Jonathan Taylor Thomas was at the peak of his fame when he made the surprising decision to step away from Hollywood, leaving behind a legion of young fans who had fallen for the teen idol, famously known as JTT.

The former Home Improvement star, who turned 43 on September 8, was last seen in 2023, and fans who once adored him were stunned by how different he looked.

Curious about what happened to the actor who lent his voice to Simba in Disney’s 1994 classic The Lion King? Keep reading!

Before landing his iconic role on Home Improvement, Jonathan Taylor Thomas made an early appearance as Greg Brady’s son on The Bradys, a short-lived spinoff of The Brady Bunch in 1990.

At just 10 years old, Thomas joined Home Improvement in 1991, portraying the middle son of Tim Allen’s character. Over the next eight years, he grew up before a worldwide audience, reaching superstar status as a teenage heartthrob adored by millions of young fans.

«You’re a part of people’s lives, and you owe them something for that,» he told The New York Times, reflecting on the overwhelming fame he experienced. «But it’s tough. You want to make everyone happy, but if you try, you’ll only end up disappointing yourself.»

In 1994, at the age of 12, the Pennsylvania native voiced young Simba in the blockbuster Disney film The Lion King, a role that made audiences laugh, cry, and sing along.

“Simba’s a lot like me,” Thomas explained, sharing how he used his natural voice for the iconic lion cub. “I just channeled my own energy into the character—curious, playful, and always getting into a bit of trouble.”