Home Improvement’s Richard Karn, 68, reveals strict diet that’s helped him shed 30 pounds and ‘realigned’ body

Home Improvement’s Richard Karn revealed that he has lost 30 pounds by adhering to a strict diet that helped him ‘realign’ his body. 

Although sticking to his weight loss journey was a a challenging endeavor, the actor, 68, was motivated by his longtime wife Tudi Roche, 69, joined him in his quest to  prioritize their health. 

‘We did this weight-loss thing where we [ate] four ounces of meat, four ounces of vegetables . . . no carbs or not as much carbs . . . we did that for six weeks . . . it really helped,’ Karn told Fox News Digital.

He continued: ‘It kind of realigned what you need . . . you don’t pile your plate as high anymore, because you don’t need it . . . after six weeks, I think your body and your mind . . . realizes that helped.’ 

The father-of-one noted that his key to getting into shape has been practicing ‘moderation’ and not overindulging on sweets. 

‘If you can… don’t have five desserts, have a bite of one,’ he advised.

Karn explained that previously he was tempted by various foods available at ‘craft services’ during his time on his popular ’90s sitcom, Home Improvement, alongside co-star Tim Allen. 

‘All of a sudden, you had food on the set. . . . You could just eat whatever you wanted. You were going out to events where they give you food,’ he recalled. ‘At some point, you kind of have to stop and go, “You know I really could eat all of this, but I shouldn’t. I can’t . . . and look at me, I’m 10 pounds more than I want to be.”‘

Since switching up his lifestyle, Karn has shed 30 pounds and says he his weight has ‘evened out where’ he wants to be. 

‘I went down to where my doctor was very, very happy . . . I almost felt like I looked too thin,’ he said while reflecting on his weight loss journey. 

He and his wife, who share a 32-year-old son named Cooper, celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary in October.

Karn is best known for his role as ‘Al’ Borland in ABC’s Home Improvement, which aired between 1991 to 1999. 

Although sticking to his weight loss journey was a a challenging endeavor, the actor, 68, was motivated by his longtime wife Tudi Roche, 69, joined him in his quest to prioritize their health (pictured in 2013)

‘We did this weight-loss thing where we [ate] four ounces of meat, four ounces of vegetables . . . no carbs or not as much carbs . . . we did that for six weeks . . . it really helped,’ Karn told Fox News Digital; seen in 1993

His character was the co-host of the show-within-a-show, Tool Time, a fictional home improvement series host by Allen’s character, Tim ‘The Tool Man’ Taylor. 

Al was the less telegenic of the duo, but he was also the real expert with tools and construction, rather than Tim. 

Karn had an instantly identifiable uniform for the series: some form of plaid flannel shirt and a thick beard that was sometimes the subject of Allen’s jokes.

The actor began as a recurring character on the series after filling in for Groundhog Day actor Stephen Tobolowsky, who had to drop out after the pilot episode taping conflict with a film project he was working on.

Even though Karn was a replacement, he proved to be a hit with viewers, and he was bumped up to the main cast by Home Improvement’s second season.

Following Home Improvement’s conclusion after eight seasons in 1999, Karn took over as the fourth solo host of Family Feud in 2002.

Karn is best known for his role as ‘Al’ Borland in ABC’s Home Improvement, which aired between 1991 to 1999

His character was the co-host of the show-within-a-show, Tool Time, a fictional home improvement series host by Allen’s character, Tim ‘The Tool Man’ Taylor

He departed the series in 2006, when Seinfeld actor John O’Hurley replaced him.

He later hosted another game show, Bingo America from 2008 to 2009, and he remained an in-demand guest actor on television.

Karn had one of his most high-profile roles in years beginning in 2019 when he started appearing on the critically adored Hulu comedy series PEN15.

The series was created by its writers and stars, Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, who played fictionalized versions of themselves beginning at age 13.

The women were both in their early 30s, which created a surreally hilarious contrast with the rest of the age-appropriate child actors who populated their middle school.

Karn appeared in several episodes as Maya’s father, a drummer for struggling cover bands who was often on the road and away from home. (In reality, Erskine’s father is the respected jazz drummer and former Weather Report member Peter Erskine.)

In 2021, the creators and stars announced that the show’s second season would be its last.

Karn and Allen have remained friendly over the past three decades following the end of their hit series (seen in 2022)

That year, Karn reunited with Allen for the pandemic-era Home Improvement–inspired series Assembly Required, which was a home repair competition.

The two hosted with April Wilkerson, and she joined them again in 2022 for the series More Power, which featured the three tracing the evolution from classic tools to some of the newest technologically inspired gadgets out there.

Although Karn has appeared in supporting roles in several films, he didn’t appear in his first move until 1998’s Legend Of The Mummy, though he has worked steadily in film ever since.

Last year, Karn appeared on two episodes of the revived Jonathan Frakes–hosted series Beyond Belief, and he has multiple low-budget films and shows on the horizon.