Do you remember the grunt? The flannel shirts? The neighbour who only showed his eyes over the fence? If you do, then you grew up with Home Improvement, the classic home renovation sitcom that made the whole country laugh at a man who loved power tools a little too much.
The show ended in 1999. But fans still ask the same question today: What are the current projects of the cast members from the classic home renovation sitcom? It is a fair question. Some of the stars are busier than ever. Some left acting and found new lives. And a few have had a hard time in the news.
In this post, we look at every main cast member and tell you what they are doing right now, as of October 2026. We use plain words, and we keep it simple. We also look at the big reunion news, the reboot talk, and why this show still has so many fans after more than thirty years.
Grab a cup of coffee. Let’s get started.
A Quick Look Back at the Classic Home Renovation Sitcom
Before we talk about the current projects of the cast members, let’s remember what made the show so special.
Home Improvement ran on ABC from 1991 to 1999. It lasted eight seasons and 203 episodes. The story followed the Taylor family, who lived in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Tim Taylor, played by Tim Allen, was a loud, funny dad who loved tools and always wanted “more power.” He was also the host of a home renovation TV show inside the show. That show was called Tool Time.
Tim’s wife, Jill, was the calm and clever one in the family. They had three sons: Brad, Randy and Mark. At work, Tim had his helper, Al Borland, and a “Tool Time girl,” who helped on stage. At home, Tim got advice from his wise neighbor, Wilson, who was always half hidden behind a fence.
The show mixed two kinds of fun. One was the silly world of home repair, where every project went wrong in a big way. The other was warm family life, where parents and kids learned to listen to each other. That mix is why people still watch it today. You can find the show on streaming, and new fans keep joining every year.
Now, let’s meet the cast again.
Tim Allen (Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor)
If you want to know the current projects of the cast members, you have to start with Tim Allen. He is the busiest one by far.
Shifting Gears on ABC
Tim Allen is the star of Shifting Gears, his third big sitcom after Home Improvement and Last Man Standing. He plays Matt, a stubborn man who is a widower and owns a shop that fixes up classic cars. His grown daughter, Riley, played by Kat Dennings, moves into his house with her kids. That shakes up his quiet life, and the real “fixing” begins, both for the cars and for the family. Seann William Scott is also part of the cast.
The show began on ABC in early 2025 and did well enough to come back for a second season. Season 2 started on October 1, 2025. Good news for fans: the show has now been picked up for a third season, which is set for the 2026–27 TV season. Allen also works as one of the producers on the show, so he has a say in how it looks and sounds.
The Home Improvement Mini Reunion
Here is the part that made fans smile. Tim Allen likes to bring old friends onto his new shows. So, in the Season 2 premiere of Shifting Gears, three of his old Home Improvement co-stars came by for a visit: Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning. It was not a full reboot, but for many fans, it felt like a family dinner after many years.
This is not new for Allen. In Last Man Standing, Patricia Richardson and Richard Karn also dropped in for guest roles. Allen seems to like having old friends close by.
Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5
Tim Allen is also still the voice of Buzz Lightyear. He first said “To infinity and beyond” in 1995. Now, more than thirty years later, he is back for Toy Story 5, which came to theaters in June 2026. He said in an interview that it was strange but fun to go back into the recording booth, and that he felt lucky to still be Buzz. He also said that the first movie in the series is still special to him, while he picked the third one as his favorite.
Other Work
Before Shifting Gears, Allen worked on a DIY contest show with Richard Karn, which we cover below. He also played Santa in The Santa Clauses on Disney+, a follow-up to the hit Santa Clause movies. At age 73, he shows no sign of slowing down.
What He Says About a Reboot
Fans have asked Allen for years about a Home Improvement reboot. In a recent talk with a magazine, he said it is still “stuck.” He pointed to some trouble with the actors who played his sons. We will come back to this in the reunion section.
Patricia Richardson (Jill Taylor)
Patricia Richardson played Jill Taylor, the smart and steady wife who kept Tim in check. She earned four Emmy nominations for the role, and many fans think she was the heart of the show.
