The Real-Life Partners Of Home Improvement's Leading Ladies

Running from 1991 to 1999, "Home Improvement" ranks among the most nostalgic sitcoms of the '90s, with the ABC series bringing plenty of physical humor and family hijinks to our TV screens. The show starred Tim Allen as Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor and centered around his fictional home improvement show and his rowdy family of three adolescent boys. In this way, "Home Improvement" came equipped with plenty of masculine energy but managed to include some notable female characters. These leading ladies have had remarkable careers and lives outside of the show, including their own share of real-life relationships.

As a refresher, Patricia Richardson, who looks nearly unrecognizable since playing Jill Taylor, served as the family's strong-willed wife and mother, while Debbe Dunning appeared as the iconic "Tool Time" girl Heidi Keppert. Pamela Anderson, who's undergone a major style transformation, temporarily starred as the in-show mascot of Tim's home improvement show, similarly leaving her mark on the sitcom. While these actors may have had noteworthy roles and connections on "Home Improvement," their real-life relationships and partners are something entirely different.

While we're used to seeing Patricia Richardson as a wife and mother on "Home Improvement," the actor was busy building her own off-screen family throughout the '80s and '90s. The Maryland native married Ray Baker in 1982, with the fellow actor appearing in projects like "Animal Kingdom" and "Total Recall." He even had a small role as an inspector on an episode of "Home Improvement." The couple had three kids during their marriage, welcoming son Henry in 1985 and twins Roxanne and Joseph in 1991.

Richardson revealed that her family was a major reason she decided to leave "Home Improvement" after its eighth season, as she wanted to prioritize her relationship with her children following her divorce in 1995. "Because I was involved in all the writing, I was away from them more than I wanted and felt I missed so many things," she told Closer Weekly in 2018. When talking about how she dealt with the show's fame, the star added, "I was desperate for time with my kids and husband, who was always mad I was never home. Hence the divorce."

Though Richardson has picked up some acting jobs since her "Home Improvement" days, including her role in Lifetime's "Strong Medicine" in the early 2000s, the attention she's dedicated to her family has clearly been time well spent. She occasionally shares family snapshots on social media, highlighting the partners, kids, and accomplishments of her now-grown children.

Before going on to star in "Baywatch," Pamela Anderson appeared as Lisa on "Home Improvement" for the show's first two seasons, with the "Tool Time" girl eventually being replaced by Debbe Dunning. Outside of the nostalgic sitcom, the blonde bombshell has had a star-studded dating history, including her headline-making relationship with Tommy Lee. During the whirlwind romance, which saw the two tying the knot in 1995, the celebs welcomed two sons, Brandon and Dylan.

Following a domestic dispute — which resulted in the Mötley Crüe drummer being charged with spousal battery and spending six months in jail — the two officially divorced in 1998. While Anderson and Lee reconnected several times in subsequent years, "The Last Showgirl" actor has also had a number of other notable romantic ties. She had a long-term relationship with Kid Rock, exchanging vows in 2006 after five years of dating, though their marriage only lasted for a few months. The Hollywood figure was also married to Rick Salomon twice, saying "I do" in 2007 and 2014, but the two were unable to make their romance work long-term.

In 2024, Anderson and Liam Neeson sparked romance rumors as co-stars in "The Naked Gun," speaking highly of one another in early interviews. During the press tour for the August 2025-released film, the two leaned into their chemistry, further stoking fan speculation. While there have been mixed reports about the authenticity of the relationship, we think Anderson's reported romance with Neeson is exactly what the former "Tool Time" girl needs at this stage of her life.

Debbe Dunning, best known for playing the denim-clad "Tool Time" girl on "Home Improvement," is a divorced mother of three in real life. The "Dude Ranch Round-Up" star was formerly married for 21 years, tying the knot with volleyball player and Olympic medalist Steve Timmons in 1997 and divorcing in 2018. The couple didn't make many high-profile appearances together during their marriage, though they did attend the LA premiere of "For Richer or Poorer," gave a red carpet interview during the 2009 TV Land Awards, and were occasionally pictured at events related to Timmons' coaching job.

Though there aren't many public details about the two, we know that Dunning and Timmons started a family in the '90s. They welcomed their daughter Spencer during Dunning's stint on the ABC sitcom.  The duo subsequently welcomed sons Stony and Sysco, with their youngest being born in 2008.

Though Dunning may not be married anymore, she's spoken about how much she loves being a mother. "I am so blessed to have become a mother to three amazing kids," she wrote on Instagram in 2023. "It's the job I'm most proud of and how these three individuals have developed into the people they are today inspires me to be the best version of myself [every day]."