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How the 90s Teen Idol Who Voiced Simba Walked Away From Hollywood — And Found a Different Kind of Life
“My goodness, he looks so different.”
That’s what fans said when a rare photo of Jonathan Taylor Thomas surfaced — not on a red carpet, but in a quiet moment, walking through an airport or attending a low-key event.
Gone was the boyish charm of Randy Taylor from Home Improvement.
Gone was the glossy hair, the million-dollar smile that graced Tiger Beat covers and teenage bedroom walls.
In its place: a clean-cut, bearded man in his 40s — calm, composed, and barely recognizable.
But that’s exactly how he wanted it.
Because Jonathan Taylor Thomas — once dubbed “America’s Sweetheart” and the voice of Simba in Disney’s The Lion King — made a quiet but powerful choice:
He walked away from fame.
And in doing so, he became one of the most fascinating figures in pop culture: a child star who chose real life over the spotlight.
🌟 The Rise of a 90s Icon
🌟 The Rise of a 90s Icon
Born Jonathan Taylor Weiss in 1981 (he took his mother’s maiden name, Thomas, professionally), JTT shot to fame at just 10 years old when he landed the role of Randy Taylor, the witty middle child on the hit ABC sitcom Home Improvement (1991–1999).
Starring alongside Tim Allen, JTT’s charm, humor, and effortless cool made him a teen idol overnight.
He wasn’t just on TV.
He was everywhere:
On magazine covers (Tiger Beat, Teen People, People
In commercials
And yes — on a million locker decorations
At the height of his fame, People magazine named him “The Teen Idol of the 90s.”
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