‘No regrets’
Next, he crushed hearts when he stepped away from Hollywood to pursue his dreams of “going to school.”
After graduating New York’s Chaminade College Preparatory School in 2000, he went to Harvard University, where he studied philosophy and history. He later graduated from the Columbia University School of General Studies in 2010.
Happy 35th birthday Jonathan Taylor Thomas! ❤️ See his evolution through 24 photos: https://t.co/gNWKWKBsw3 pic.twitter.com/glLSHW0sKg
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) September 8, 2016
“To sit in a big library amongst books and students, that was pretty cool. It was a novel experience for me,” he says.
Admitting that he “never took the fame too seriously” he expresses his gratitude, saying that “It was a great period in my life…But it doesn’t define me.”
He continued, “When I think back on the time, I look at it with a wink. I focus on the good moments I had, not that I was on a lot of magazine covers.”
Taking advantage of his free time, Thomas says that he has “no regrets” about leaving Hollywood.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – 32
Randy – Home Improvement
Now in LA; directing & writing. Also a very keen hiker.
— Where Are They Now? (@WATNCelebrity) May 25, 2014
But he didn’t disappear entirely. Between 2013 to 2015, the former teen heartthrob reunited with Allen, his TV dad from Home Improvement, for four episodes of Last Man Standing. He also directed three episodes of the series.
Rare sighting
In 2023, two years after he was spotted walking his dogs, the star was seen out in public and the images created quite the buzz amongst fans.
The star, who kept his attire simple, was seen wearing a beige sweater that he paired with jeans and a black tuque.
Fans quickly jumped into the comments section, offering their thoughts on his rare sighting.
“JTT, my elementary school crush,” gushes one fan while a second adds, “Like many others my age, he was my childhood crush. I’m glad he avoided the Hollywood weirdness.”
A third offers, “He was a child star and a teen heartthrob, who knows what happened to him. Hollywood rarely treats children well.”
Another, reflecting on Thomas’ memorable hairstyle from Home Improvement, adds, “Of course he looks different now! Not many 42 yr old men walking around with bowl haircuts. He brought much joy to many with his early career.”
What are your favorite memories of this star? Please let us know your thoughts and then share this story so we can hear what others have to say!
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