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‘Home Improvement’ Star Zachery Ty Bryan Faces Prison For The 6th Time In 5 Years
Mugshot of Home Improvement star Zachery Ty Bryan with a younger photo of him smiling in a blue shirt.

‘Home Improvement’ Star Zachery Ty Bryan Faces Prison For The 6th Time In 5 Years

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Zachery Ty Bryan, best known for playing Brad Taylor on Home Improvement, has been arrested once again. The actor, 44, was taken into custody in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday (November 29), marking his sixth arrest in five years, as per jail records.

Bryan is accused of violating the terms of his probation stemming from a previous domestic violence conviction. He is currently being held without bail at Lane County Jail, with a scheduled release date of Wednesday, December 3.

Highlights
  • Bryan was arrested for violating his probation linked to a previous domestic violence conviction.
  • His fiancée was also taken into custody and is now facing five separate criminal charges.
  • Netizens reacted with frustration, saying the courts have been too lenient with Bryan for years.

His fiancée, Johnnie Faye Cartwright, was also arrested and booked at the same jail. She now faces five charges, including driving under the influence, three counts of reckless endangering, and one count of attempted first-degree harm.

Authorities have not confirmed whether either Bryan or Cartwright have legal representation.

RELATED:

    Zachery Ty Bryan was arrested for the sixth time in five years after violating the terms of a domestic violence conviction

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    Bryan’s arrest history has grown increasingly serious over the past half-decade.

    His most recent arrest prior to this weekend occurred in January 2025, when Myrtle Beach police charged him with second-degree domestic violence

    According to a report by People Magazine, the responding officer said a woman involved in the incident claimed she was attacked by Bryan and that they “live together and have children in common.”

    Image credits: Getty/Jason LaVeris

    She told police that Bryan choked her and punched her in the face multiple times, adding that there were others inside the home during the incident.

    The woman in question was Cartwright, with whom Bryan shares three children: daughter Kennedy and twins Parker and Sequoia.

    For many who have followed Bryan’s behavior in recent years, the allegations came as little surprise, especially given his track record of breaking the law and his previous domestic violence charge against a partner.

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    Bryan has been involved in several crimes, including driving under the influence and harming a previous partner

    Image credits: Facebook/Johnnie Faye Cartwright

    Bryan’s January arrest came on the heels of two DUIs in 2024, one in February and another in October. And the year before, he faced charges of fourth-degree harm, third-degree robbery, and misdemeanor harassment.

    He ultimately pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree felony tied to domestic violence, according to Lane County chief deputy district attorney Chris Parosa.

    Image credits: Getty/Handout

    The chief explained that Bryan ended up serving only seven days in jail because the judge chose a lighter punishment than what the charges normally require.

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    Instead of facing more than a year behind bars, he was given 36 months of supervised probation with strict conditions.

    Image credits: Facebook/Johnnie Faye Cartwright

    The agreement included “standard domestic violence conditions” and a requirement of no contact with the victim without approval. A second charge was dismissed as part of the negotiated resolution.

    His probation will not expire until October 2026.

    His fiancée explained his conduct as the result of profound trauma and substance dependence issues

    Image credits: Access Hollywood

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    Despite being aware of Bryan’s prior behavior, Cartwright had previously spoken publicly in support of Bryan.

    For instance, in 2023, she told Us Weekly she would always want what’s best for him as the father of her children, and chalked it up to his troubled life history and personal trauma.

    Image credits: Getty/Jeff Kravitz

    “Trauma can bring struggles in many shapes and forms. It’s a horrible situation that’s going to be spun in so many ways,” she said.

    “I’ve learned firsthand the truth will never align with what’s been put out there. I ask everyone to please be respectful of our privacy for the sake of the children and our families so the healing process can begin.”

    Two years later, she is now sitting in the same jail, facing five criminal charges.

    Image credits: IMdb

    Bryan rose to fame playing Brad Taylor through all eight seasons of Home Improvement alongside Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson.

    He also appeared in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Boston Public, Veronica Mars, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

    In 2023, he told The Hollywood Reporter that finding stability after the ABC sitcom wasn’t what many expected. “It was actually really difficult,” he said.

    He admitted that he started drinking at age 14, while still working on the 90s hit show, and added the habit eventually led him to depend on several substances.

