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Timothy Allen Dick (born June 13, 1953 in Denver, Colorado) is an American comedian and actor perhaps best known for his role in the sitcom Home Improvement and his roles in Disney films, such as The Santa Clause and Toy Story. Allen is known for most of his roles being fathers.
Biography
Career
Allen began his career as a stand-up comedian. Off of a dare from one of his friends, he participated in an open-mic night at a nightclub in Detroit. He soon became a regular act at the city's Comedy Store. He later moved to Los Angeles and became a member of The Comedy Store there. He began to do stand-up appearances on late-night talk shows and specials on record and film. He became a member of the "dirty-dozen", a group of stand-up comedians popular for their adult-oriented humor.He rose to fame in acting with the television series Home Improvement (1991-1999) on ABC in which he played Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor. At one point in late 1994, he starred in the most watched television show, Home Improvement, the highest grossing film, The Santa Clause, and had the best selling book in North America, Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man, simultaneously. His Home Improvement fame spawned Tim Allen Signature Tools, a line of power tools distributed by Ryobi.
Allen's material consists mainly of discussions on masculinity, male-female relationships, raising children, hardware, and tools. These themes make him accessible to a wide audience. He writes in his first book that although he is enthusiastic about hardware, he is far from expert. This became the basis for his sitcom. Near the end of the show, Allen published I'm Not Really Here, a book detailing his thoughts on quantum philosophy, intergender relationships, and the male mid-life crisis.
For his contribution to the entertainment industry, Allen has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6834 Hollywood Blvd.
Salaries
- Joe Somebody (2001) USD$12,000,000
- Toy Story 2 (1999) $5,000,000
- Toy Story (1995) $50,000
- "Home Improvement" (1991) $1,250,000/episode (1998-1999 season)
Personal life
Allen was born to Gerald and Martha Dick (Gerald was killed by a drunk driver when Allen was young). Though he was born in Denver, Colorado, he grew up in Birmingham in suburban Detroit, Michigan and attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He later received an honorary degree and its existence was used for the main plot of a Home Improvement episode.Allen was married to Laura Diebel from April 7, 1984 until their divorce in 2003; they have a daughter, Kady, born in 1989. Diebel once served as chief executive officer of Allen's tool line.
Arrests
On October 2, 1978, Allen was arrested with an accomplice at an airport in Kalamazoo, Michigan while possessing 1.4 pounds of cocaine. Because of the huge quantity, he was facing life in prison. Instead, Allen agreed to testify against his partner in exchange for a sentence of three to seven years in prison; he ultimately ended up serving two years and four months.*On May 24, 1997, Allen was arrested for DUI in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan. He pleaded guilty on June 16 and was fined, sentenced to a year of probation, and ordered to seek counseling.*
Works
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Santa Clause 3 | Santa Claus/Scott Calvin | (post-production) |
| Zoom | Jack/Captain Zoom | (post-production) | |
| The Shaggy Dog | Dave Douglas | ||
| Cars | Buzz Lightyear Car | (cameo - voice) | |
| 2004 | Christmas with the Kranks | Luther Krank | |
| 2002 | The Santa Clause 2 | Santa Claus/Scott Calvin | |
| Big Trouble | Eliot Arnold | ||
| 2001 | Joe Somebody | Joe Scheffer | |
| Who is Cletus Tout? | Critical Jim | ||
| 1999 | Galaxy Quest | Jason Nesmith/Cmdr. Peter Quincy Taggart | |
| Toy Story 2 | Buzz Lightyear | (voice) | |
| 1997 | For Richer or Poorer | Brad Sexton | |
| Jungle 2 Jungle | Michael Cromwell | ||
| 1995 | Toy Story | Buzz Lightyear | (voice) |
| 1994 | The Santa Clause | Scott Calvin/Santa Claus | |
| 1989 | Tropical Snow | Baggage Handler |
TV series
- Home Improvement (1991-1999) - Tim Taylor
Books
- Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man (1994) - ISBN 0786879882
- I'm Not Really Here (1996) - ISBN 0786862572
External links
1953 births | American comedians | American film actors | American stand-up comedians | American television actors | People from Denver | Disney Legends | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Kids' Choice Awards winners | Living people | People from Michigan | Incarcerated celebrities | Film actors
"Tim Allen"