Tim Allen

Timothy Alan Dick (born June 13, 1953), known professionally as Tim Allen, is an American actor and comedian. He is known for playing Tim "The Toolman" Taylor on the ABC sitcom Home Improvement (1991–1999) for which he won a Golden Globe Award and Mike Baxter on the ABC/Fox sitcom Last Man Standing (2011–2021). He voices Buzz Lightyear for the Toy Story franchise (1995–present) for which he won an Annie Award and played Scott Calvin and Santa Claus in The Santa Clause franchise (1994–2023).

Allen's other films include Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), Galaxy Quest (1999), Joe Somebody (2001), Big Trouble (2002), Christmas with the Kranks (2004), The Shaggy Dog (2006), Wild Hogs (2007), The Six Wives of Henry Lefay (2009), and Crazy on the Outside (2010).

Early life and education Allen was born in Denver, Colorado, on June 13, 1953. He is the third oldest of six children of Martha Katherine (née Fox), a community-service worker, and Gerald M. Dick, a real estate agent. Allen has two older brothers named David and Stephen, two younger brothers named Jeffrey and Bruce, and a younger sister named Rebecca. His father died in a car accident in November 1964, colliding with a drunk driver when Allen was 11. Two years later, his mother married her high school sweetheart, a business executive,

Allen attended Seaholm High School in Birmingham, where he was in theater and music classes (resulting in his love of classical piano). He then attended Central Michigan University before transferring to Western Michigan University in 1974. At Western Michigan, Allen worked at the student radio station WIDR. In 1976, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications, specializing in radio and television production, with a split minor in philosophy and design.

Career 1975–1990: Standup comedy and film debut

Allen started his career as a comedian in 1975. While in Detroit he began to get recognition appearing in local television commercials and appearing on cable comedy shows such as Gary Thison's Some Semblance of Sanity. Following his release from prison in 1981, he returned to comedy. He moved to Los Angeles and became a regular performer at The Comedy Store. He began performing stand-up appearances on late-night talk shows and specials on record and film. His initial film debut was as a baggage handler in Tropical Snow (1988).

1991–2010: Home Improvement and franchise roles Allen rose to fame in acting with the sitcom Home Improvement (1991–1999) produced for ABC by Wind Dancer Productions. Allen played the main character Tim "The Tool-Man" Taylor, the father of three boys.

In 1995, Allen provided the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the Disney/Pixar blockbuster Toy Story. In 1997, he starred in the family comedy Jungle 2 Jungle from Disney. In 1999, he returned to voice Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 2, which was a financial and critical hit. That same year, he starred in the sci-fi parody Galaxy Quest alongside Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, and Sam Rockwell. In 2002, he reprised his role as Scott Calvin in The Santa Clause 2. Two years later, he starred as Luther Krank in Christmas with the Kranks. In 2006, Zoom was released, starring Allen as Jack Shepard. The same year, he also starred in The Shaggy Dog and The Santa Clause 3. The year 2008 marked his first dramatic turn with a supporting role as an aging action film star in David Mamet's Redbelt.

Allen began narrating the "Pure Michigan" television and radio commercials for the "Travel Michigan" agency. These commercials can be seen and heard throughout the Midwest and began airing nationally in 2009. In December 2009, he started a preview tour of Crazy on the Outside, a film that debuted in January 2010. Allen accompanied the film, helping promote it with a series of stand-up acts beforehand. During the performances, he told audiences he planned a 2010 comedy tour. Allen also directed the film, marking his film directorial debut.

Allen hosted the 8th Annual TV Land Awards on April 25, 2010. That same year, he reprised the role of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 3 and also became the official voice of the Chevrolet Cruze, narrating commercials for the vehicle, and he became the voice of Campbell Soup Company's "It's Amazing What Soup Can Do" campaign.

2011–present: Last Man Standing and other roles Allen returned to ABC with the sitcom Last Man Standing (2011–2021). He played the role of Mike Baxter, a conservative father fighting for his manhood in a house filled with women. The character is loosely based on his own life. After six seasons, the show was canceled in May 2017. On May 11, 2018, Fox TV's CEOs and chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden said Fox had officially picked up Last Man Standing for a seventh season. The show ended in May 2021 after nine seasons.

Shortly before the 2017 cancellation of Last Man Standing, Allen had been announced as part of the cast of the Netflix original comedy film El Camino Christmas (2017). In 2018, he had a cameo voice role as Buzz Lightyear in Ralph Breaks the Internet. In 2019, he voiced the character in Toy Story 4 and appeared as himself in No Safe Spaces, a documentary film. In 2022, it was announced that Allen would reprise the role of Scott Calvin in a Disney+ mini-series, The Santa Clauses, based on The Santa Clause franchise. On June 30, 2022, the History Channel series More Power premiered, with co-host Allen reunited with Richard Karn. The show covered the history of tools and included field reports of people who use powerful tools.

On March 6, 2024, Allen announced on his Facebook page that he would be starring in a third sitcom called Shifting Gears. His character is Matt, a “stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter and her teenage kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.” The series premiered on ABC on January 8, 2025, and was picked up for a second season, which also premiered in 2025. In 2026, he reprised his role as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5.

