At the height of his fame, a beloved teen heartthrob made a shocking decision to step away from the Hollywood spotlight, leaving countless young fans yearning for more.
This former star of a popular 90s sitcom, who recently celebrated his 43rd birthday, was last seen in 2023, prompting nostalgia and disbelief among those who once had a crush on him.
So, what happened to the enigmatic actor known for voicing a classic Disney character in a beloved animated film? Dive in to uncover the story behind this mysterious figure!
He first caught the spotlight as Greg Brady’s son on the 1990 TV series The Bradys, a spinoff of The Brady Bunch. However, his true breakthrough arrived shortly after when he secured a role in a popular sitcom alongside a famous comedian, propelling him to stardom.
Only 10 years old when the show premiered in 1991, Thomas grew up on-screen as Randy, the middle child, during the show’s eight-year run. His charm and charisma propelled him to teen idol status, winning the hearts of millions.
Reflecting on his fame, Thomas told The New York Times, “You’re part of their lives, and there’s a lot owed to them. But it’s hard because you want to make everyone happy, and if you try, you set yourself up for failure.”
In 1994, at the age of 12, Thomas voiced the character Simba in Disney’s The Lion King, a role that resonated deeply with fans worldwide.
“Simba’s a lot like me,” Thomas once shared, explaining how he used his natural energy to bring the character to life. “Curious, fun-loving, always getting into mischief.”
Juggling his time between The Lion King and Home Improvement, Thomas spent two intense years moving back and forth between the two productions. “I had to remind myself, ‘Oops! Time to be Randy,’ then, ‘Oops! Time to be Simba,’” he told People in 1994. “You have to prepare yourself to become a totally different person. I mean, we’re not lions, right?”
By 1998, after leaving Home Improvement before its final season, Thomas began to step out of the limelight. “I’ve done so many shows with full-blown migraines,” he said. “I’d been going nonstop since I was 8. I wanted to take a break, go to school, and travel.”
Over the next few years, Thomas made guest appearances on shows like Ally McBeal, Smallville, and 8 Simple Rules, and lent his voice to animated series such as The Wild Thornberrys and The Simpsons.
Before his exit from Hollywood, Thomas challenged himself with more mature roles, including playing a bisexual hustler in the indie film Speedway Junky (1999) and a persecuted gay teen in Showtime’s Common Ground (2000). These roles, coupled with his private nature, sparked rumors about his sexuality, which he addressed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
“In Hollywood, you’re not really anyone until there’s a rumor you’re gay,” he said. “It didn’t bother me, but they’re just rumors. Be careful with that internet stuff.” He later told The Advocate that the rumors started on a site called CyberSleaze and were entirely false. “It was a blatant lie that snowballed, and people accepted it without question,” he said.
In the early 2000s, Thomas shocked fans by stepping away from Hollywood to pursue higher education. After graduating from New York’s Chaminade College Preparatory School in 2000, he attended Harvard University, where he studied philosophy and history, before later graduating from Columbia University in 2010.
“I never took fame too seriously,” Thomas said of his Hollywood career. “It was a great time in my life, but it doesn’t define me.” He admitted that walking through libraries and attending classes was a refreshing and novel experience for him.
Although he left Hollywood behind, Thomas reunited with Tim Allen for several guest appearances on Last Man Standing between 2013 and 2015, even directing a few episodes of the series.
In 2023, fans were once again buzzing after spotting Thomas walking his dogs in public. Dressed casually in a beige sweater, jeans, and a black toque, his appearance stirred nostalgic feelings among fans.
“JTT, my elementary school crush,” one fan gushed, while another reflected, “He was my childhood crush, and I’m glad he avoided the weirdness of Hollywood.”
A third fan added, “He was a child star and a teen heartthrob. Hollywood doesn’t treat child actors well, so who knows what he went through.”
Another fan, referencing his famous bowl cut from Home Improvement, quipped, “Of course, he looks different! Not many 42-year-olds are walking around with bowl haircuts. He brought joy to so many with his early career.”
Despite his rare public appearances, Jonathan Taylor Thomas remains a cherished figure from the 90s, remembered fondly for his work in Home Improvement and The Lion King, and for his decision to walk away from fame on his own terms.
Teenagers find a “frozen” creature stuck under the car and rush it to the vet who can’t believe her eyes
Two male teenagers were taking a stroll in their neighborhood when they noticed some people congregated around a car.
They tried to see what the group was looking at as they got closer, but it was the strangest thing they had ever seen.
The creature remained perfectly still and devoid of movement.
Though the lads knew they had to act quickly to save the animal, they had no idea how to save the poor thing.
Friends Jaydon Pettipas and Aidan Hart made the startling discovery close to the town of Saint Andrews in New Brunswick, according to the Canadian news source CBC.
The two teenage guys would receive recognition for their bravery before the day was over.
When they noticed several of them gathered together, they had to look into what was making people stop and stare. Even up close, though, they had no idea what they were looking at.
The animal was almost unrecognizable, as if it had been frozen solid.
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Beneath a car was a squirrel caught in insulating foam. They knew how short its earthly life was.
According to Jaydon, 15, “It was unrecognizable,” he told CBC Canada.
The boys realized the squirrel required care but didn’t know how to give it, so they went inside a grocery shop and picked out a miniature milk container to keep it.
As time passed, things got worse and no one in the area could give the lads any advice.
The children begged for help over the phones to friends and family.
Then Jaydon’s mother stepped in and made a 20-mile call to a veterinarian, asking that the animal be brought in immediately.
St. George Veterinary Clinic’s Dr. Melanie Eagan said, “This is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
She said the squirrel was so wrapped in insulating foam that it could not move its back legs.
If the boys hadn’t moved so quickly and their mother hadn’t helped them get the squirrel inside, the squirrel wouldn’t have survived.
The veterinarian speculated that the cat might have been living in someone’s shed, garage, or cellar and became tangled in the belongings.
“Become upset”
“Perhaps someone was caulking a hole to keep a draft out because this little guy ran through it while it was still wet,” she remarked. But that stuff solidifies quite quickly, so it wouldn’t have taken him long to become upset.
She said that one needed to be patient and use rubbing alcohol to remove the froth from the animal’s fur. She continued to brush it out, causing the animal to lose some fur.
The squirrel has been permitted to re-enter the wild ever since.
Thankfully, these two kind-hearted teenagers took quick action to save the unfortunate animal!Please help us celebrate their hard work by spreading the news!
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