.

On March 6, 2024, Tim Allen announced a new TV show called Shifting Gears. He plays Matt, who owns a classic car shop. The show premiered on ABC on January 8, 2025.

Personal Life

Family Life

Allen (left) with members of the United States Navy, 2010

Tim Allen married Laura Deibel in 1984. They had a daughter named Katherine in 1989. They divorced in 2003. He then married actress Jane Hajduk in 2006. They have a daughter named Elizabeth, born in 2009.

Political Views

Tim Allen supports the Republican Party. He describes his views as "fiscally conservative and emotionally liberal." He has also helped with efforts to reduce homelessness.

Car Collection

Tim Allen loves cars. He used to race cars in the 1990s. He also has a large collection of cars. His collection includes a 1956 Ford F-100 and a 1965 Shelby Cobra. He keeps his cars in a special shop in Southern California.

Film and Television Roles

Movies

Television Shows

Awards and Honors

Awards and Nominations

Other Honors

• 1999: Named a Disney Legend for his work on Toy Story and The Santa Clause movies.
• 2004: Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his film work.

Honorary Degrees

Year	Degree	School	Location
1998	Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA)	Western Michigan University	Michigan
2021	Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA)	Hillsdale College	Michigan

Images for kids

See also

In Spanish: Tim Allen para niños