EXCLUSIVE He was a teen heartthrob who worked with Pamela

EXCLUSIVE: He was a teen heartthrob who worked with Pamela Anderson and also voiced a character in The Lion King – and there’s a Tom Cruise connection… but he became a recluse after attending Harvard. Who is he?

He was a teenage heartthrob that young girls went crazy for, constantly trying to guess who he was with and how he spent his time.

His handsome face has been featured on the covers of teen magazines like Tiger Beat while sporting a Malibu tan and luscious blonde locks.

He rose to fame by starring in the top TV show of the 1990s, which featured many famous faces including Pamela Anderson.

More TV shows followed, one with a superhero. He also did a lot of voice acting and even had a role in the hit 1994 animated film The Lion King.

His uncle is also famous and even starred in a film with Tom Cruise.

The former child star was smart and always achieved good grades in school, which got him into Harvard University. He also studied at the prestigious Columbia in New York City.

But this star became a recluse when he quit acting in 2015. However, this week he was spotted leaving his Southern California home.

Can you guess who he is?

He was a teenage heartthrob that young girls went crazy for and was constantly trying to guess who he was with and how he spent his time.  His handsome face was featured on the covers of teen magazines as he sported a Malibu tan and luscious blonde locks

He was a teenage heartthrob that young girls went crazy for and was constantly trying to guess who he was with and how he spent his time. His handsome face was featured on the covers of teen magazines as he sported a Malibu tan and luscious blonde locks

He rose to fame by starring in the top TV show of the 1990s, which featured many famous faces including Pamela Anderson.  Who is he?

He rose to fame by starring in the top TV show of the 1990s, which featured many famous faces including Pamela Anderson. Who is he?

He is Jonathan Taylor Thomas, 42.

In the new pictures, he wore a beige Lacoste sweater over a green shirt, baggy jeans and sneakers, as well as a hat and prescription glasses.

The star left his apartment with a drink as he was seen apparently popping pills.

He has a long history in Hollywood before he performed a Houdini performance and left the business eight years ago.

The actor is best known for his role as Randy in the hit television series Home Improvement, which aired from 1991 to 1999.

The lead role belonged to Tim Allen, who played Tim “The Toolman” Taylor, host of the home improvement show Tool Time. Playboy pinup Anderson played Tool Time Girl, who was wowed for her hot looks.

But at home in his Detroit suburb, Tim is a completely different person as he fights through life alongside his loving wife Jill, played by Patricia Richardson.

Thomas’ character Randy, Tim’s son, provided the comic relief. He was the one who was quick with a line and cracked funny jokes along with his two brothers, played by Zachery Ty Bryan and Taran Noah Smith.

He is Jonathan Taylor Thomas, 42. In the new pictures he was dressed in a beige Lacoste sweater over a green shirt with baggy jeans and sneakers, as well as a cap and glasses.  The star left his apartment with a drink as he appeared to take aspirin

He is Jonathan Taylor Thomas, 42. In the new pictures he was dressed in a beige Lacoste sweater over a green shirt with baggy jeans and sneakers, as well as a cap and glasses. The star left his apartment with a drink as he appeared to take aspirin

He has a long history in Hollywood before he performed a Houdini performance and left the business eight years ago.  The actor is best known for his role as Randy in the hit television series Home Improvement, which aired from 1991 to 1999

He has a long history in Hollywood before he performed a Houdini performance and left the business eight years ago. The actor is best known for his role as Randy in the hit television series Home Improvement, which aired from 1991 to 1999

The lead role belonged to Tim Allen, who played Tim “The Toolman” Taylor, host of the home improvement show Tool Time.  Jonathan (far left) and Tim (center) are seen with Zachary Ty Bryan, Patricia Richardson and Taran Noah Smith

The lead role belonged to Tim Allen, who played Tim “The Toolman” Taylor, host of the home improvement show Tool Time. Jonathan (far left) and Tim (center) are seen with Zachary Ty Bryan, Patricia Richardson and Taran Noah Smith

Playboy pinup Anderson played Tool Time Girl, who was wowed for her hot looks.  Center seen with Tim on the left and Richard Karn on the right

Playboy pinup Anderson played Tool Time Girl, who was wowed for her hot looks. Center seen with Tim on the left and Richard Karn on the right

The television series was the most watched program of the 1990s.

Jonathan left the show in 1998 to go to Harvard as he wanted a break from Hollywood after starting work on the new Brady Bunch show called The Bradys at the age of eight.

But he continued to work as a guest star on television shows.

In early 2004, Thomas had a small role on “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” with Kaley Cuoco.

In 2002 and 2004, he also appeared on the WB show “Smallville,” about Superman.

In 2005, he appeared alongside Kristen Bell in UPN’s high school detective drama Veronica Mars.

He then worked again with his Home Improvement father Allen on the sitcom Last Man Standing. He appeared in two episodes in 2013 and 2015.

Thomas also had a successful film career.

