Jonathan Taylor Thomas, once a beloved teen idol from the popular 90s sitcom Home Improvement, had fans swooning at the height of his career. Known for his charm and boy-next-door appeal, Thomas—often called “JTT”—decided to step away from the limelight, leaving many wondering what happened to the actor who also voiced young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King. Now, decades later, he’s been spotted again, and fans can hardly recognize the former heartthrob.
Thomas became a household name as Randy Taylor, the middle son on Home Improvement, which starred comedian Tim Allen. At just 10 years old when the show premiered in 1991, Thomas captivated audiences for eight seasons, becoming a major crush for countless young fans. Simultaneously, he gained further fame by voicing Simba in The Lion King, where he brought the curious and adventurous lion cub to life with his natural enthusiasm. Balancing roles on both projects was challenging for the young actor, but he managed to handle it with ease, joking in interviews that he had to quickly switch between “being Randy” and “being Simba.”
However, fame wasn’t always easy for Thomas. Despite his massive popularity, he dealt with the pressures of growing up in front of the world. By 1998, he was feeling the strain, even experiencing migraines from the nonstop work. At just 17, Thomas decided to step away from Hollywood, explaining that he wanted to focus on school, travel, and experience life outside of acting. His departure came as a shock to fans who had grown up with him on their screens.
Following his exit from Home Improvement, Thomas made a few guest appearances on shows like Ally McBeal, Smallville, and 8 Simple Rules. He also lent his voice to animated series like The Wild Thornberrys and The Simpsons. In a bid to diversify his roles, he took on edgier parts, portraying a bisexual hustler in the indie film Speedway Junky and a gay teen in Common Ground. These roles sparked rumors about his sexuality, which Thomas later addressed in an interview with Jay Leno. He clarified that he wasn’t gay, stating, “In Hollywood, you’re not anybody until they start rumors about you.”
Thomas then made a bold move to focus on his education. He attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in Los Angeles, then went on to study philosophy and history at Harvard University. Later, he transferred to Columbia University, where he graduated from the School of General Studies in 2010. Despite the drastic shift from the entertainment industry to academia, Thomas never regretted his decision. He described the experience of sitting in a library surrounded by books and students as “novel” and “refreshing,” emphasizing that he never took fame too seriously.
Reflecting on his past, Thomas expressed gratitude for his early career but noted that it did not define him. He cherished the good moments but admitted that he was happy to have moved on from constantly being in the spotlight. He emphasized that his time away from Hollywood was fulfilling, allowing him to live a more private and normal life.
Between 2013 and 2015, Thomas made a brief return to television, reuniting with Tim Allen on Last Man Standing. He appeared in a few episodes and even directed several, proving that while his passion for acting may have waned, his interest in the industry hadn’t disappeared entirely.
In 2023, fans were surprised when Thomas was seen walking his dogs, marking one of his rare public appearances in recent years. He looked markedly different from the teenage heartthrob he once was, sporting a more mature style with a beige sweater, jeans, and a black beanie. Fans, however, were thrilled to see him again, with many sharing fond memories of their childhood crush on “JTT.” Some commented on his transformation, noting how natural it was for a 43-year-old to look different from his days as a bowl-cut-sporting teen.
Despite his relatively quiet lifestyle today, Thomas’s legacy as a 90s icon remains intact. For many, he’ll always be remembered as Randy Taylor and young Simba, a part of their childhood that still brings a smile to their faces.
