Celebrity Nooz: Taran Noah Smith

Taran Noah Smith (Actor) - Home Improvement

Updated: 1/7/10

Name: Taran Noah Smith

Born: April 8, 1984, San Francisco, California

Claim To Fame: He played the youngest son, Mark Taylor, on the popular sitcom Home Improvement.

Family Life: In 2001, he married Heidi van Pelt, who was sixteen years older than him. They divorced in 2007.

Info: Smith was born in California to parents David and Candy. At just six months old, Smith followed his sister, a model, into the spotlight with appearances in a commercial and print ad. After a series of local and national commercials for big name companies like J.C. Penney and Macy's, Smith landed the role of Mark on Home Improvement in 1991.

Trivia: Is of English, Irish, Swedish and Italian descent.

Has an older sister, Aria Smith (b. 1977), who was a child model.

Is named for the main character in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series of novels for young adults.

Taught himself to play the drums.

Favorite school subjects were math and art.

Graduated from high school at fifteen, and briefly attended the University of Southern California.

Gained control of his $1.5 million trust fund at age 18 after accusing his parents of squandering by purchasing themselves a mansion.

Was arrested in June 2006 for trying to save the South Central Farm, the largest urban community garden that was threatened by land developers.

Where Are They Now: While they were married, Smith and his former wife opened a non-dairy cheese manufacturing company called Playfood in Lawrence, Kansas. Later, they opened up a vegan organic restaurant by the same name in Studio City, California. After the couple split, a legal battle ensued over the businesses they co-owned. Smith emerged victorious from the protracted legal battle and remains in control of Playfood Inc.

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