What Happened to This ’90s Child Star Who Left Hollywood and Lived on a Boat for a While?

The 1990s were packed with memorable child actors, including this “Home Improvement” actor. As a beloved fixture on the hit show, his character became a fan favorite, and he quickly rose to fame.

However, while the beloved child actor found significant success on the TV screen, his personal life was far more turbulent.

At just 16 years old, after garnering public attention as an actor, he made headlines for marrying a much older woman, sparking controversy.

Shortly after, at 17, he sued his parents over control of his “Home Improvement” earnings. Read more about the unexpected turns his life took over the years and see his transformation in recent years.

A Tumultuous Journey in Hollywood

This actor’s rise to fame began when he landed the role of the youngest son on the hit 1990s sitcom “Home Improvement.”

As a mainstay on the show for eight seasons, he grew up in front of the camera, gaining widespread recognition and financial success at a young age.

But behind the scenes, his life was filled with challenges that would soon make headlines. At just 16 years old, he shocked Hollywood by marrying Heidi Van Pelt, a woman nearly twice his age.

Van Pelt, a 33-year-old vegan chef who hosted dinners for foodies in Southern California, became a controversial figure in his life. As the young actor began his studies at the University of Southern California, hoping to be a director, his romance with Van Pelt took center stage.

The former child star later revealed that he knew his parents would disapprove of the relationship, saying, “She was 15 years older than me. I knew my parents would not be excited by that, so I told them she was nine years older, the same distance as my parents in age.”

However, when his family discovered the truth, they tried to intervene. “But that never works with a teenager in love,” the actor shared, as his parents’ resistance led him to distance himself further. But the marriage was not the only battle he would have with them.

When he was 17, after dropping out of school and running away with Van Pelt, the actor sued his parents for control of his $1.5 million trust fund, claiming they were mishandling the money he had earned from his successful television career.

He sought early access to the fund, accusing his parents of living off his earnings, an allegation his mother vehemently denied. She insisted, “Of course we didn’t touch his money. It was in a trust fund. We couldn’t have touched it if we wanted to.”

The couple had a lawyer draw up an affidavit saying the actor and Van Pelt were married, hoping it would sway a Marin County judge to rule in his favor. “They were trying to get it when he was 17, and we were trying to protect it. Luckily, the Marin courts were very good about it,” the actor’s mother revealed.

Despite the tense legal proceedings, the courts ultimately protected the trust, preventing the young actor from accessing it until he turned 18.

The Hollywood star and his older wife’s relationship remained in the spotlight during this tumultuous period. However, the marriage did not last. After several years together, the actor eventually realized that he had made a mistake.

He stated, “I was with Heidi for five or six years. At the end of that, I realized I had made a mistake. The funny thing is, that’s when my parents were ready to forgive her and make her part of the family.”

“They told me they wanted to tell me something, but I said, ‘I want to tell you something first — Heidi and I have split up,'” he continued. Despite the brief reconciliation between his family and Van Pelt, the couple ultimately parted ways.

At 19, he had reconciled with his parents, marking a turning point in their relationship. His mother later shared their experiences in her book “Stardom Happens: Nurturing Your Child in the Entertainment Business.”

The book offered insights into the challenges of raising a child in the entertainment industry. Together, the mother-son duo aimed to help other families navigate the complexities of fame and fortune.

A New Path for the Former Child Star

After his tumultuous youth, Taran Noah Smith shifted his focus toward personal growth and new ventures. Reflecting on his post-acting years, Smith shared that he had been working as an installation artist at various festivals and museums.

He spent several months in the Philippines in 2014, assisting in disaster relief following a record-breaking typhoon. He worked with an organization called Communitere, helping to set up a resource center centered around a maker space to support those affected by the natural disaster.

One of Smith’s proudest achievements was a project deeply connected to his family’s legacy. “The other side project I started before I ended up going to the Philippines was a floating art gallery I built that I call The FairWeather Gallery,” he explained.

“It’s sort of a combination of my heritage. My dad is a boat builder, and my mom studied art history and is much more of an artist, so I’m combining the two in my life,” the former child star continued.

As of 2015, Smith had embraced life on the water, living aboard a sailboat, a lifestyle he had been familiar with since childhood. “I was actually raised on a boat by sailors,” he shared.

Smith’s eclectic career took an unexpected turn in 2017 when he worked as a home improvement contractor, ironically mirroring the sitcom starring Tim Allen that had made him famous.

Then at 33, he worked at a camp outside Corpus Christi, Texas, helping volunteers repair and clear buildings devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Reflecting on the experience, Smith noted, “It is very strange. I’m now doing ‘Tool Time’ for real.”

By 2018, the actor had joined several engineering teams, contributing to developing machines designed to produce clean water. His commitment to sustainability and environmental efforts continued to shape his career.

In 2020, Smith revealed that he had been vegan for nearly two decades, a lifestyle choice aligning with his values. “I went vegan at 16. I was vegetarian for a little while as a young kid,” he explained.

In 2020, the actor said, “Then when I was 16 I met a woman who was a vegan chef and nutritionist, and she made it very easy for me to make the transition. So 20 years now.”

After spending years out of the spotlight, in 2022, Smith took to social media to share a photo of himself that garnered praise from many. The once fresh-faced child star had a striking new look, including a full beard and long locks.

“Love the hair,” commented one social media user. “That hair is legit,” added another. “Lookin’ good,” wrote a third person. Adding to the compliments, a spectator fourth penned, “I am no rocket surgeon…but you seem to age gracefully.”

A post Smith shared on Facebook on August 29, 2022, potentially indicates that the former child star may have also embarked on a career at Space X at some point in his life.

Taran Noah Smith’s life after Hollywood has been anything but conventional. From his early fame and family struggles to embracing a vegan lifestyle and working on environmental projects, he has charted his own path. Additionally, his recent transformation amazed fans, which proves that his story continues to captivate.