Jonathan left the show in 1998 to go to Harvard as he wanted a break from Hollywood after starting work on the new Brady Bunch show called The Bradys at the age of eight.  But he continued to work as a guest star on television shows

Jonathan left the show in 1998 to go to Harvard as he wanted a break from Hollywood after starting work on the new Brady Bunch show called The Bradys at the age of eight. But he continued to work as a guest star on television shows

Here he put what appeared to be possibly aspirin into his mouth Then he drank from his bottle

He held onto a cup, then grabbed what looked like aspirin, then took a sip

He hasn't been seen since 2021 and before that he hadn't been pictured since 2015

He hasn’t been seen since 2021 and before that he hadn’t been pictured since 2015

In March 2013, Jonathan revealed why he turned his back on fame and admitted he had no regrets about his decision, as he told People magazine at the time “I've been on the move non-stop since I was eight years old.  “I wanted to go to school, travel and take a little break,” he said

In March 2013, Jonathan revealed why he turned his back on fame and admitted he had no regrets about his decision, as he told People magazine at the time. “I’ve been on the move non-stop since I was eight years old. “I wanted to go to school, travel and take a little break,” he said

He portrayed Simba as a cub in the 1994 Disney animated film “The Lion King.”

He also appeared in live-action films.

Thomas has appeared in Man Of The House with Chevy Chase, Tom And Huck with Brad Renfro and the classic Christmas film I’ll Be Home for Christmas.

Other live-action films starring Thomas include an adaptation of “The Adventures of Pinocchio” (in which he played and voiced the title character), “Wild America,” “Speedway Junky” and “Walking Across Egypt.”

The last time he appeared was in the 2015 episode of Last Man Standing.

He is probably feeling very comfortable in his retirement from acting. His net worth is an estimated $16 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, largely due to residual payments from projects like “Home Improvement” and “The Lion King.”

He reportedly earned an estimated $8,000 per episode of Home Improvement and also earned $600,000 for Tom and Huck.

In March 2013, Jonathan revealed why he turned his back on fame and admitted he had no regrets about his decision, as he told People magazine at the time.

In the 1994 film “The Lion King” he played the young version of Simba

In the 1994 film “The Lion King” he played the young version of Simba

Also in 1994, he starred alongside Chevy Chase in “Man Of The House”.

Also in 1994, he starred alongside Chevy Chase in “Man Of The House”.

In 1995, Thomas worked with Brad Renfro (right) in “Tom and Huck.”

In 1995, Thomas worked with Brad Renfro (right) in “Tom and Huck.”

In 1997 he starred in Wild America with Scott Bairstow (left) and Devon Sawa (right).

In 1997 he starred in Wild America with Scott Bairstow (left) and Devon Sawa (right).

In 1998, he starred in the classic

In 1998, he starred in the classic “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

“I’ve been on the move non-stop since I was eight years old. “I wanted to go to school, travel and take a little break,” he said.

He continued: “Sitting in a big library among books and students, that was pretty cool.” “It was a novel experience for me.”

In 2016, he shared: “You can’t be trapped in this bubble called the acting industry,” he told Premiere magazine. “The industry is neurotic and weird, and when I go home and play basketball with my friends, I’m not Jonathan Taylor Thomas. “I’m just Jonathan. “I don’t like spending time with other actors and actresses.”

In the same interview, he said he would rather be the next Ron Howard – the Happy Days star turned acclaimed director – than the next Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin.

“You should focus on doing a good job, but… every job has an end.” I think most people [fallen child stars] were not prepared for the end. I mean, it’s not the end of your life! You can’t focus your life on one thing. That’s why I concentrate on school, playing sports and learning the technical side [filmmaking]. Because at some point everything will change and I will be able to fall back on my training.”

In 2002 and 2004, he also appeared on the WB show “Smallville,” about Superman

In 2002 and 2004, he also appeared on the WB show “Smallville,” about Superman

He then worked again with his Home Improvement father Allen on the sitcom Last Man Standing.  He appeared in two episodes in 2013 and 2015

He then worked again with his Home Improvement father Allen on the sitcom Last Man Standing. He appeared in two episodes in 2013 and 2015

And in 1997, he opened up about the pressures of fame: “Sometimes it’s distracting to look over and see a whole group of girls staring and giggling,” he told the New York Times at the time.

“You’re a part of their life and they have a lot to be grateful for. “But it’s difficult because you want to make everyone happy, but if you try to do that, you run the risk of failing.”

Thomas also has a famous uncle: Jeff Weiss, who died in 2022 at the age of 82.

He has been a playwright and actor on stage, television and films, even working with Tom Cruise.

He started in New York City and worked with members of the Wooster Group, including Willem Dafoe, Kate Valk and Ron Vawter.

He appeared as Ghost/The Player King/Osric in Hamlet opposite Kevin Kline and appeared in The Front Page with John Lithgow and Richard Thomas, Macbeth with Glenda Jackson and Christopher Plummer, and The Iceman Cometh with Kevin Spacey.

Weiss has also been praised for his performances in regional productions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and the world premiere of Arthur Miller’s “Reservation Blues.”

Weiss appeared in television episodes of Law & Order and The Equalizer, as well as in the films Interstate 84, Mr. Destiny and Vanilla Sky with Tom Cruise.