Jonathan Taylor Thomas was born on September 8, 1981 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Growing up, he liked the music group Boyz II Men, and his favorite TV shows were Roseanne and Grace Under Fire, but he also liked watching CNN news, to keep up to date with current events. One thing that Jonathan does not like is meat. He has been a vegetarian since he was four years old, and he doesn't use products that are tested on animals because he believes that it is wrong to hurt them.

When Jonathan was four years old, his family (his mother Claudine, his father Stephen and his older brother Joel) moved from Bethlehem to Sacramento, California. At the age of seven, Jonathan was working as a model for print advertisements in Sacramento, and over the next few years, he appeared in TV commercials for Kelloggs cereal, Mattel toys and for many other products. By this time, Jonathan was ready for bigger roles, and in 1989, he landed the part of Greg Brady's son Kevin in the TV special The Bradys. In 1990, he landed his biggest role yet, as Randy Taylor on Home Improvement. Jonathan's audition went well, but what really gave him an edge over the other boys was that the casting directors thought that he looked a lot like his TV dad-to-be, Tim Allen.

In 1991, Jonathan's parents divorced. He lived with his mother and his brother. He began work in feature length movies, as the voice of young Simba in Disney's The Lion King, and as Ben Archer in _Man of the House (1994) opposite Chevy Chase. Among his other movies are Tom and Huck and The Adventures of Pinocchio.


Tom and Huck (1995): $600,000

Visited Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, as a possible college to attend. Has done voice overs for cartoons and video games such as "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (1994), "The Adventures of Spot" (1987), The Ivy Cottage, and Scooter's Magic Castle. His stage name is derived from his real first name (Jonathan), his real middle name (Taylor), and his brother's middle name (Thomas). Loves to watch college basketball. Parents: Claudine and Stephen Weiss (divorced in 1989). Is of German, Jewish and Portuguese ancestry. Was the first actor to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '99 (1999) (TV) for his memorable nine year role as "Randy Taylor" on "Home Improvement" (1991). Pets: two cats named Simba and Samantha, one dog called McCormick Grew up in Sacramento and Los Angeles, California Two nephews: Ben (b. 2005) and Jordan (b. 2007). Attends Columbia University Bachelor's Degree Program for adults General Studies. His father worked as a construction supplies salesman. His mother was a social worker then she managed his career. Dog-Lhasa Apso. Cats-Tortoise Persian and Flamepoint Himalayan. When he was a young child, his mother worked for an organization for underprivileged adults. She often brought him to work and work-related functions because she wanted him to grow up to be thankful for what he had and to have the willingness to help others.