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 (1991–1999). For this role, he won a Golden Globe Award. He also played Mike Baxter on the show Last Man Standing (2011–2021).

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 movie series (1994–present).

His other movies include Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), Galaxy Quest (1999), Joe Somebody (2001), Big Trouble (2002), Christmas with the Kranks (2004), The Shaggy Dog (2006), and Wild Hogs (2007).

Early Life and School

Tim Allen was born in Denver, Colorado, on June 13, 1953. He is the third of six children. His mother, Martha Katherine, worked in community service. His father, Gerald M. Dick, was a real estate agent. Tim has two older brothers, two younger brothers, and a younger sister.

When Tim was 11, his father died in a car accident in November 1964. Two years later, his mother married her high school sweetheart. She moved with her six children to Birmingham, Michigan. They joined her new husband and his three children. Tim said this move was a big change for him.

Allen went to Seaholm High School in Birmingham. There, he took theater and music classes. This is where he developed his love for classical piano. He later attended Central Michigan University. In 1974, he moved to Western Michigan University. At Western Michigan, he worked at the student radio station WIDR. In 1976, he earned a degree in communications. He focused on radio and television production.

Tim Allen's Career

Stand-Up Comedy and First Films

Allen in 1993

Tim Allen started as a comedian in 1975. A friend dared him to try a comedy night. This was at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle near Detroit. In Detroit, he started to get noticed. He appeared in local TV ads and on cable comedy shows. He moved to Los Angeles and performed regularly at The Comedy Store. He also started doing stand-up on late-night talk shows.

In 1998, Western Michigan University gave Allen an honorary arts degree. They also gave him the Distinguished Alumni Award. His first movie role was a small part as a baggage handler. This was in the film Tropical Snow (1988).

Home Improvement and Famous Roles

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

In November 1994, Tim Allen had a huge week. He starred in the top-earning movie, The Santa Clause. At the same time, he was in the highest-rated TV show, Home Improvement. For the final season of Home Improvement, he earned a lot of money per episode.

Allen at the 45th Emmy Awards, 1994

In 1995, Allen voiced Buzz Lightyear in the Disney/Pixar movie Toy Story. In 1997, he starred in the family comedy Jungle 2 Jungle. The next year, he voiced Buzz Lightyear again in Toy Story 2. This movie was a big success. In 1999, he starred in the sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest. He acted alongside Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman.

In 2002, he returned as Scott Calvin in The Santa Clause 2. Two years later, he played Luther Krank in Christmas with the Kranks. In 2006, he starred as Jack Shepard in Zoom. That same year, he was also in The Shaggy Dog and The Santa Clause 3. In 2008, he took on a more serious role. He played an aging action film star in Redbelt.

Allen began narrating "Pure Michigan" TV and radio commercials in 2009. These ads promote tourism in Michigan. In December 2009, he started a tour for his film Crazy on the Outside. The movie came out in January 2010. Allen also directed this film, which was his first time directing a movie.

In 2010, Allen hosted the 8th Annual TV Land Awards. That year, he also voiced Buzz Lightyear again in Toy Story 3. He became the official voice for the Chevrolet Cruze car commercials. He also voiced ads for Campbell Soup Company.

Last Man Standing and Recent Roles

Allen returned to ABC with the TV show Last Man Standing (2011–2021). He played Mike Baxter, a father with traditional views. The character was partly based on Tim Allen's own life. The show ran for six seasons and was then canceled in May 2017. However, in May 2018, Fox decided to bring Last Man Standing back for a seventh season. The show finally ended in May 2021 after nine seasons.

Before Last Man Standing was canceled, Allen joined the cast of the Netflix movie El Camino Christmas (2017). In 2018, he had a small voice role as Buzz Lightyear in Ralph Breaks the Internet. In 2019, he voiced Buzz again in Toy Story 4. He also appeared as himself in the documentary film No Safe Spaces.

In 2022, it was announced that Allen would play Scott Calvin again. This is for a Disney+ mini-series called The Santa Clauses. It is based on The Santa Clause movies.

On June 30, 2022, a new History Channel show called More Power premiered. Tim Allen co-hosts it with Richard Karn. The show explores the history of tools. It also features reports on people who use powerful tools. In February 2023, Allen announced he would voice Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5.

On March 6, 2024, Allen shared on Facebook that he will star in a third TV show. It is called Shifting Gears. He will play Matt, who owns a classic car repair shop. The show is about Matt's life when his daughter and her kids move in. The series premiered on ABC on January 8, 2025.

Personal Life

Family and Marriages

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

Tim Allen was raised in the Episcopal Church. He married Laura Deibel on April 7, 1984. Their daughter, Katherine, was born in December 1989. They separated in 1999 and divorced in 2003.

Allen married actress Jane Hajduk on October 7, 2006. They had a small private ceremony in Grand Lake, Colorado. They had been dating for five years. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was born in March 2009.

Political Views

Allen supports the Republican Party. He has described himself as "fiscally conservative and emotionally liberal." He also helps with charity work to reduce homelessness.

Car Interests

Tim Allen loves cars. In the 1990s, he raced cars for Saleen. He even competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona race. He has a large car collection. He keeps his cars in a former paint shop in Southern California. As of 2022, his collection includes a 1956 Ford F-100 custom-made by McLaren. He also owns a 1965 Shelby Cobra and a 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC. The Ferrari alone is worth over $3,410,000.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video Games

Awards and Honors

Awards and nominations

Other honors

• 1999: Named a Disney Legend for his work on the Toy Story and The Santa Clause movies.
• 2004: Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This was for his contributions to the film industry.
• 2017: Inducted into the Diecast Hall of Fame.

Honorary scholastic degrees

Year	Degree	School	Location	Notes	Ref(s)
1998	Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA)	Western Michigan University	Michigan	Gave commencement address
2021	Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA)	Hillsdale College	Michigan	Gave commencement address

See also

In Spanish: Tim Allen para niños