He Played Al on 'Home Improvement': Richard Karn Is Barely Recognizable Today!

Richard Karn Wilson was born in Seattle on February 17, 1956; his father, Gene, served as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After graduating from Roosevelt High School, he enrolled in the Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Washington and gained his first stage experience.

After earning his acting degree, Richard Karn moved to New York City in 1979 and, within a week, was cast in a commercial that aired during Super Bowl XIV. When he applied for membership in the Screen Actors Guild, he had to drop his last name, Wilson, because there was already a Richard Wilson. From then on, Richard Karn Wilson became simply Richard Karn.

Richard Karn made his theater debut in 1983 in the Off-Broadway play “The Other Shore,” alongside his future wife, Tudi Roche. Their collaboration on stage marked the beginning of a relationship that continues to this day. For the young actor, this year marked the transition from advertising to a serious theater career.

In 1985, Richard Karn married his colleague Tudi Roche, but just a few weeks later, she collapsed in the middle of a bus terminal in Manhattan. Doctors diagnosed her with a brain aneurysm; she fell into a three-day coma but made a full recovery. The ordeal brought the couple closer together, and they remain married to this day.

In 1989, Richard Karn moved to Los Angeles at his wife’s urging and initially earned a living as the manager of an apartment complex and by catering for a synagogue. While attending a traffic safety seminar, he happened to meet an agent who told him about the casting call for “Home Improvement.” The role of Al Borland was originally cast with Stephen Tobolowsky, but due to a scheduling conflict, Karn first appeared as a guest star in the pilot episode and then became a regular cast member.

"Home Improvement" was one of the most-watched sitcoms on U.S. television in the 1990s. In his personal life, he also became a father; his son Cooper was born on March 4, 1992. Between 1994 and 1999, he also hosted an annual celebrity golf tournament in Seattle.

When the series ended in 1999, the actor already had other plans: Richard Karn, along with co-author George Mair, published the book *House Broken: How I Remodeled My Home for Just Under Three Times the Original Bid*. This was followed in 2002 by “Handy at Home: Tips on Improving Your Home from America’s Favorite Handyman,” a second guidebook that builds on his TV image as America’s favorite handyman. Commercials for the home improvement chain Orchard Supply Hardware also shaped his public image in the 1990s.

In 2002, Richard Karn took over as host of the game show “Family Feud” from Louie Anderson and remained in the role until 2006, when John O'Hurley took over. That same year, he appeared in the music video for “Someday” by The Strokes.

On October 6, 2008, Richard Karn replaced Patrick Duffy as host of the game show “Bingo America” on the Game Show Network. At the same time, he occasionally filled in as an announcer on GSN Radio. These roles showcase an entertainer who is consistently at home in variety and game show formats.

Decades after “Home Improvement,” Richard Karn has changed quite a bit. Today, in 2026, he is 70 years old and looks noticeably grayer than he did during his time as Al Borland. From a young advertising spokesperson to a TV series favorite to a talk show host, his career has remained unusually steady. He was last seen in the series “Shifting Gears” in 2025.