Taran Noah Smith is a former American actor who rose to fame as the youngest son of Tim and Jill Taylor on the hit sitcom Home Improvement. He played the role of Mark Taylor from 1991 to 1999, when the show ended. But what happened to him after he left the showbiz world? Here is an update on his life, career, and controversies.
Taran Noah Smith Age
Smith was born on April 8, 1984, in San Francisco, California. He started acting at the age of seven, when he landed the role of Mark Taylor on Home Improvement.
He was one of the youngest actors on the show, along with Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Zachery Ty Bryan, who played his older brothers Randy and Brad.
Taran Noah Smith Family
Smith is the son of David Smith and Candy Bennici, who were supportive of his acting career. He also has an older sister, Ariandrea Hilary Smith, who is an international model.
He had a strained relationship with his parents in his late teens, when he accused them of mismanaging his trust fund and tried to emancipate himself. They later reconciled and said that they were only trying to protect him.
Taran Noah Smith’s Love Life and Marriage with Heidi van Pelt
At the age of 17, Taran Noah Smith made headlines by marrying Heidi Van Pelt, who was 16 years his senior, on April 27, 2001.
Heidi, a nutritional counselor and former owner of Emergent Films, hosted the radio show “Raw Health” and is a vegan.
Taran and Heidi first crossed paths at the age of 14 as members of an animal rights group, and it’s widely believed that their romantic relationship began around that time.
After six years together, Taran filed for divorce on February 2, 2007, accusing Heidi of financial fraud and alleging that she redirected their joint funds to her own company.
The divorce was finalized in the same year, with Taran becoming the sole owner of Playfood Inc.
As of January 2023, Taran has not been linked to any other relationships, and he remains unmarried and childless.
Taran Noah Smith Movies
Smith has appeared in only one movie in his acting career, which was Little Bigfoot 2: The Journey Home in 1997. He played the role of Brian Ferris, a boy who befriends a young Sasquatch.
The movie was a direct-to-video sequel to the 1995 film Little Bigfoot.
Taran Noah Smith TV Shows
Smith is best known for his role as Mark Taylor on Home Improvement, which ran for eight seasons from 1991 to 1999.
He appeared in 201 episodes of the show, which was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1990s. He won two Young Artist Awards for his performance, in 1992 and 1994.
Smith also had guest roles in other TV shows, such as Ebbie, 7th Heaven, and Batman Beyond.
He voiced the character of Patrick Poundstone, aka Rat Boy, in an episode of the animated series Batman Beyond in 1999. This was his last acting role before he retired from the industry.
Taran Noah Smith Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Smith has a net worth of $300,000 as of 2023. He earned most of his money from his role on Home Improvement, which paid him $1.5 million over eight seasons.
He also had a trust fund that he gained access to when he turned 18. However, he reportedly spent a lot of his money on his vegan business venture with his ex-wife, which failed to take off.
Taran Noah Smith Social Media
Smith does not have any official social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. He seems to prefer a low-profile life away from the spotlight.
However, there are some fan accounts that post updates and photos of him on various platforms. There are also some websites and blogs that track his whereabouts and activities.
Interesting Facts and Hobbies of Taran Noah Smith
Taran has a modest Instagram following, with only 144 followers and two posts on the platform.
His passion for travel drives him to explore a new country each year, with Riomaggiore, Italy, ranking as his favorite destination.
Taran prefers running over hitting the gym and makes it a part of his daily routine.
He’s an avid dog lover, sharing his life with two furry companions.
Taran’s favorite actors include Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Samuel L. Jackson. Some of his preferred movies are “12 Monkeys,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “Terminator.”
Controversy Surrounding Taran Noah Smith’s Crypto Venture
In 2021, Smith made headlines again when he was involved in a cryptocurrency scam. He was allegedly hired by a company called CoinBits to promote their digital currency, which claimed to be backed by gold.
However, the company turned out to be a fraud that stole millions of dollars from investors. Smith claimed that he was unaware of the scam and that he was only paid $300 to make a video endorsement.
He also said that he was a victim of identity theft and that someone had used his name and photo to create fake social media accounts to lure more people into the scheme.
