Taran Noah Smith - Rotten Tomatoes Celebrity Profile

Biography

This page uses content from the Taran Noah Smith biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Taran Noah Smith (born April 8, 1984) is an American actor, most notably played Marcus "Mark" Jason Taylor on the sitcom Home Improvement. He has also appeared on two of the four seasons of the Nickelodeon hit-game show, Figure It Out (1997-1999), from 1997-1998.

He was born to David Smith and Candy Bennici in San Francisco, California. He has an older sister (he is younger by 7 years) named Ariandrea "Aria" Hilary Smith, who is an international model. (born 1977)

At 18 he gained control of his US$1.5 million trust fund, which he accused his parents of squandering."Former 'Home Improvement' star turns 18 Monday, wins right to trust fund", Associated Press State & Local Wire, April 8, 2002

On April 27, 2001, shortly after his 17th birthday, Smith married Heidi Van Pelt, who is 16 years his senior (born 1968). He and his wife started a vegan and organic restaurant called Playfood in Studio City, California. He is currently working as a vegan caterer there.

Smith stands as 6' 0" (1.83 m), and although his nickname is TNS, he never goes by it.

Awards

Won

1992, Young Artist Award, Home Improvement, Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Under Ten
1994, Young Artist Award, Home Improvement, Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series (shared with Zachery Ty Bryan and Jonathan Taylor Thomas)

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

Filmography

These are all on the Home Improvement website, The Home Improvement Archive.

TV Series

Home Improvement (September 17, 1991 - May 25, 1999) - as Marcus "Mark" Jason Taylor

Films

Ebbie (December 4, 1995) - Tiny Tim
Little Bigfoot 2: The Journey Home (1997) - Brian Ferris
Speedball: The Movie (2002) - David Zoran

Commercials

Product - Merwyn

Other Appearances

Kids Choice Awards (May 20, 1995)
Bill Nye the Science Guy (September 9, 1995)
Politically Incorrect (October 17, 1996)
Hollywood Christmas Parade (December 1, 1996)
E! Behind the Scenes (March 9, 1997) - Episode "Home Improvement"
The Today Show (July 2, 1997)
Figure It Out (August 21, 1997 - May 3, 1998) - Panelist
7th Heaven (September 22, 1997) - Episode [2.02] "See You In September", as Peter McKinley
Nickelodeon's Big Help-A-Thon (October 18, 1997)
The Pet Shop (1998)
FX Collectibles (1998)
The Charlie Horse Music Pizza (January 6, 1998) - Episode [1.02] "My Dog Has Fleas", as Boy at Beach
VIBE (May 1, 1998)
VIBE (July 3, 1998)
The Big Help (October 17, 1998) - Presenter
The Howie Mandel Show (January 19, 1999)
Donny & Marie (May 7, 1999)
Live with Regis and Kathie Lee (1999)
Batman Beyond (November 20, 1999) - Episode [2.09] "Rats", as Patrick / Rat Boy
TVography: Home Improvement - A Half Hour Of Power (2002)
Celebrities Uncensored (February 25, 2004) - Episode [2.03]
20/20 (April 29, 2005) - Episode 49
The E! True Hollywood Story (December 18, 2005) - Episode 144 "Home Improvement"
Child Star Confidential (May 6, 2006) - Episode [1.04] "The Kid's Table"

Trivia

Avid paintball player.
Named for the main character in Lloyd Alexander's "Chronicles of Prydain" series of novels for young adults.
Pastimes include rollerblading, fencing, mountain biking, motorcycling, sailing, and especially flying in family's two-seater airplane.
Taught himself to play the drums.
Graduated from high school early, and has attended USC.
Was accepted to USC's Film School, but dropped out shortly after beginning classes.
He is half Italian (from his maternal side), a quarter Scottish, and a quarter Irish (both from his paternal side).
Does an excellent impression of Robin Leach.
He is very much into roller-hockey, and is supposedly an excellent defenseman.
Has a passion for roller coasters and enjoyed sharing the controls of his father's home-built experimental airplane.
Favorite subjects are Math and Art.
Favorite color is red.
Loved to eat Thai food.
His mother is older than his father by 9 years. His parents have been married since 1975.
He is living with his wife in Lawrence, Kansas, and fighting his parents for control of his $1.5 million trust fund. (October, 2001)
He is now living in Los Angeles, starting a vegan restaurant, and reconciled with parents. (June, 2005)

References

External links

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