Personal life Marriages and family

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

Legal issues

On October 2, 1978, Allen was arrested at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport for possession of over of cocaine. He subsequently pleaded guilty to felony drug trafficking charges and provided the names of other dealers in exchange for a sentence of three to seven years rather than possible life imprisonment.

In 1997, Allen was arrested for DUI in Birmingham, Michigan. At the time, his blood alcohol content was 0.15%, nearly double the legal limit in Michigan. He was sentenced to one-year probation and entered a rehabilitation clinic for alcohol abuse in 1998 as part of his court obligation.

Political views Allen is a supporter of the Republican Party, describing himself as "fiscally conservative and emotionally liberal". He has referred to himself both on Last Man Standing and in real life as libertarian. In 2021, he criticized President Donald Trump and those taking part in the 2021 United States Capitol attack, calling the incident "horrible, embarrassing, and shameful" and opining that the rioters must have had inside help. He also said the riot had caused people to be embarrassed to be known as conservative.

Car interests Allen is a car enthusiast and competed in endurance racing for Saleen in a co-owned car in the 1990s, including the 24 Hours of Daytona. He also owns a car collection, which he houses in a former paint shop in Southern California. As of 2022, the collection includes a 1956 Ford F-100 custom made by McLaren, a 1965 Shelby Cobra, and a 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1988 Tropical Snow Baggage Handler Comedy's Dirtiest Dozen Himself 1994 Scott Calvin / Santa Claus 1995 Toy Story Buzz Lightyear Voice role 1997 Meet Wally Sparks Himself Cameo Jungle 2 Jungle Michael Cromwell For Richer or Poorer Brad Sexton 1999 Toy Story 2 Buzz Lightyear / Ultra Buzz Lightyear Voice role Galaxy Quest Jason Nesmith 2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins Buzz Lightyear Voice role; direct-to-video 2001 Who Is Cletis Tout? Critical Jim Joe Somebody Joe Scheffer 2002 Big Trouble Eliot Arnold Santa Claus / Scott Calvin / Toy Santa 2004 Christmas with the Kranks Luther Krank 2006 Dave Douglas Producer Cars Buzz Lightyear Car Voice cameo Zoom Jack Shepard / Capt. Zoom Santa Claus / Scott Calvin 2007 Wild Hogs Doug Madsen 2008 Redbelt Chet Frank 2009 Henry Lefay Also executive producer 2010 Crazy on the Outside Tommy Zelda Also director Toy Story 3 Buzz Lightyear Voice role 2011 Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation Voice role; short film Toy Story Toons: Small Fry 2012 Toy Story Toons: Partysaurus Rex ChimpanzeeNarrator Documentary American version 2013 3 Geezers! Tim Adventures of the Penguin King Narrator 2017 El Camino Christmas Larry Michael Roth 2018 Ralph Breaks the Internet Buzz Lightyear Voice cameo, archive audio 2019 Toy Story 4 Voice role No Safe Spaces Himself Documentary 2026 Toy Story 5 Buzz Lightyear / Hi-Tech Edition Buzz Lightyears Voice role 2013 Toy Story of Terror!Buzz Lightyear Voice role; television special 2014 Toy Story That Time Forgot 2015 Cristela Mike Baxter Episode: "Last Goose Standing" 2016 88th Academy Awards Buzz Lightyear Voice role; television special 2020 Reno 911! Space Force Commander Episode: "Space Force" 2021 Assembly Required Himself / Host Main role; also creator and executive producer 2022 More Power 2022–2023 The Santa Clauses Scott Calvin / Santa Claus Main role; also executive producer 2025–present Shifting Gears Matt Parker

Video games Year Title Voice role 1994 Home Improvement: Power Tool Pursuit Tim Taylor 1999 Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the RescueBuzz LightyearArchived recordings 2001 Toy Story Racer 2009 Toy Story Mania! 2010 Scene It? Disney Magical Moments Toy Story 3DS, PS2, and PSP versions only 2016 Disney Magic Kingdoms 2022 Disney Dreamlight Valley 2023 Disney Speedstorm 2024 Brawl StarsArchived recordings

Awards and honors Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result 1992 People's Choice Awards Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Series Home Improvement 1993 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series 1993/19941996/1997 Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy 1995 1997 Golden Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical Home Improvement 1999 TV Guide Awards Favorite Actor in a Comedy 2000 Annie Awards Outstanding Voice Acting in a Feature Production Toy Story 2 2009 TV Land Awards Fan Favorite (given to the cast) Home Improvement 2011 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie Toy Story 3 2012 TV Guide Awards Favorite Comeback Last Man Standing 2017 People's Choice Awards Favorite Comedic TV Actor 2023 Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Performance The Santa Clauses

Other honors 1999: Named a Disney Legend for his work on the Toy Story, The Santa Clause, and Home Improvement franchises 2004: Received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard for his contributions to the film industry 2017: Inducted into the Diecast Hall of Fame

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