Is it any wonder that this man, who played "Mr. Goodwrench" in TV commercials and who lives in a suburb of the Motor City, would center his comedy career around power tools and heavy machinery? His love for all things mechanical started early in life.

Born in Denver on June 13, and living in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham from the age of 13, Allen was one of seven brothers raised by his mother. His upbringing gave him insight into a woman's perspective, he says, "which was basically yelling and screaming at that point because it's hard to raise boys."

Allen was the class cut-up. His favorite high-school subject was shop, and his first true love was cars. He traded a whole summer's work at a local speed shop for a custom-built, tricked-out dune buggy -- not very practical for the icy streets of Michigan in winter, but try telling that to a teenage boy.

Allen graduated from Western Michigan University in 1975 with a degree in TV production, and went to work as a creative director for a small advertising firm in Detroit. Soon he moved from behind the camera to in front of it, as a performer and commercial spokesman. He still keeps his hand in advertising with the company he formed in 1984, Boxing Cat Productions, which is involved in graphic-arts design and commercial production.

In 1979, on a dare from a friend, Allen made his first stand-up appearance at Detroit's Comedy Castle. Since then, he has become "an 18-year overnight success," performing sold-out shows at concert venues around the country, including an appearance at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He has also appeared in the cable specials "The Montreal Just for Laughs Festival" and "Showtime Comedy Club All-Stars VII," plus two of his own half-hour specials for Showtime, "Men Are Pigs" and "Tim Allen Rewires America."

He won a 1990 CableACE Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Special for the concert film of the "Just for Laughs International Comedy Festival" in Montreal. In 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997, television audiences honored Allen with a People's Choice Award for "Favorite Male Performer in a Television Series." In 1994, Allen won the People's Choice Award for "Funniest Actor in a Comedy Motion Picture" for "The Santa Clause," which also took home the award for "Favorite Motion Picture Comedy." Always popular with audiences, Allen was voted "America's Favorite TV Personality" for the third year in a row by the 1995 Harris Poll, and was honored by the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards as "Favorite TV Actor," as well as being inducted into the "Kids' Choice Hall of Fame." He was one of the cohosts of the 1992 Emmy Awards and has been nominated for an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series." Winner of the 1997 Golden Globe Award for "Funniest Actor in a Television Series," Allen was again nominated in 1998.

In addition to his role as Santa Claus in the Hollywood Pictures/Disney film "The Santa Clause," the number-one comedy of 1994, Allen also enjoyed box-office success in "Toy Story," the first film ever to be animated entirely by computers. Allen provided the voice for Buzz Lightyear, the latest, greatest spaceman action figure, opposite Tom Hanks as the voice of Woody, a draw-string cowboy doll. He also starred in the 1997 Walt Disney Pictures film "Jungle2Jungle," which costarred JoBeth Williams and Lolita Davidovich. In 1997, Allen starred in the romantic comedy "For Richer or Poorer," costarring Kirstie Alley.

In 1994 Allen penned his first book, "Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man." Topping the "New York Times" Bestseller List and selling out in bookstores, the book reveals his philosophy about male behavior -- replete with comedic meditations and anecdotes. His second book, "Tim Allen: I'm Not Really Here," was published in 1996 and also topped the "New York Times" Bestseller List.

In his eighth season as Tim Taylor, Allen continues to bring his unique slant on masculinity to series television with "Home Improvement," which he describes as the show "'Men are Pigs' at home." During the show's second season it was renewed for three additional seasons, an uncommon decision in this industry. Allen's role as the host of a fictional cable home improvement show, "Tool Time," is one that he wistfully hopes to recreate in real life someday. "Actually, that's what I want to do, is host 'Tool Time' for real. I love that show."