What She Is Doing Now
Patricia Richardson has stayed active in a calm and steady way. Here are her main current projects:
- Guest spot on Shifting Gears: As we said, she joined Tim Allen for the Season 2 premiere. It was her second time working with him on a newer show, since she also played a nosy neighbor named Helen Potts in two episodes of Last Man Standing.
- Fan events: She joined Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning for a Home Improvement panel at the first-ever ’90s Con, held March 13–15, 2026, at the Connecticut Convention Center. The event was part of the show’s 35th anniversary year.
- Talking with fans: She often shares stories on podcasts and in interviews. She has been honest about her time on the show and about her friendship with Allen, and fans love that.
- Staying close to her TV sons: She shared a rare photo with Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Taran Noah Smith and called them “my other boys.” The photo went around the web fast, since the two men almost never appear in public.
Outside of the Taylor family, Richardson is also known for her work on the TV drama The West Wing, where she had a role in the mid-2000s. She has spent many years on stage and TV, and she still takes parts that she likes.
Richard Karn (Al Borland)
Richard Karn played Al Borland, Tim’s kind, careful sidekick on Tool Time. Al was the one who knew how to use tools the right way. He also had a flannel shirt for every day of the week.
A Busy Career After the Sitcom
Karn did not stop working when the show ended. In fact, his list of projects is long:
- Game shows: He hosted Family Feud from 2002 to 2006, and he later hosted the game show Bingo America.
- Acting: He played Fred Peters in the Hulu comedy PEN15, which showed fans that he could do more than play Al.
- Last Man Standing: He came back to work with Allen in a few episodes of that show, playing an architect named Bill McKendree.
Working With Tim Allen Again
The best news for fans is that Karn and Allen got back together on screen. In 2021, they launched Assembly Required on the History Channel. It was a building contest where people made new inventions at home. Allen called it a “live version” of Tool Time. Karn and Allen also made a second show called More Power, which ran for two years. It was a build contest, too, and the two friends had a lot of fun with it.
Then came Shifting Gears, where Karn showed up for the Season 2 premiere. He also joined the ’90s Con panel in March 2026.
What Is He Doing Now?
Richard Karn turned 70 in February 2026. He keeps taking TV jobs, guest roles and fan events. He also works on commercials and brand deals, since many people still think of him as the friendly “home repair” guy. If a full Home Improvement special ever happens, Karn will probably be the first one to say yes.
Debbe Dunning (Heidi Keppert, the Tool Time Girl)
Debbe Dunning played Heidi, the second “Tool Time girl.” She joined the show in the third season and stayed until the end in 1999. Heidi was friendly, quick and good at joking back at Tim.
From Tool Time to Trail Rides
After the sitcom, Dunning built a very different life. Her main current project is a travel show called Debbe Dunning’s Dude Ranch Round-Up. She is both the host and one of the producers. The show began on RFD-TV in November 2017, and it takes viewers to the best dude ranches across the country. In each episode, she tries things like horse riding, mountain biking, fly fishing, roping cattle and even river tubing. Some episodes also have her children along for the fun.
She has said that the idea came from her own love of ranch vacations. When the owner of RFD-TV asked her for a new show idea during a chance meeting, she knew right away what it should be. The show has won awards and has a loyal fan base, especially with people who love the western lifestyle.
Back With the Old Gang
Dunning joined her old friends for the Season 2 premiere of Shifting Gears. She was also part of the ’90s Con reunion panel. So, even though her main job is now in travel TV, she is still very much a part of the Home Improvement family.
Zachery Ty Bryan (Brad Taylor)
This part of the story is not as happy, but it is part of an honest answer to the question about current projects. We will share only what has been reported in the news.
