Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Home Improvement's Kid's Bizarre Divorce


Taran Noah Smith became famous as the youngest of Tim Allen's sons on the hit TV comedy Home Improvement, but his stardom led to a brutal money battle with his parents as he married an older woman at age 17.

Now, his marriage and his life have exploded and he's in the middle of fighting his estranged wife for what is left of his fortune, The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively.

Taran ran away from home to wed a woman nearly twice his age over his parents' strong objections, but now tells The ENQUIRER that he recently left his wife because she announced that she preferred girls to guys! The couple agreed to have an open marriage, yet when Taran found a steady girlfriend, his angry wife smashed every dish they owned!

Now the two are not only divorced, they're fighting over ownership of a business they started together- a vegan cashew cheese making company! Those are the latest bizarre twists in the May-December love story of Taran and Heidi Van Pelt, a raw foods chef who was 32 when she married Taran three weeks after his 17th birthday.

"I guess I'm living proof that love is blind," Taran, now 23, told The ENQUIRER. "I've lost my house, and now I'm fighting to stop my wife from taking my livelihood away from me. I'm done with older women."

Taran earned nearly $2 million playing Mark, the youngest of Tim Allen's three sons, on ABC's Home Improvement from 1991 to 1999. The ENQUIRER published a series of exclusive stories on his wacky antics- including him running away from home at 16 with Heidi and their kooky wedding with mood rings instead of wedding bands and strippers as ring bearers. We also chronicled Taran's battle with his parents to gain control of his $1.5 million trust fund and his attempt to evict them from their home, which he owned.

After their April 2001 wedding, Taran and Heidi launched Playfood, a company that makes and sells vegan cashew cheese. But after four years, problems developed. "Heidi told me she preferred girls to guys," Taran told The ENQUIRER. "She began to bring girls home. But if they paid more attention to me than to her, she'd get jealous. Finally, we agreed to have an open marriage. But when I began seeing another girl, Heidi got so mad she broke every dish in the house."

Eventually, the couple decided to split and Heidi moved to Kansas City, Mo., where she ran Playfood with her mother. Soon after, a new man- a musician 12 years Heidi's junior- moved in with her, Taran said. And things went downhill from there. The business started to suffer first.


"Heidi was fighting with the staff and even fired her mother," Taran said. "Then she wanted to name her boyfriend the general manager. Now we're in court, fighting over a divorce and control of Playfood," he said. "I've also had to take out a restraining order to stop Heidi from transferring Playfood's assets to another company that she started in her name. It's all a mess."

Meanwhile, the couple's former home- a $1 million, four bedroom, four-bathroom pad in L.A. - has been trashed. Taran claims he sold the house and moved out months ago. "Squatters have been living there," he said. "I have a lot of artist friends, and they spray-painted the walls."

In yet another twist, Heidi has gotten a restraining order against Taran- claiming he's transferring Playfood assets into a California company that he owns. "Heidi has not been a part of Playfood for seven months. She wants to get back into the company and continue to build it," her attorney Phillip Willoughby Jr. told The ENQUIRER. As for Taran's claim that Heidi prefers women, her publicist J.R. Savet fired back (somewhat humorously): "That's definitely not the case. Is Taran saying that he turned Heidi gay?"

Heidi's attorney Willoughby added: "Heidi loves her husband and her company, and is extremely disheartened at the way this has developed. She has never backed off loving Taran. This is breaking her heart."

Meanwhile, Taran has apologized to his parents, David Smith and Candy Bennici. "I had to go back to them and say: "I'm sorry. You were right about Heidi."

26 comments:

NatD said...

They also have a child together. I don't remember the sex, but I think the child is a year or two old. Sad stuff.

__-__=__ said...

This is indeed very sad. Wonder why she wasn't prosecuted for child molesting if he was 16 at the start??

YahMoBThere said...

"I'm done with older women."

Try being done with being stupid. That will get you further.

brendalove@gmail.com said...

"I'm done with older women."

The younger ones won't be much better! LOL

What a freakazoid tale.

jlb said...

At least he said sorry to his parents.

YahMoBThere said...

j, yeah, that was good. Lesson learned - listen to your mother!

Hez said...

"Done with stupid"... ROFL, Twisted!

He totally has those creepy "Crusader Eyes". ::shudder::

chickenrotini said...

I read this article the other day. Someone linked it from another blog.

http://www.pitch.com/2007-04-26/news/cheese-nuts/full

It IS one-sided but it does give insight in to their lives.

Tracee said...

Eww! I'm not saying I've never stared at a youngun before, but the fact that she went after him and married him is skeezy. Okay he might've looked more feminie at that age, but she totally took advantage of him.

I mean, he was 17! How many of us listened to our parents' dating advice. I for one didn't. He should've called Mac Culkin before wedding that bitch.

Melody the First said...

She should be prosecuted for child molestation. She also sounds like a major sociopath who manipulated a kid. Someone needs to kick that woman a couple of times around the block.

Unknown said...

Taran is the son of my cousin's best friend. I have been privy to all the insanity he has caused, all the heartbreak he has created for his parents. He is a miserable excuse for a human being and has been manipulated by this woman repeatedly.

Unknown said...

The article from Pitch includes information that she blames her mother for ruining her business financially? So she hates her friend from home, her mother, her 'ex-husband', and they are all the problem? Ok...

pheobe22 said...

I feel happiness to read the content that you are posting. http://www.spinellihomeimprovements.com

Anonymous said...

Calacatta is one of the most beautiful marble types. We are happy to let you know that we have slabs from many different lots in our stock whether you would like it for your kitchen countertops, shower walls, vanity top, or tub surround. Contact one of our locations today to get your countertops.  Read more

James jones said...

Blaine is not the best magician but i can say that he has great showmanship and i like his show. Designer Sofa Singapore Kuhlhome

James jones said...

I enjoy your writing style truly loving this web site . https://www.summerhaus.com.sg/

mtom said...

hi, your site is fantastic. I truly do many thanks for operate https://ehomedecor.site

mtom said...

Now i’m encountering a fresh short problems Once i can’t look like allowed to sign up for the particular give food to, Now i’m utilizing search engines like google audience. comprar tatami puzzle barato

Ava Amelia said...

I discovered your blog web site on google and test just a few of your early posts. Continue to maintain up the excellent operate. I simply extra up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. In search of forward to reading more from you in a while!… https://www.roswelltruehandyman.com/

James jones said...

I’ve recently been meditating on the identical matter personally lately. Pleased to see somebody on the same wavelength! Nice article. Professional Foundation Repair

mtom said...

to your time for this wonderful|how you can|exhausting|price comment. I think|data you have|downside, thank you|on this article but orange county refrigerator repair service

Yousufzai said...

Thanks for sharing the info. I located the info very helpful. That’s a awesome post you posted. I will come back to read some more. Concord garage door repair

mtom said...

I just could not go away your website prior to suggesting that I extremely loved the usual info a person supply to your guests? Is gonna be again regularly in order to check out new posts. wall and floor tilers Tadworth Surrey

mtom said...

You must participate in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I’ll recommend this web site! home improvement costs uk

mtom said...

I am curious to find out what blog platform you are working with? I’m experiencing some small security problems with my latest blog and I would like to find something more safeguarded. Do you have any solutions? garage door springs Houston

Unknown said...

yes, cooll this post, i am verry interest (désolé, je suis francais, je parle mal anglais. Aluminum Fence Vs. Wrought Iron Fence

Advertisements

Popular Posts from the last 30 days