Jonathan Taylor Thomas Was Filming ‘Home Improvement’ When He Took on Another Iconic ’90s Role

Home Improvement star Jonathan Taylor Thomas has been out of the public eye for decades. But the former ’90s celeb recently made headlines when TMZ reported that he was arrested for obstructing or resisting an officer in Westlake Village, California. Now that he’s back in the spotlight, fans are looking back at the 45-year-old’s career.

Even though he rose to fame playing Randy Taylor on Home Improvement from 1991 through 1998, the Tim Allen-led sitcom was not Thomas’s only iconic role. While he was filming the show, the child star voiced Young Simba in Disney’s now-legendary 1994 hit The Lion King.

The then-12-year-old actor had just the right amount of youthful exuberance to make the animated cub come to life. In 1994, Thomas spoke to People about the role, sharing, “You have to prepare yourself to become this totally different person. I mean, we’re not lions, right?” Thomas continued, “Simba’s like me. I just put my natural energy into it. Real curious, fun-loving, always getting into mischief.”

So how did Thomas end up playing Young Simba? The Lion King producer Don Hahn said of the casting process, “We had this role for a scrappy young kid to play Simba, and we looked at dozens and dozens of actors before choosing Jonathan. But we saw him on Home Improvement and just thought his voice was right. It gives him a very distinctive character.”

Of course, Thomas’s acting career didn’t end with The Lion King. He went on to star in movies such as Man of the House and Wild America. Following his time on Home Improvement, Thomas also occasionally popped up on the small screen, with guest-starring roles in Ally McBeal, Smallville, 8 Simple Rules, Veronica Mars, and Last Man Standing.

If you’re wondering why his recent arrest is the first you’ve heard about Thomas in the past few years, the former child star stepped away from Hollywood and into academia. He attended Harvard University, Columbia University, and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Thomas eventually returned to Los Angeles, staying behind the camera to write and direct.