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Taran Noah Smith

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Taran Noah Smith
Born (1984-04-08) April 8, 1984 (age 37)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Other namesTaran Smith
OccupationActor
Years active1991–1999
Spouse(s)
Heidi van Pelt
​
​
(m. 2001; div. 2007)​
AwardsYoung Artist Award Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Under Ten
1992 Home Improvement
Young Artist Award Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series
1994 Home Improvement

Taran Noah Smith (born April 8, 1984) is an American former actor widely known for his role as Mark Taylor on the sitcom Home Improvement.[1]

Personal life[]

At 18, he gained control of his $1.5 million trust fund, which he accused his parents of squandering by purchasing themselves a mansion.[2][3] His mother, Candy Bennici, stated in 2015, "Of course we didn't touch his money... It was in a trust fund. We couldn't have touched it if we wanted to. 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 and didn't give it to them".[4] He later said, "I'd gotten out of the teenage phase and realized my parents weren't doing anything wrong but were trying to protect me."[4]

In 2001, Smith was quoted as saying, "I started Home Improvement when I was seven, and the show ended when I was 16. I never had the chance to decide what I wanted to do with my life. When I was 16, I knew that I didn't want to act anymore."[5] At the age of 17, Smith married Heidi van Pelt on April 27, 2001. The marriage sparked much controversy due to the couple's age difference, as van Pelt was 16 years older. The couple filed for divorce on February 2, 2007.[6]

In 2005, Smith and his then-wife formed a California-based non-dairy cheese manufacturer and restaurant, Playfood, specializing in vegan and organic foods.[4] In 2014, he volunteered doing disaster relief with Communitere in the Philippines.[4][7]

Smith is also the Technical Manager for the Community Submersibles Project, where he teaches people how to pilot submarines.[8]

Smith is a vegan.[7]

Filmography[]

Actor
Year Title Role Notes
1991–1999 Home Improvement Mark Taylor 201 episodes
Credited as Taran Smith in season 8
1995 Ebbie Tiny Tim TV movie
1997 Little Bigfoot 2: The Journey Home Brian Ferris
1997 7th Heaven Peter McKinley Episode: "See You in September"
1999 Batman Beyond Patrick Poundstone/Rat Boy (voice) Episode: "Rats"
Self
Year Title Notes
1992 The 18th Annual People's Choice Awards
1992 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '92
1993 The 19th Annual People's Choice Awards
1994 The 20th Annual People's Choice Awards
1995 The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards
1995 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '95
1997–1998 Figure It Out TV series
1999 Home Improvement: Backstage Pass
2002 TVography: Home Improvement – A Half Hour of Power
2005 20/20 Episode: "29 April 2005"
2005 E! True Hollywood Story Episode: "Home Improvement"
2006 Child Star Confidential Episode: "The Kid's Table"
2009 The 7th Annual TV Land Awards

Awards[]

Nominations[]

  • 1993, Young Artist Award, Home Improvement, Outstanding Actor Under Ten in a Television Series
  • 1999, Young Artist Award, Home Improvement, Best Performance in a TV Drama or Comedy Series – Leading Young Actor

Won[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Taran Noah Smith as Mark Taylor". Home Improvement. Hallmark Channel. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  2. ^ "Smith to gain access to trust". The Tuscaloosa News. April 9, 2002. p. 2A.
  3. ^ "Former 'Home Improvement' star turns 18 Monday, wins right to trust fund", Associated Press State & Local Wire, April 8, 2002
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Liberatore, Paul (May 7, 2015). "Marin mother of 'Home Improvement' child star writes book warning of 'sharks' in show business". Marin Independent Journal.
  5. ^ "Taran Noah Smith Battling Parents". A Minor Consideration. 2000-04-25. Retrieved 2012-02-01.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Taran Noah Smith".[dead link]
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "'Home Improvement' Star Taran Noah Smith And His Mother Candy Bennici Talk Childhood Fame In 'Stardom Happens' [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]". HNGN. January 28, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Letang, Alani (July 16, 2019). "Mystery submarine spotted in Monterey Bay belongs to former child actor". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-02-23.

External links[]

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