Zachery Ty Bryan played Brad, the oldest Taylor son. He was a sporty, joking teenager who got into trouble. After the show ended, Bryan kept working in TV and movies. He appeared in shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Veronica Mars, and in the movie The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Legal Trouble
In recent years, Bryan has had a number of problems with the law. Reports say that in February 2026, a judge sentenced him to 16 months in prison in connection with a drunk driving arrest in 2024. The reports also say it was one of several arrests over about five years, and that the judge did not allow probation as part of the plea deal.
What It Means for Fans
Because of this, Bryan does not have any public acting projects right now. Many fans hope he can get the help he needs and make a fresh start. His time in prison also means he was not able to be part of the 35th anniversary events. When people talk about a reboot, his situation is one of the things that comes up.
We wish him well, and we hope to hear better news about him in the future.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Randy Taylor)
Jonathan Taylor Thomas, often called JTT, was one of the biggest teen stars of the 1990s. He played Randy, the clever middle son. He also voiced young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King in 1994, and he starred in movies like Man of the House and Tom and Huck.
Leaving Hollywood
At the height of his fame, JTT made a choice that surprised many people. He stepped away from the spotlight to go to school. He studied at top universities, including Harvard, Columbia and the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Since then, he has taken very few acting jobs. He also made a few guest appearances on Last Man Standing in earlier years.
Because he keeps a low profile, fans were thrilled when Patricia Richardson posted the photo of the three “Taylor family” members together. It was the first public photo of him in many years.
The September 2026 News
Sadly, JTT was in the news again for a different reason. Reports say that on September 21, 2026, he was a passenger in a car that was stopped by sheriff’s deputies in Westlake Village, California. The deputies were checking the driver. Officials said that JTT got out of the car and became physical with a deputy, and he was taken into custody. Later reports said the arrest was changed to a detention, and he was let go after about a day and a half. His team did not give a comment to the press.
These are only claims and reports for now, and the full story is not yet clear. As of this writing, he does not have any public acting projects.
Taran Noah Smith (Mark Taylor)
Taran Noah Smith played Mark, the youngest Taylor son, who was a bit odd, funny and very smart. He was a child when the show started and a teen when it ended.
After Home Improvement ended in 1999, Smith left acting. His on-screen mom, Patricia Richardson, has said that he has not acted since the show, and that he no longer thinks of himself as an actor. He has chosen a private life away from the cameras. This is not unusual for child stars. Many of them want a normal life when they grow up, and that is a very fair choice.
Smith did come out of the shadows for a moment when Richardson posted the group photo of the “boys.” That small moment made fans happy and gave them a peek at how the cast still stays in touch.
Other Cast Members Worth Remembering
The main family is not the whole story. Here are a few more faces from the show.
- Earl Hindman (Wilson): Wilson was the neighbor who gave Tim wise advice with his face hidden behind the fence. Earl Hindman passed away in 2003. Fans still love the character, and many call Wilson the show’s most famous “secret.”
- Pamela Anderson (the first Tool Time girl): She played Lisa, the first “Tool Time girl,” in the early seasons. In recent years, she has had a big comeback in film and has won praise for serious acting roles.
- Mickey Jones (Pete): He played Tim’s funny, rough friend on the Tool Time crew. He passed away in 2018.
- Blake Clark (Harry): He played the hardware store owner and also showed up in Last Man Standing years later.
These stars each played a small but important part in making the show feel like a real neighborhood.
Will There Be a Home Improvement Reboot or Reunion?
This is the question fans ask most. Here is where things stand in October 2026.
What has happened: The cast has met in small ways. We had the Shifting Gears visit in Season 2. We had the ’90s Con panel in March 2026, which was built around the show’s 35th anniversary. Fans got to meet Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning in person.
What has not happened: There is no full reboot or sequel show. Tim Allen has said that he would like to do one, and that it might be fun to make a story about the Taylor kids as grown-ups. But he has also said that the project is stuck because of problems with the actors who played the sons.
What the others say: Patricia Richardson has said in a podcast that Allen sometimes talked as though the whole cast was ready to return, but that she was never asked, and that JTT was not asked either. This shows that the cast may not all be on the same page about it.
