By Mallory Mattingly
Richard Karn knew exactly who to look to for inspiration for his HOME IMPROVEMENT character Al Borland — his dad.
“My dad and my grandfather were builders,” Karn told PEOPLE, “and so even though I didn’t go into that business — I became an actor — it was there, you know? We all become our parents in one way or another, and I think a lot of my dad was in the character of Al.”
He added that his father “really liked the show. He thought it was funny. And one of the great compliments he gave me was, ‘You really look like you know what you’re doing.’ That was a big one.”
HOME IMPROVEMENT ran from 1991-1999, following Tim Allen’s Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor and his three sons’ adventures. Karn’s Al was Tim’s friend and co-host of show-within-the-show TOOL TIME.
Now nearly 35 years later, Karn recalled how much fun he had on set and the impact the show made on fans.
“I just remember laughing a lot, and feeling good about the work,” he said. “We were doing great things, and I didn’t fully understand that at the time, but over the years when people come up to me, it’s like, they’ve cemented this image of Tool Time or HOME IMPROVEMENT, and have these wonderful memories of watching the show with their family, their grandparents. And it’s a good feeling to know that that is still happening.”
Now, “kids who were the ages of the kids [on the show] who now have their own kids” are watching the show because “it’s something they feel safe with, and it shows life in a very specific, wonderful way.”
Related: HOME IMPROVEMENT Stars Tim Allen And Richard Karn Team Up For ‘More Power’ In New TV Show
Though he isn’t a builder like his dad and grandfather, Karn still enjoys “home improvement,” especially taking care of his lawn.
“I’ve always appreciated beautiful, beautiful landscaping, gardens, things like that. I grew up in Seattle. Seattle is a big town for that, taking care of your lawn, taking care of the flowers and around your house. I think that’s important because it shows that you care, that you’re making an effort keeping that routine,” he told Fox News earlier this year of his partnership with DIY lawn care company DoMyOwn.
“…I grew up around builders and knew how to do stuff. And, you know, I’m mowing my own lawn. Growing up, that was one of my chores. And now that HOME IMPROVEMENT has afforded me to buy a home, I now have a yard to keep up also. So that’s kind of why I’m excited to be their spokesperson,” he added.
His dad, grandfather and HOME IMPROVEMENT certainly left a lasting mark on Karn’s life.
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