'Home Improvement' Child Actor Allegedly Caught Smoking Pot in His 1998 Honda

Screenshot (YouTube)

The actor who played the youngest child of Tim "the Toolman" Taylor on "Home Improvement," was arrested early this morning after police allegedly caught him alone smoking pot in his 1998 Honda.

The former child actor Taran Noah Smith, 27, was arrested at around 1:30 a.m. near Burbank High School on suspicion of driving under the influence of pot, according to CBS Los Angeles. Police said they found him parked illegally near a fire hydrant, reeking of pot, and he failed a field sobriety test.

The 1998 Honda might be a hint of the hard times that Smith struggled through—like so many child stars—after his success on "Home Improvement." He battled his parents for legal control of the big bucks he made playing Mark Taylor, and he said by the time he was done with the show he knew he didn't want to be an actor.

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By Emma G. Gallegos in Arts & Entertainment on February 1, 2012 1:45 PM 0 Comments

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Bachelors Quarterly

maybe the 1998 is his pot smoking car.

thom

or maybe his parents freeloaded off his income since he was still a minor while doing the show

Timbeau

WTF is wrong with a '98 Honda? Those are great cars...

Guest

I think smoking weed in your car is the quintessential experience of growing up in LA. Some people will disagree but I think that's a fair assessment. When you're a teenager your car feels like an extension of home, just without your parents

hN9S9

I knew exactly which son it was... the stoner.

Jennifer Patalsky

It's "reeking" not "wreaking," maybe y'all should use a dictionary to check bigger words ;)

bophisto

Maybe the 1998 honda is a sign he just doesn't want to waste a bunch of money on a product that will depreciate every day? Possibly? It's probably only in L.A that people look down on people that drive 1998 hondas..

He does sound like an idiot though!

MTkill_a_manJaro

i hate it when people come on to the LAist and say stuff about "people in LA" being like this or that; but yes, typically a '98 honda isnt seen as a vehicle that "makes a statement" on the driver trying to smartly save money.
Being driven by a (seemingly) mentally stable, able bodied 20-something (and a white guy no less) Its seen as a sign...A sign that says "whoever owns me should reevaluate their priorities in life"And judging by this particular story, one that involves the owner being caught smoking pot near a high school. Id say thats a pretty accurate statement. But yes, In all seriousness, I get your point about saving money and no, not everyone who drives an older car is a failure and no, not everyone in LA looks down on people that drive 1998 hondas..

Paul

A 1998 Honda DOES make a statement (anywhere in the US really).

That statement is "I *might* have liability insurance, or I might not have any. Stay 5 car lengths away from me, unless you want to find out."

bophisto

I was born and raised in L.A...so I feel like I can comment on people in L.A!

Unfortunately too many people coming from other areas claiming L.A ..when they just got here from other places.

I guess I just had issue with the article associating his car with his financial position.

If you look at the articles from other sources: L.A Times, etc they don't mention the make and model of his car , and in the body of the text they don't associate his car with his financial position.

It is interesting that this author chose to focus on the superficial.