Biography for
Jonathan Taylor Thomas More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

8 September 1981, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA

Birth Name

Jonathan Taylor Weiss

Nickname

JTT
Jon

Height

5' 4½" (1.64 m)

Mini Biography

Jonathan Taylor Thomas was born on September 8, 1981 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Growing up, he liked the music group Boyz II Men, and his favorite TV shows were "Roseanne" (1988) and "Grace Under Fire" (1993), but he also liked watching CNN news, to keep up to date with current events. One thing that Jonathan does not like is meat. He has been a vegetarian since he was four years old, and he doesn't use products that are tested on animals because he believes that it is wrong to hurt them.

When Jonathan was four years old, his family (his mother Claudine, his father Stephen and his older brother Joel) moved from Bethlehem to Sacramento, California. At the age of seven, Jonathan was working as a model for print advertisements in Sacramento, and over the next few years, he appeared in TV commercials for Kelloggs cereal, Mattel toys and for many other products. By this time, Jonathan was ready for bigger roles, and in 1989, he landed the part of Greg Brady's son Kevin in the TV special "The Bradys" (1990). In 1990, he landed his biggest role yet, as Randy Taylor on "Home Improvement" (1991). Jonathan's audition went well, but what really gave him an edge over the other boys was that the casting directors thought that he looked a lot like his TV dad-to-be, Tim Allen.

In 1991, Jonathan's parents divorced. He lived with his mother and his brother. He began work in feature length movies, as the voice of young Simba in Disney's The Lion King (1994), and as Ben Archer in _Man of the House (1994) opposite Chevy Chase. Among his other movies are Tom and Huck (1995) and The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Lisa Buckley

Mini Biography

Jonathan was born in 1981 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. When his father got a new job it forced them to move to Sacramento, California in 1986. At the age of seven, Young Jon saw a children's modeling commercial and pleaded with his mother to sign him up. She agreed to a 13-week course. Jon's first stage play was Scrooge. The talented youngster landed in TV commercials such as: Canon camcorder, Burger King, Kellogg's Product 19 and Vivident gum.

In 1989, they moved to L.A. so Jon could try out for roles in TV shows. For a short while, he landed a role in a TV show called "The Bradys" (1990) (sequel to "The Brady Bunch" (1969)); Jon played Greg's son Kevin. After the short-lived TV show was canceled, Jonathan was accepted for the role of Randy on "Home Improvement" (1991). His family moved from Sacramento to L.A. permanently. His career led to feature films as well.

IMDb Mini Biography By: M.S.

Trivia

Visited Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, as a possible college to attend.

Doesn't like the nickname JTT. He doesn't understand why people just can't say his whole name.

Has done voice overs for cartoons and video games such as "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (1994), "The Adventures of Spot" (1987), The Ivy Cottage, and Scooter's Magic Castle.

Has one brother, Joel Thomas Weiss.

His stage name is derived from his real first name (Jonathan), his real middle name (Taylor), and his brother's middle name (Thomas).

Received 1996 NATO/ShoWest YoungStar of the Year Award [1996]

Loves to watch college basketball.

Featured on the cover of The Advocate, a gay and lesbian magazine.

Parents: Claudine and Stephen Weiss (divorced in 1989). Is of German, Jewish and Portuguese ancestry.

Graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory High School in West Hills, California with honors [2000]

Was the first actor to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '99 (1999) (TV) for his memorable nine year role as "Randy Taylor" on "Home Improvement" (1991).

Attended Harvard University but did not graduate.

Pets: two cats named Simba and Samantha, one dog called McCormick

Ranked #25 in VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars"

Grew up in Sacramento and Los Angeles, California

Enrolled in Columbia GS (2007-08).

Two nephews: Ben (b. 2005) and Jordan (b. 2007).

Brother, Joel, is an Assistant Coach for a college in Louisiana.

Attends Columbia University Bachelor's Degree Program for adults General Studies.

He was given the middle name Taylor after his mother's maiden name.

His father worked as a construction supplies salesman.

His mother attended Syracuse University.

His mother was a social worker then she managed his career.

His grandmother's name was Helen Weiss and he has an uncle named Jeff Weiss.

Dog-Lhasa Apso. Cats-Toetoise Persian and Flamepoint Himalayan.

Pets: Cats are Sami and Simba. Dog is Mac.

His brother is 4 years older than he is.

When he was a young child, his mother worked for an organization for underprivileged adults. She often brought him to work and work-related functions because she wanted him to grow up to be thankful for what he had and to have the willingness to help others.

Personal Quotes

An education is a more surefire guarantee that you have possibilities opened to you.

"It [rumors of his homosexuality] was just a blatant lie put on the Internet, and then it was just a feeding frenzy... And I'm sure it was validated by my recent roles. What startled me was how willingly people accepted it." Interview with The Advocate.

The whole thing started on this Web site called Cyber Sleaze, which should probably tell you something. My agent called me and said, 'There's this stuff going around.' I got phone calls from my friends saying, 'What are you going to do about this?' It was just a blatant lie put on the Internet, and then it was just like a feeding frenzy. And I'm sure it was validated by my recent roles.

Salary

Tom and Huck (1995)

$600,000

Where Are They Now

As of January 2000, is finishing his senior year of high school, and plans to enter college in the fall. He will likely attend either an Ivy League school, or Oxford University, and plans to double-major in theatre and history. He will continue to act during school vacations.

(April 2003) Currently attending college.

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