Tim Allen Biography

Long before Tim Allen picked up any tools, he was born into a large family of six brothers and three sisters in Denver, Colorado. Allen has claimed that his personality was shaped by his easily-mocked surname (Dick): self-depreciation became his only defense in the face of the persistent taunting of his peers. At the age of 11, Allen's father died in a car accident, and his mother remarried two years later. When he was 13, his family moved to the Detroit, Michigan suburb of Brimingham.

He completed his high school studies in Detroit where his favorite subject was the shop. Not surprisingly, he was the class clown. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 1975 with a degree in Television Production.

The next few years had pros and cons for Allen. In 1978, he married Laura Diebel (with whom he had a daughter, Kady). He also spent two years in jail because of attempted drug-dealing. When Allen was released he had a new outlook on life.

Allen first took to the comedy stage on a dare by one of his friends, and found he had a talent for eliciting guffaws. He set about honing his act at night, while supporting himself by appearing in commercials for Mr. Goodwrench, Ford, Chevrolet, and Kmart during the day. He has been on some cable shows such as Tim Allen: Men are Pigs, Just for Laughs, Comedy Club All Stars 2 and Comedy All Stars 7.

Eventually, he succeeded in persuading a studio to use his "Men Are Pigs" routine as the basis for a sitcom, and in 1991, Home Improvement was born.

In 1994, Allen struck gold with his first book, Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man, and his first feature film, The Santa Clause. Both ascended to number one at the cash register. He stepped from gold to platinum when he lent his voice to Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear. (Although Toy Story only paid him $50,000, the 1999 sequel paid him a cool $5 million)

Where does that money go? At least two million has gone to purchase 26 acres of Michigan campground. His intention is to keep it in its natural, undeveloped state.

In 1996, Allen published a second book, I'm Not Really Here, in which he ruminates on parenthood, fame, and other matters spiritual and philosophical, while puttering through his home in search of a missing 1956 Ford hood ornament.

Allen returned to ABC with the sitcom Last Man Standing (2011–2021). After six seasons, the series was canceled in May 2017 but was later revived by Fox for a seventh season in 2018, before concluding in May 2021 after nine seasons.

In 2022, he returned to the Santa Clause franchise in the Disney+ series The Santa Clauses and co-hosted the History Channel series More Power with Richard Karn, focusing on the history of tools. In 2024, Allen announced the ABC sitcom Shifting Gears, premiering in 2025 and later renewed for a second season, and in 2026 he once again reprised his role as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5.

Allen married actress Jane Hajduk in 2006 after several years together, and the couple welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth, the following year. He also remains close to his eldest daughter, Katherine, from his first marriage to Laura Diebel. Outside of acting, Allen is an avid car enthusiast with a passion for classic automobiles and has often spoken about his love of restoring and collecting vehicles.

Filmography:

Toy Story 5 (2026)
Toy Story 4 (2019)
No Safe Spaces (2019) (Documentary)
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) (Voice)
El Camino Christmas (2017)
Adventures of the Penguin King (2013) (Narrator)
3 Geezers! (2013)
The Penguin King (2012) (Narrator)
Chimpanzee (2012)
Toy Story 3 (2010) (voice)
Crazy on the Outside (2009)
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay (2008)
Redbelt (2008)
Wild Hogs (2007)
The Santa Clause 3 (2006)
Zoom (2006)
The Shaggy Dog (2006)
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
Big Trouble (2002)
Joe Somebody (2001)
Cletis Tout (2001)
Galaxy Quest (1999)
Toy Story 2 (1999) (voice)
For Richer or Poorer (1997)
Jungle2 Jungle (1997)
Meet Wally Sparks (1997)
Toy Story (1995) (voice)
The Santa Clause (1994)
Tropical Snow (1988)