ACTOR · BORN 1981
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
- Born
- 8 September 1981, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
- Known for
- The Lion King (1994), Tom and Huck (1995), Home Improvement (1991), Wild America (1997)
19 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Jonathan Taylor Thomas (born 8 September 1981) is an actor best known for The Lion King, Tom and Huck and Home Improvement.
19 Interesting Facts About Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Interesting Facts (3)
- #001
On Home Improvement, Jonathan Taylor Thomas played middle child Randy and Zachery Ty Bryan the eldest, Brad; their characters were about 13 months apart, but in real life Jonathan, born September 8, was just one month and one day older than Zachery, born October 9.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas: behind the scenesImage: Wikimedia Commons · MavsFan28, CC BY-SA 4.0 - #002
In 2001, Jonathan Taylor Thomas appeared on the cover of The Advocate, a magazine covering gay and lesbian issues, talking about his role in Showtime's gay-themed film Common Ground.
- #003
As of January 2000, Jonathan Taylor Thomas was finishing his senior year of high school and planned to start university that fall, aiming for an Ivy League school or Oxford University, where he wanted to double major in theater and history, while acting during school breaks.
Behind the Scenes (6)
- #004
Two cats named Simba and Samantha and a dog named McCormick live in Jonathan Taylor Thomas's home. These pets show his love for animals and the value he places on them. The name Simba in particular may be a nod to Disney's The Lion King, which brings to mind his connection to the world of animation.
- #005
Jonathan Taylor Thomas is a close friend of Danielle Fishel, one of the stars of another popular ABC sitcom, Boy Meets World. The two built a strong friendship off set as well, and Jonathan attended Danielle's wedding in 2013. This friendship stands out as an example of the lasting relationships he has built with colleagues in the industry.
- #006
Jonathan Taylor Thomas was active not only on screen but also in the world of voice acting. He did voice work for cartoons and video games such as The Itsy Bitsy Spider, The Adventures of Spot, The Ivy Cottage and Scooter's Magic Castle.
- #007
Jonathan Taylor Thomas graduated with honors from Chaminade College Preparatory High School in West Hills, California. Managing both his acting career and his coursework during his high school years proves how well he developed his time management and work discipline.
- #008
In his spare time, Jonathan Taylor Thomas greatly enjoys watching college basketball. His interest in this sport shows his competitive spirit and his admiration for team games. Moreover, following an amateur sport like college basketball suggests that he values not only the professional world but also young talent.
- #009
Jonathan Taylor Thomas's mother, Claudine, attended Syracuse University. That his mother had a university education is an indication of the value placed on education in the family. This may have been influential in Jonathan's own turn toward an academic career and his determination to complete his university education.
Career & Awards (4)
- #010
Jonathan Taylor Thomas was the first actor to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '99, a tribute to his huge popularity from eight years as Randy Taylor on Home Improvement.
- #011
Jonathan Taylor Thomas grew up in Sacramento and Los Angeles, California, the quieter life of Sacramento balanced by the industry opportunities of Los Angeles.
- #012
In 1996, Jonathan Taylor Thomas received the NATO/ShoWest 'Young Star of the Year' award, a sign of his rising star in film.
- #013
Jonathan Taylor Thomas is currently continuing his university studies alongside his acting career.
Life & Family (6)
- #014
Jonathan Taylor Thomas's mother worked for an organization helping impoverished adults and often took him along to work and related events, wanting to teach him early to be grateful for what they had and to help others, experiences that shaped his character and charitable nature.
- #015
Jonathan Taylor Thomas's stage name combines his first name, Jonathan, his middle name, Taylor, and his brother's middle name, Thomas, a tribute to family.
- #016
As of 2023, Jonathan Taylor Thomas sits on the SAG-AFTRA National Board alongside Patricia Richardson, his TV mom on Home Improvement, still active in the industry and in protecting actors' rights.
- #017
Jonathan Taylor Thomas isn't fond of the nickname 'JTT' used by fans and the media, and doesn't really understand why people would rather abbreviate than say his full name.
- #018
Jonathan Taylor Thomas's only sibling is his brother, Joel Thomas Weiss, four years his senior, whose middle name gave Jonathan the 'Thomas' in his stage name.
- #019
While weighing his university options, Jonathan Taylor Thomas visited Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, whose strong theater program may have appealed to him, though he ended up at Columbia University.
Related pages
- Kingdom Hearts II — Jonathan Taylor Thomas comes up in the facts on that page
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work