    News of Bryan’s sixth arrest triggered a wave of exhausted, frustrated reactions online

    Image credits: JennMGreenberg

    Many focused on the repeated leniency he has received. Many criticized the sentence, pointing out this wasn’t Bryan’s first domestic violence incident.

    In 2020, Bryan was arrested for allegedly strangling his then-girlfriend in Oregon. He later pled guilty to two misdemeanor domestic violence charges and received 36 months of probation.

    Image credits: Getty/Imeh Akpanudosen

    “Maybe if the courts gave him actual jail time like other offenders receive, instead of just days, he wouldn’t keep reoffending. It’s not rocket science,” one person wrote.

    “I suppose he won’t be at the Home Improvement reunion?” another joked.

    Image credits: Facebook/Johnnie Faye Cartwright

    Others lamented the trajectory of child stars, warning he could become “another sad child star statistic.”

    Some demanded harsher consequences.

    “He needs to do some serious jail time. RDJ did and look at him now,” a viewer wrote.

    Image credits: Facebook/Johnnie Faye Cartwright

    Many also pushed back on trauma being used as justification.

    “I know people who have endured extreme trauma and they do not do these kinds of things. As long as you use it as an excuse, you’ll never get better and things will never change,” a user argued.

    One final comment summarized the discussion:

    “Hollywood breaks people.”

    “Poor kids.” Netizens worried for the well-being of Bryan’s children

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    Abel Musa Miño

    Abel Musa Miño

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

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    Born in Santiago, Chile, with a background in communication and international relations, I bring a global perspective to entertainment reporting at Bored Panda. I cover celebrity news, Hollywood events, true crime, and viral stories that resonate across cultures. My reporting has been featured on Google News, connecting international audiences to the latest in entertainment. For me, journalism is about bridging local stories with global conversations, arming readers with the knowledge necessary to make up their own minds. Research is at the core of my work. I believe that well-sourced, factual storytelling is essential to building trust and driving meaningful engagement.

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    Abel Musa Miño

    Abel Musa Miño

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    Born in Santiago, Chile, with a background in communication and international relations, I bring a global perspective to entertainment reporting at Bored Panda. I cover celebrity news, Hollywood events, true crime, and viral stories that resonate across cultures. My reporting has been featured on Google News, connecting international audiences to the latest in entertainment. For me, journalism is about bridging local stories with global conversations, arming readers with the knowledge necessary to make up their own minds. Research is at the core of my work. I believe that well-sourced, factual storytelling is essential to building trust and driving meaningful engagement.

    Analice Couto

    Analice Couto

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    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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    Analice Couto

    Analice Couto

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    turk
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the one of the three child actors from the show who went full on conservative Christian. So, everyone with half a brain should have seen this coming.

    Earonn -
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What, a white, famous men gets the soft touch treatment after domestic abvuse charges? My, what a surprise.

    Mike F
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He needs 18 months to two years in the pokey to kick start his recovery. Forced clean time makes all the difference when going into recovery and if he begins with a treatment center he'll walk out within a week. They put up with no 💩 in the treatment centers that are effective, meaning not the centers where they get up when they please and lay around drawing clouds. That guy has looked like a cr@ckhead for 10 years and he needs to get his head out of his @ss with 3 kids who depend on him. The forced clean time is essential unless he wants to die.

    Robin Roper
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    First, there are tons of d***s in jails and prisons so that doesn't necessarily get someone away from substances. And yes, many substance a***e programs are far too short and far too lenient.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    turk
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the one of the three child actors from the show who went full on conservative Christian. So, everyone with half a brain should have seen this coming.

    Earonn -
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What, a white, famous men gets the soft touch treatment after domestic abvuse charges? My, what a surprise.

    Mike F
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He needs 18 months to two years in the pokey to kick start his recovery. Forced clean time makes all the difference when going into recovery and if he begins with a treatment center he'll walk out within a week. They put up with no 💩 in the treatment centers that are effective, meaning not the centers where they get up when they please and lay around drawing clouds. That guy has looked like a cr@ckhead for 10 years and he needs to get his head out of his @ss with 3 kids who depend on him. The forced clean time is essential unless he wants to die.

    Robin Roper
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    First, there are tons of d***s in jails and prisons so that doesn't necessarily get someone away from substances. And yes, many substance a***e programs are far too short and far too lenient.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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