Most people who are familiar with the throwback show 'Home Improvement' may not remember the name of the actor who played the family's youngest son. But they definitely remember the character of Mark Taylor, and how he spent over 200 episodes growing up in front of an adoring audience.
That child actor, Taran Noah Smith, had a unique experience with fame. Though the show offered him an interesting opportunity at a young age, it may not have been the best path for a young star. In fact, Smith was relieved when the show concluded, even if it wasn't easy to walk away.
Taran Noah Smith Spent Eight Years On 'Home Improvement'
When Taran Noah Smith landed his acting gig on 'Home Improvement,' he was only seven years old. By the time the show aired its final episode, Smith was sixteen and unsure about the direction his life was headed.
The end of the series was both positive and negative for Smith, and so was the publicity surrounding his childhood fame. His future would be filled with uncertainty, tabloid headlines, strife with his parents, and a marriage that would start and nearly end before he was even a legal adult.
Taran Noah Smith Was Happy To Finish The Show
When 'Home Improvement' ended, Taran Noah Smith was equal parts relieved and sad. He's been quoted as saying that by the time the show wrapped, he "knew that [he] didn't want to act anymore."
And it's as simple as that: Taran was relieved because his contract, which was locked in for seven years from day one, had finally ended.
Looking back on her son's first acting gig, Taran's mom, who wrote a book about the experience, expressed regret. Candy Bennici explained that she "had no idea what that contract meant," and she didn't even know who Tim Allen was.
Bennici would go on to call the people who worked around her son "sharks," though it's not clear if she's naming Tim directly. Either way, Taran's mom seems to blame Hollywood for both her son's rise and his fall -- including his relationship with a much older woman while he was underage.
It's understandable, especially since other stars, like Zachery Ty Bryan, have had similar struggles.
It Wasn't Easy For Taran Noah Smith To Walk Away
Not only did Smith grow up on the set of 'Home Improvement,' but though the child star couldn't work full-time hours, it's clear the series shaped his formative years. His mom also reflected that Taran, "had the hardest time" when he left set for the last time.
He was stripped of his ID to get on set, and that was it -- poof, gone. Candy attributes her son's troubles with his much-older wife, plus wasting a good amount of his childhood earnings, on his run-in with fame.
Fortunately, the now-37-year-old Smith is in a better place, and he's accomplished a lot since leaving Hollywood.
