Jonathan Taylor Thomas, star of Home Improvement, seen for the first time in almost EIGHT YEARS

Jonathan Taylor Thomas was seen for the first time in almost eight years after stepping away from the spotlight despite a very successful career as a child actor.

The now 39-year-old Home Improvement star – also known as JTT – was recently seen walking his dogs in Los Angeles in a very rare outing.

He has not been pictured in public since 2013 and last appeared onscreen for a guest appearance on Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing  in 2015. 

Jonathan reached fame at just nine-years-old as he starred alongside the aforementioned Allen as he played his son, Randy Taylor, on highly-popular family sitcom Home Improvement which debuted in 1991. 

His brothers on the show, which took place in suburban Detroit, Brad and Mark were played by Zachery Ty Bryan and Taran Noah Smith as mother Jill was portrayed by Patricia Richardson. 

Pamela Anderson also starred on the show as Lisa, who starred in fictional television show Tool Time with Tim Taylor and Al Borland (played by Richard Karn), over two seasons from 1991 to 1993 before returning for season 6 in 1997.

He remained on his show throughout this teenage years before ultimately opting to leave the show in 1998, during its final season, to focus on his education. 

As the show was a smashing success and one of the most popular sitcoms of the 90s, Thomas became one of the biggest teen heartthrobs of the era often appearing in magazines like Tiger Beat, Bop, and 16.

He also famously voiced the young Simba in iconic 1994 animated film The Lion King. 

Jonathan also had several other roles on the big screen including 1995’s Man Of The House with Chevy Chase, 1997’s Wild America, 1996’s The Adventures Of Pinocchio, and even starred as Tom Sawyer in 1995’s Tom And Huck.

No doubt he is living comfortably despite stepping away from his career in Hollywood as his net worth is an estimated $16million according to Celebrity Net Worth with much to do with residual payments from projects like Home Improvement and The Lion King. 

He reportedly made an estimated $8,000 per episode of Home Improvement and also earned $600,000 for Tom And Huck.

Jonathan looked relaxed on his recent outing as he lowered his protective face mask to puff on a vape while walking his precious pooches.

He sported a black American Apparel hoodie over relaxed fit blue jeans, grey New Balance runners, and a blue New York Mets baseball cap. 

Back in March 2013, Jonathan revealed why he walked away from fame and admitted that he doesn’t regret his decision as he told People magazine at the time: ‘I’d been going nonstop since I was eight years old. I wanted to go to school, to travel and have a bit of a break.’

During his 10-year period out of the limelight, he enjoyed life as a student, taking part in courses at America’s Harvard and Columbia Colleges as well as St. Andrew’s University in Scotland. 

Jonathan confessed that simple things, such as being surrounded by people his own age every day as opposed to getting involved in the Los Angeles clubbing circuit, were thrilling experiences in themselves. 

He continued: ‘To sit in a big library amongst books and students, that was pretty cool. It was a novel experience for me.’

Thomas has maintained a private life since stepping out of the spotlight as it remains unknown if he is married or has children.