Tim Allen

Tim Allen (born Timothy Allen Dick; June 13, 1953) is an American comedian, actor, voice-over artist, and entertainer, who became famous for his role in the sitcom Home Improvement. He is also known for his roles in the Disney film series of The Santa Clause and Toy Story.

Early life
Allen, born in Denver, Colorado, is the son of Martha Katherine, a community-service worker, and Gerald M. Dick, a real estate agent. He is the third oldest of five brothers. His father died in a car accident, colliding with a drunk driver, when Allen was eleven. Two years later, his mother married her high school sweetheart, a successful business executive, and moved with her six children to Birmingham, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, to be with her new husband and his three children. Allen attended Ernest W. Seaholm High School in Birmingham, where he was in theater and music classes (resulting in his love of classical piano), and attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. He later received an honorary degree, which was highlighted for the main plot of the fifth season Home Improvement episode "Doctor in the House."

Allen started his career as a comedian in 1975. On a dare from one of his friends, he participated in a comedy night at a comedy club in Detroit. While in Detroit he began to get recognition appearing in local television commercials and appearing on cable comedy shows such as Gary Thison's Some Semblance of Sanity. 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. Allen rose to fame in acting with the television series Home Improvement (1991-1999) on ABC, playing Tim "The Tool-Man" Taylor. During one week in November 1994, he simultaneously starred in the highest grossing film (The Santa Clause), topped the New York Times best-seller list with his book Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man, and appeared in the top rated television series (Home Improvement). The following year, he provided the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the blockbuster Toy Story. Simultaneous with his time acting in Home Improvement, Tim Allen formed a race team with Steve Saleen and race driver Bob Bondurant, called the Saleen/Allen "RRR" Speedlab. The team raced Saleen Mustangs in the SCCA World Challenge, with Allen and Saleen as the team's drivers. On the last season of Home Improvement he received a cheque of $1.25 million for every episode he starred in.

In 2006, Allen began narrating the "Pure Michigan" television and radio commercials for the "Travel Michigan" agency. These commercials can be seen and heard throughout the Midwest and will begin airing nationally in 2009.

Personal life
Allen was raised as an Episcopalian. Allen was married to Laura Deibel from April 7, 1984, until their divorce in 2003. They have a daughter, Katherine, born in 1989. Deibel once served as chief executive officer of Allen's tool line. Allen married actress Jane Hajduk on October 7, 2006 in a small private ceremony in Grand Lake, Colorado. They had dated for five years.

On January 5, 2009, it was announced that Allen and Hajduk were expecting their first child together. On March 28, 2009, Allen became a father for the second time, with the arrival of a baby girl named Elizabeth.

Arrests
On October 2, 1978, Allen was arrested in the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport for possession of over 650 g of cocaine. He subsequently pled guilty, and provided the names of dealers in exchange for a reduction in his sentence from a possible life imprisonment to a possible three to seven years. He was parolled on June 12, 1981 after serving 28 months in the Sandstone, Minnesota Federal Correctional Institution.

In 1997, Allen was arrested for drunk driving, and was recorded as having a .15 blood-alcohol content. He was sentenced to one year probation. He entered a rehabilitation clinic for alcohol abuse as part of his court obligation.

Awards
Allen was nominated for One Emmy and 5 Golden Globe Awards. He won the Golden Globe for Best Actor In A Television Series - Musical or Comedy in 1995 for Home Improvement.

In 1999, Allen was named a Disney Legend for his work on the Toy Story and Santa Clause franchises.

In 1996, he won the Hall of Fame award at the Kids Choice Awards.

Television work

 * Comedy's Dirtiest Dozen (1988)
 * Tim Allen: Men Are Pigs (1991)
 * Home Improvement (1991-1999)
 * Tim Allen Rewires America (1992)
 * These Guys (2003) (narrator)
 * Jimmy Neutron: Win, Lose, and Kaboom (2004) (voice)

Books

 * Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man (1994) - ISBN 0-786-86134-7
 * I'm Not Really Here (1996) - ISBN 0-786-86257-2