Tim Allen, best known for his role as Tim ‘The Tool Man' Taylor on the hit sitcom Home Improvement, had a dark past that many may not be aware of.
Before becoming a beloved comedian and successful actor, Allen was arrested 35 years ago this month for possession of over a pound of cocaine.
Back in 1978, Allen, a Birmingham Seaholm graduate, was just starting out on his journey to fame and fortune.
At the age of 25, he was already pursuing a career as a comedian when he was caught with a significant amount of drugs in his luggage at the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Airport on October 2nd.
Charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, a conviction that carried a life sentence at the time, Allen decided to plead guilty and cooperate with the government.
In exchange for information on approximately two dozen individuals involved in drug trafficking, some of whom were from Oakland County, he received a reduced sentence of three-to-seven years.
Allen served two years and four months in the Federal Correctional Institution in Sandstone, Minnesota before being paroled in the summer of 1981.
His willingness to assist in other cases helped build several successful prosecutions, according to a retired FBI agent familiar with Allen's arrest and cooperation.
Born Timothy Allen d–k in Colorado in 1953, Allen moved to Birmingham with his family after his father's tragic death in a car accident.
Prior to his conviction, he had been performing as a comedian in local clubs around the area.
Despite his troubled past, Allen managed to turn his life around and achieve great success in Hollywood.
In 1991, he landed his own sitcom, Home Improvement, where he played the lovable ‘Tim the Tool Man.'
The show, set in Metro Detroit, quickly became a ratings powerhouse for ABC.
After the show ended in 1999, Allen continued to find success on both the big and small screen.
He starred in popular movies such as The Santa Claus, Galaxy Quest, Wild Hogs, and the Toy Story franchise, where he voiced the iconic character Buzz Lightyear.
Throughout his Hollywood career, Allen maintained a residence in Birmingham.
However, in 1997, he faced another legal issue when he was arrested for drunken driving on Cranbrook Road.
The 48th District Court sentenced him to rehab and a year of probation.
Despite his troubled past, Tim Allen has managed to rebuild his life and become a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
From his early struggles to his current success, his journey serves as a reminder that redemption and second chances are possible for anyone willing to make a change.
