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Tim Allen

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Biography

A successful standup comedian, the headliner of one of television's most popular sitcoms, a movie star, and a best-selling author, Tim Allen spent much of the '90s being a "Male Pig," a source of pride for countless men, and a franchise unto himself. He was born Timothy Allen Dick, in Denver, CO, one of ten brothers and sisters. Mercilessly teased by his peers because of his last name, Allen developed a keen sense of humor to protect himself. His father died in an auto accident in 1964 when Allen was 11, and his mother later married an old high school flame who had also lost his wife in a car crash. Eventually the family moved to a suburb of Detroit. In 1976, Allen graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in television production and went on to work in a sporting goods store and then in an advertising agency. He made his debut as a standup comedian at Detroit's Comedy Castle in 1979 after accepting a dare from a good friend, but his career was cut short when he was arrested for dealing cocaine and sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. Following his release, Allen decided to turn over a new leaf and concentrate on his standup career.

His early comedy routines were characterized by their vulgarity, and Allen did not find success until he perfected his "Men Are Pigs" routine. A glorious celebration of the masculine mystique centering on the joys of big block engines and tools (especially power tools), punctuated by his trademark manly grunting, the routine made him a hot property on the nightclub circuit and led to a series of televised specials on the Showtime cable network in the early '90s. While constructing his career, Allen moonlighted in television commercials, including spots as Mr. Goodwrench. It was while performing for a Showtime special that he got his break in series television. Jeffrey Katzenberg, the chairman of Disney Studios, saw his act, liked it, and with Walt Disney Company chairman Michael Eisner, offered him the lead in a couple of planned series based on popular films; but Allen didn't feel they were right and suggested instead that they do a series based on his comedy character. They agreed, and Home Improvement, the continuing saga of bumbling TV handyman (whose show somewhat resembled This Old House) Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor and his brood, debuted on the ABC television network in September 1991. It quickly went on to become one of the most consistently highly rated shows on television.

Allen made his starring feature film debut in 1994 with the box-office busting The Santa Clause. That same year, he also published a best-selling book, Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man. In 1995, he provided the voice for the heroic toy astronaut Buzz Lightyear in Disney's computer-generated extravaganza Toy Story, and the following year published his second book I'm Not Really Here, a more philosophical look at his life, his fame, and his family. In 1997, he starred in the largely panned Jungle to Jungle, and could not be seen on the big screen again until 1999. That year -- the same year Home Improvement ended its highly successful run -- he reprised his Buzz Lightyear role for Toy Story 2 and starred in the sci-fi spoof Galaxy Quest. Though his next film, Big Trouble was pulled it's original release date and delayed by Touchstone (the studio thought audiences may find the plot involving a missing nuclear bomb distasteful after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks), fans could still get their fill of the popular funnyman with the release of Joe Somebody in late 2001.

In addition to his acting and writing careers, Allen is involved with Boxing Cat Productions, an advertising agency he founded in 1984 that specializes in television commercials. He has also lent his name to a line of signature tools from which a percentage of profits go to charity. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Filmography

Doin' the Splits (2004)
Santa Clause 2, The (2002) .... Santa Claus/Scott Calvin/Toy Santa
... aka SC2 (2002) (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Clause, The (2002) (USA)
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Tom Hanks (2002) (TV) .... Himself
Big Trouble (2002) .... Eliot Arnold
Laughing Out Loud: America's Funniest Comedians (2001) (V) (archive footage) .... Himself
Joe Somebody (2001) .... Joe Scheffer
Who Is Cletis Tout? (2001) .... Critical Jim
Beatles Revolution, The (2000) (TV) .... Himself
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000) (V) .... Buzz Lightyear
AFI's 100 Years, 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies (2000) (TV) .... Himself
51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, The (1999) (TV) .... Himself
Galaxy Quest (1999) .... Jason Nesmith/Commander Peter Quincey Taggart, Ship Captain
Toy Story 2 (1999) (voice) .... Buzz Lightyear
"Celebrity Profile" (1997) TV Series .... Himself
For Richer or Poorer (1997) .... Brad Sexton
Jungle 2 Jungle (1997) .... Michael Cromwell
... aka Un Indien à New York (1998) (France)
Meet Wally Sparks (1997) .... Himself
Toy Story (1995) (voice) .... Buzz Lightyear
67th Annual Academy Awards, The (1995) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself
Santa Clause, The (1994) .... Scott Calvin/Santa
ABC's 40th Anniversary (1994) (TV) .... Himself
Tim Allen Rewires Americas (1992) (TV) .... Himself
Girl Who Came Late, The (1991) .... Fringe Theatre Director
... aka Daydream Believer (1991)
Tim Allen: Men Are Pigs (1991) (TV) .... Himself
Walt Disney World's 20th Anniversary Celebration (1991) (TV) .... Himself
"Home Improvement" (1991) TV Series .... Tim 'The Tool Man' Taylor
Tropical Snow (1989) .... Baggage Handler
... aka Nieve tropical (1989) (Colombia)
Comedy's Dirtiest Dozen (1988) .... Himself
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (1988) .... Himself

Links

Contact

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