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Tim Allen has been America’s TV dad for so long that he might as well walk around with a permanent tool belt and a slew of unsolicited advice.
From Home Improvement to Last Man Standing — and now ABC’s Shifting Gears — the actor has built a career out of playing patriarchs who learn (sometimes begrudgingly) that family always comes first. In his latest project, he stars as widower Matt Parker, whose world is turned upside down when his estranged daughter (Kat Dennings) moves back home, kids in tow.
“The connection between Kat and myself is very similar to my older daughter and me,” Allen, 72, exclusively shares in the newest issue of Us Weekly. “We used to disagree just naturally and then come back around.”
Long before he was dispensing dad wisdom on the small screen, Allen broke out as a stand-up comic and became a household name thanks to roles in family favorites like Toy Story and The Santa Clause movies. But the actor’s biggest accomplishment is raising real-life daughters Katherine, 36, and Elizabeth, 16.
“I don’t know what it’s like to have sons,” he says about bringing his experience to his work. “I like being a father to girls.”
Here, Allen tells Us how his take on fatherhood — on TV and at home — has evolved, deepened and occasionally surprised him over the years:
Tim Allen. Courtesy Everett Collection (2) ; Disney/Justin Stephens
What has changed for you when it comes to filming sitcoms?
I wanted to be a guy that’s dealing with grief and still active in life — [inspired by] people I really am amazed at in real life that have gone through so much suffering and still show up every day and are good to others. I wanted to honor that.
Looking back at Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, how has your role on set evolved when it comes to ushering in the next generation of talent?
It was new to me, and it took a while for me to be that [father figure]. I felt like more of a funny, mischievous older brother for quite a while — especially to the boys on Home Improvement.
On Last Man Standing with Kaitlyn Dever, I was a mentor because I aligned myself with her comedy style. I really was all about encouraging her the best I could. She listened and I didn’t know that she was picking it up until every now and then in her scenes.
And you built such a bond that she just visited you on the Shifting Gears set. Have you remained in touch with all of your TV kids?
We do holidays, birthdays, weddings and unfortunately, funerals. Their lives have moved on, [but] I’ve done the Buzz Lightyear voice for [their kids].
What are the challenges of watching them grow up?
When it was easy to be a TV parent, it’s easy. When it’s difficult to be a TV parent, you really are of no value. [With the] Home Improvement kids, it was so long ago and I was brand new, and it was very difficult for me to be anywhere near a mentor. It wasn’t until later that I became more of a mentor. But they all had great parents.
Tim Allen‘s ABC sitcom Shifting Gears has allowed him to recruit familiar guest stars — including his former costars from Home Improvement and Last Man Standing. The hit series, which premiered in January 2025, is set in a car restoration shop opened by Allen’s character, Matt. After reuniting with his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), […]
You, Ray Romano, Kelsey Grammar, Jerry Seinfeld — there are sitcom stars that stay with us. Do you have peers that you’ve connected with throughout the years?
I know all of them, but it’s funny that you bring that up. I never knew anybody on All in the Family, The Bob Newhart Show or Dick Van Dyke’s first show, which started this whole thing.
All of those shows are why I like this format. I love stand-up — there’s nothing like live performing. With sitcoms, you get live audience shows, and that’s an experience to behold to me.
Your past sitcoms both aired for nearly a decade. Was that a pro or con heading into Shifting Gears?
Tim Allen, Kat Dennings. Disney/Raymond Liu
On Home Improvement, I never thought of lineage. On Last Man Standing, it was easy to see the growth. Shifting Gears is challenging because I [wasn’t sure where the story could go].
But this group of writers, they’re geniuses. They keep coming up with stories.
What do Shifting Gears viewers have yet to learn about Matt Parker?
You don’t know how smart this guy is. You don’t know who Matt Parker is. He’s a little hard to pin down about what he really thinks [specifically politically]. I like to skirt all that. This guy has to deal with a car shop and always wanted to be a designer and artist. He’s not what you think. He knows about ballet and art. We’ll find out all that. I’ve always wanted to play an artist that’s also a fundamental fixer.