Our view: With the recent news about two of the sons, a full reboot looks unlikely in the near future. But a one-time special, or more guest visits on Shifting Gears, seems much easier to pull off. Allen likes to bring friends along, so we would not be shocked to see more of the gang in Season 3.
Why Fans Still Love This Classic Home Renovation Sitcom
Why do people still ask about the current projects of the cast members after so many years? Here are some reasons.
- It felt like a real family: The Taylors fought, joked and made up. Kids and parents both saw themselves in the show.
- The “Tool Time” jokes never get old: Tim’s love of big engines and giant tools made people laugh. Al’s calm answers made the jokes even better.
- It is easy to watch: The show has clean fun, simple stories and a lot of heart. You can watch it with your whole family.
- The cast has stayed friendly: Even after many years, most of them still show up for one another. That kind of loyalty is rare in TV.
- It started a trend: After this show, home repair became a popular theme in TV, and many reality shows about DIY and building followed.
It is also nice to see how the stars continue to love the show. Many of them say that being part of the Taylor family was the best part of their careers.
Quick Summary: Current Projects at a Glance
Here is a simple list to help you remember.
- Tim Allen: Star and producer of Shifting Gears (Season 3 coming in 2026–27); voice of Buzz in Toy Story 5.
- Patricia Richardson: Guest star on Shifting Gears; fan events; podcasts and interviews.
- Richard Karn: Guest star on Shifting Gears; DIY shows with Tim Allen; TV and fan work.
- Debbe Dunning: Host and producer of Debbe Dunning’s Dude Ranch Round-Up; guest star on Shifting Gears.
- Zachery Ty Bryan: No public acting projects; serving a prison sentence, according to reports.
- Jonathan Taylor Thomas: Mostly retired from acting; in the news in September 2026 after an incident with deputies.
- Taran Noah Smith: Left acting and lives privately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who from the Home Improvement cast is still working today?
Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning are all still working in some way. Allen works the most, with Shifting Gears and Toy Story 5. The others do guest roles, TV hosting and fan events.
Is there a new Home Improvement show?
There is no full new season of the original show. But Tim Allen’s new sitcom, Shifting Gears, has brought back three of the old cast members as guest stars, which many fans call a mini reunion.
Where can I watch Home Improvement?
The original show can be found on streaming services, such as Hulu and Disney+, depending on your country. The first two seasons of Shifting Gears are also on those services in many places.
Why did some of the kids leave acting?
Every person has their own reason. Taran Noah Smith left acting after the show and has lived a private life. Jonathan Taylor Thomas chose to go to school and has stayed out of the spotlight. Many child actors say they want a regular life when they grow up.
Did the cast get together for the show’s 35th anniversary?
Yes, in part. Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning held a panel at ’90s Con in March 2026. Tim Allen and the three actors who played his sons did not take part in that panel.
Will Tim Allen do another Home Improvement show?
He has said he would like to, but he also said that the idea is stuck for now. So, there is no plan at this time.
Final Thoughts
So, what are the current projects of the cast members from the classic home renovation sitcom? The answer is a mix of good news and hard news.
The good news is that the show’s heart is still beating. Tim Allen is as busy as ever with Shifting Gears and Toy Story 5. Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning keep the Taylor family spirit alive with guest roles, DIY shows, travel TV and fan events. Debbe Dunning has even built a whole new career around her love of ranches and horses.
The harder news is about the three actors who played the sons. Taran Noah Smith lives a quiet life. Jonathan Taylor Thomas stays out of Hollywood, and his name was in the news this fall for the wrong reasons. Zachery Ty Bryan is dealing with serious legal trouble. Life after a child star career is not always easy, and it helps to be kind.
Still, the show lives on. New fans find it every year, and old fans pass it down to their kids. Whenever the cast gets together, even for a short visit, it feels like a warm hello from the past.
As always, we will keep this post updated when there is news. If you have a favorite Home Improvement memory, share it in the comments. And remember: it is always Tool Time somewhere.
