Richard Karn, best known as the lovable Al Borland from the hit sitcom Home Improvement, is showing off a healthier physique these days—but he’s got a message for fans chasing weight loss: don’t lose your balance chasing the scale.
After dropping 30 pounds alongside his wife last year, the 69-year-old actor says he’s still committed to eating better and staying active. But speaking with Fox News Digital, Karn warned that even healthy routines can become unhealthy when taken to extremes.
“When something’s that strict, it can’t, for me, become a whole lifestyle,” Karn said. “You have to go, ‘Well, you know what? I really would enjoy this piece of cake, or I would like a slice of pizza.’”
Karn stressed moderation over obsession, noting that people sometimes take things too far—even with something as simple as water. “You can get in trouble with drinking too much water,” he explained. “That flushes out some of the salts and things in your system.”
His balanced approach to health includes more than just what’s on his plate. Karn credits Pilates for keeping him mobile and improving his golf game. “You need to be able to have your hip flexors and your knees and everything working,” he said, describing how staying limber helps him keep a steady swing.
While he’s working on himself, Karn is also putting his handyman skills to good use as the new spokesperson for DoMyOwn, a DIY lawn care company. For a limited time, he’s teaming up with them to offer expert lawn advice.
“I’ve always appreciated beautiful landscaping,” he said. “Taking care of your lawn shows that you care, that you’re making an effort.”
Growing up in Seattle, Karn was no stranger to yard work. Now, thanks to Home Improvement, he has a yard of his own—and a national platform to talk about it. “My dad was a builder. My grandfather was a builder. I became an actor, but I grew up around builders and knew how to do stuff.”
That blend of practical know-how and onscreen experience made him a natural fit for his new role. It also gave him a chance to show fans a side of himself that goes far beyond the laughs.
Reflecting on his breakout role alongside Tim Allen, Karn said Home Improvement changed his life—and won him serious respect from his dad. “He just looked at me one day and said, ‘My gosh, you really look like you know what you’re doing.’ And I do,” Karn said, smiling.
But these days, he’s just as focused on guiding his 33-year-old son Cooper, who’s pursuing acting too.
“I keep telling him… you have to know what to do when you get that opportunity,” Karn said. “When I got the opportunity for Home Improvement, I was 35. I had a lot of things under my belt that I could pull from that I didn’t have at 25.”
Karn’s story isn’t just about weight loss or even acting. It’s about the long game—about building a healthier life, staying grounded, and knowing when to enjoy the slice of pizza.
Whether he’s mowing his lawn, swinging a golf club, or mentoring the next generation, Richard Karn is still doing what he’s always done best: showing up, keeping it real, and proving that improvement—like a well-kept yard—is always worth the work.
