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Funnyman Tim Allen has played a lot of dads over his long career — from Home Improvement’s Tim Taylor and Last Man Standing’s Mike Baxter to Scott Calvin of The Santa Clauses. This month, Tim returned to TV on Shifting Gears as Matt, a widower who takes in his estranged adult daughter and her children. It airs on ABC and is available to stream on Hulu.
At 71, Tim views Matt, a professional car restorer, as a significant progression from the television fathers he grew up with.
“He’s a creative guy who’s in grief over the loss of his wife,” he exclusively tells Closer. “It’s still a comedy, though.”
One of the main sources of laughter is Matt’s frayed relationship with daughter Riley, played by Kat Dennings.
"Tim remarks, 'She's an exceptional actress — and coincidentally, we have the same birthday.' He continues, '[Her character] became pregnant during high school, which completely altered her life trajectory. She pursued a career in music, had two children, and eventually returned home.' Tim explains, '[My character] has a dislike for her. However, she reaches out for assistance, and despite believing it's a poor choice, I find myself unable to refuse her.'"
Tim feels grateful that his relationship with his real-life daughters, Katherine, 35, from his first marriage, and Elizabeth, 15, whose mom is Tim’s current wife, Jane Hajduk, are much easier.
He shares that becoming a good father has been a journey of learning to truly listen, acknowledging that it hasn’t always been straightforward for him. “We’ve encountered misunderstandings over some pretty silly discussions,” he admits.
Not long ago, he and Elizabeth engaged in a deep and meaningful conversation.
“She was seated at the foot of the staircase while I remained at the top,” he remembers. “I told her, ‘I’ll simply listen.’ And that’s exactly what I did. You don’t cut in; you just stay there and absorb it all.”
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Tim admits that parenting becomes somewhat easier with experience. When Elizabeth arrived, he was 55 years old, enjoying a successful career and celebrating over ten years of sobriety.
He shares, “My first daughter, sadly, didn’t have a sober father figure in her life. Thankfully, my second daughter has always been distanced from that situation.” He reflects, “As a result, the dynamics of my relationships with them are quite distinct.”
After being sober for 27 years, Tim is thrilled to make his comeback to television.
“I have nothing but gratitude toward my life’s struggles,” he says. “Somebody said, ‘If you’re going to do something you have to say sorry for tomorrow, don’t do it.’ So I don’t do things like that. Not being able to hide behind drugs and alcohol was difficult for me, but now I deal with stuff, moment by moment.”
He and Jane, an actress he married in 2006, both strive to remain present, attentive, and compassionate in their relationship.
“She has played a significant role in my journey to sobriety for quite some time,” he remarks. “We’ve both come to appreciate the importance of listening. Additionally, we’ve discovered an essential skill in diffusing conflicts. You might not see eye to eye, but it’s crucial to allow the other person to express their perspective without being interrupted.”
Tim also maintains a fatherly presence in the lives of his previous costars from Home Improvement and Last Man Standing.
“They mean everything to me,” he shares. “I’m always ready to lend a hand whenever possible. Life has taught me a lot. I’m here to offer a listening ear, even if I often feel powerless. Still, I’ve grown into a much better brother for my vibrant family.”
