Home Improvement star ditched fame and now looks totally different

Richard Karn was a regular face on the 90s sitcom Home Improvement alongside Tim Allen, but after the show ended the actor all but disappeared from the spotlight

For those who grew up in the 90s, Tim Allen’s sitcom Home Improvements was a must-watch. The show, which ran for eight years from 1991, featured cameos from big stars like Pamela Anderson and Jonathon Taylor Thomas.

The series followed the life of Tool Time host Tim Taylor and his off-set family life. While the Toy Story actor was at the center of most of the show’s humor, Al Borland, the co-host of the show-within-a-show, became a fan favorite.

Richard Karn, who played Al, was a familiar face who seemed to disappear from the spotlight almost as quickly as he entered it.

After the show ended in 1999, Karn landed some major TV roles, including becoming the fourth host of the classic game show Family Feud from 2002 until 2006. However, 20 years later, the actor and presenter has been noticeably absent from our screens.

Unlike many celebrities who go on a wild ride after their big break, Karn has navigated fame in his own way, mostly staying out of the limelight and focusing on himself, reports the Irish Star.

Now 69, Karn is nearly unrecognizable after trimming his iconic bushy beard down to a gray goatee and losing weight following a lifestyle change.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, he revealed that he had lost more than 30lbs after making changes to his lifestyle.

The actor shared his diet strategy, saying: “We did this weight loss thing where we [ate] four ounces of meat, four ounces of vegetables, no carbs or not as much carbs. We did that for six weeks, and it really helped.

“It kind of realigns what you need, you don’t pile your plate as high anymore, because you don’t need it. After six weeks, I think your body and your mind realize that helped. If you can, don’t have five desserts, have a bite of one.”

Despite being less visible in recent years, Karns has still popped up on television for those with a keen eye. He made a nostalgic return alongside Tim Allen in 2012 with guest spots on Allen’s sitcom Last Man Standing, which included nods to their previous collaboration.

In 2019, Richard took on the role of Fred Peters in the school comedy series PEN15, playing the father of a main character for two seasons.