Tim Allen

In 2010 Allen was heard reprising his role as Buzz Lightyear in Disney•Pixar's smash hit "Toy Story 3." The same year he was seen on screen in his feature-film directorial debut, the independent comedy "Crazy on the Outside," in which he stars opposite Ray Liotta, Sigourney Weaver, Julie Bowen, Jeanne Tripplehorn, J.K. Simmons and Kelsey Grammer. In the film Allen plays a newly released prisoner who tries to persuade his single mom parole officer (Tripplehorn) to date him. His struggle to rebuild his life is further complicated by a loving sister (Weaver) and her sarcastic husband (Simmons).

In 2008 Allen starred opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rodrigo Santoro, Emily Mortimer and Joe Mantegna in the Sony Picture Classics' drama "Redbelt," which was written and directed by David Mamet. In 2007, he starred opposite John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy in the Touchstone Pictures' hit comedy "Wild Hogs." The movie revolves around a group of frustrated, middle age suburban biker wannabes who hit the open road in search of adventure, only to encounter a group of real Hells Angels. In 2006, he starred in Disney's "The Santa Clause 3," in which he reprised his role as Santa Claus. That same year Allen also starred in the Revolution Studios' comedy "Zoom," in which he played a former superhero who is called back to work to transform an unlikely group of ragtag kids into superheroes at a private academy, and Disney's "The Shaggy Dog," an update of the family classic, in which he played a lawyer whose devotion to his career comes at the expense of his family.

Tim Allen honed his talents as a stand-up comic throughout the ‘80s, providing the perfect lead-in to his highly successful ABC television series "Home Improvement" where he garnered a Golden Globe® Award, an Emmy® nomination, and was honored with the People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a Television Series for an unprecedented eight years in a row. While passionately ensconced in a hit sitcom, Allen still found time to expand his talents.

He made his film debut in 1994, playing the historic holiday icon in the Walt Disney blockbuster hit "The Santa Clause," earning him another People's Choice Award. He gave voice to the beloved, yet deluded space ranger Buzz Lightyear in the computer animated smash hit "Toy Story" and starred in Disney's "Jungle 2 Jungle" with Martin Short, and Universal's "For Richer or Poorer" with Kirstie Alley. While the Taylor family was still at the top of the prime-time charts, Allen revisited his comedy roots with a successful national concert tour that finished with a sell-out performance at Caesar's Palace, and found time to pen his first book about the male perspective, "Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man," topping the New York Times Bestseller List. This was followed by his second bestseller, "I'm Not Really Here," focusing on midlife, family and quantum physics.

In 1999, during the eighth and final season of "Home Improvement," Allen was honored with the TV Guide Award for Favorite Actor in a Comedy Series, and in a tearful farewell, Allen hung up his tool belt, shifting his film career into high gear with resounding success. To the delight of moviegoers, Allen reprised his character Buzz Lightyear in Disney•Pixar's "Toy Story 2," which grossed nearly $250 million. This was followed by the popular Dreamworks film "Galaxy Quest" in which Allen portrayed the washed-up actor Jason Nesmith and his sci-fi alter ego Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, playing opposite Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. Representing the ‘average Joe,' Allen starred in the 20th Century Fox picture, "Joe Somebody" opposite Jim Belushi, and in 2001 he partnered with Rene Russo in the Barry Sonnenfeld ensemble comedy "Big Trouble."

In 2002, with an interesting departure from playing mythical icons and the average everyman, Allen took on the role of Critical Jim, a professional hit man in the Paramount Classics comedy "Who Is Cletis Tout?" opposite Christian Slater, and in November 2002, Allen helped kick off the holiday season, successfully reprising his role as the big man in red in the long awaited sequel "The Santa Clause 2." In a brief return to television in April 2003, Allen's old Tool Time pals Debbe Dunning and Richard Karn joined him on stage for the live event ABC special, "Tim Allen Presents: A User's Guide to Home Improvement." In 2004, he starred opposite Jamie Lee Curtis in Revolution Studio's comedy "Christmas with the Kranks." The film, directed by Joe Roth, was an adaptation of John Grisham's best-selling novel "Skipping Christmas."

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