Taran Noah Smith

Infobox actor
name = Taran Noah Smith

---

caption =
birthname = Taran Noah Smith
birthdate = birth date and age|1984|4|8
birthplace = San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
othername = Taran Smith, TNS
spouse = Heidi van Pelt (2001–2007)
occupation = Actor
yearsactive = 1991 — present
awards = awd|Young Artist Award Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Under Ten|1992|Home Improvement
awd|Young Artist Award Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series|1994|Home Improvement

Taran Noah Smith (born April 8, 1984) is an American actor. He is most notably known for his portrayal of Marcus "Mark" Jason Taylor on the sitcom "Home Improvement".

Biography

Taran was born in San Francisco, California to David Smith and Candy Bennici. He is of Scottish, Irish, and Italian descent. He has an older sister "Aria" Smith (b. 1977) who was a child model. Taran is named for the main character in Lloyd Alexander's "Chronicles of Prydain" series of novels for young adults.

Taran taught himself to play the drums, and his favorite subjects were math and art. Taran graduated from high school at fifteen, and briefly attended USC. He was accepted to USC's Film School, but dropped out shortly after beginning classes.

Personal life

On April 27 2001, shortly after his 17th birthday, Smith married Heidi van Pelt, who was sixteen years his senior. Smith and van Pelt divorced on February 2 2007. Smith and van Pelt had owned and managed PlayFood, a vegan and organic restaurant in Studio City, and a non-dairy cheese manufacturing plant in Kansas City. The couple eventually divorced, and engaged in a legal battle over the company and its assets. As a result of this, Smith reconciled with his parents. [ [http://thebosh.com/archives/2007/07/taran_noah_smiths_bizarre_divorce.php Taran tells parents, "Taran Noah Smith's Bizarre Divorce" July 26, 2007] ] At 18, he gained control of his US$1.5 million trust fund, which he accused his parents of squandering. [ [http://www.minorcon.org/taran.html Taran Smith Battling Parents; September, 2001] ] "Former 'Home Improvement' star turns 18 Monday, wins right to trust fund", "Associated Press State & Local Wire", April 8 2002]

Awards

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

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)

Filmography

TV Series

*Home Improvement (1991-1999) - as Marcus "Mark" Jason Taylor

Films

*Ebbie (December 4 1995) - Tiny Tim
* (1997) - Brian Ferris
* (2002) - David Zoran
*The 1 Second Film (2009) - (producer)

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
* (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"
*Daryl Hannah's Love Life (2008)

References

External Links

*
*
* [http://the1secondfilm.com/producer/1591 Taran Noah Smith Producer Profile for The 1 Second Film]
* [http://www.minorcon.org/taran.html Taran Smith Battling Parents; September, 2001]