It would seem so easy for a child actor to fall into a spiral of drugs and partying. But some fall into more lucrative deals…like fraud. And this allegedly happened to Zachery Ty Bryan, who played oldest brother Brad Taylor on ABC’s Home Improvement.
In a new piece in The Hollywood Reporter, it’s revealed that Zachery Ty Bryan – who has had problems relating to domestic violence and DUIs – got mixed up in a fraudulent plot as an advisor for Producers Market, using his position in the company to make deals that didn’t fit with the company’s mission. As per THR, “Separately, four sources allege that Bryan stole their money through a fraudulent scheme tied to an agriculture-technology startup in individual amounts ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, and totaling close to $50,000. They believe he did so by offering fake contracts that have no value outside of the paper they are printed on.”
It’s a mighty strange turn for the former child actor – whose other credits include The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (one of his most recent movies) – one which even baffles his on-screen dad, Tim Allen, who remains uncertain just how Zachery Ty Bryan got to where he is now. “Zach is a great kid who has grown into a complex man. All you can do is step aside and let somebody go through their process. At a certain point, he deviated from the guy I know to somebody who is reacting to situations that I had nothing to do with and can’t control…I don’t know what happens when people get corrupted. You just don’t know…I know Zach’s heart. He’s got to figure out his own way.”
Zachery Ty Bryan, it seems, is trying to find that way, telling the publication, “I do know when things get in the way of who you’re meant to be, where you’re supposed to go and what God has planned for you…He sometimes challenges you to do some reflecting by looking in the mirror and taking responsibility.”
What do you make of Zachery Ty Bryan’s current situation? What do you think his future will hold? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.