• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • ABOUT US
  • MEDIA
  • PRIVACY
  • TERMS
  • DMCA
  • CONTACT US
  • AUTHORS
do you remember

DoYouRemember?

The Home of Nostalgia

  • Celebrity News
    • Family
    • Obituaries
    • Life Behind the Fame
    • ICONS
    • Celebrity Feuds
  • Entertainment
    • Cast
    • Showbiz Rewind
    • Music
    • Beauty & fashion
  • STORIES
  • Celebrity Buzz!?
  • Sitcoms
    • Bewitched
    • Little Rascals
    • The Partridge Family
    • I Dream of Jeannie
    • All in the Family
    • MASH
    • Happy Days
    • Cheers
  • Celebrity Collections
  • SHOP DYR
    • DYR Book

Stories

The Truth Behind The Recasting Of Jill On ‘Home Improvement’

by Lauren Novak

Published May 2, 2020

Find out who was supposed to play Jill on Home Improvement first

Did you know that before Home Improvement aired, another actress was set to play Jill? Patricia Richardson played Jill, Tim Taylor’s (Tim Allen) wife on the show. However, when the show was still in the works, actress Frances Fisher was going to play Jill. It just didn’t end up working out and here’s why.

Back then, Frances was known for her role as Detective Deborah Saxon in the soap opera The Edge of Night. In real life, she was Clint Eastwood’s girlfriend at the time. When they began to tape the pilot, it seemed that Frances was more suited for dramatic roles instead of a comedic sitcom.

Related:

  1. ‘Last Man Standing’ Recasting Two Major Characters Before New Season
  2. Disney Promises They’re Not Recasting Buzz Lightyear Due To Tim Allen’s Politics

Frances Fisher was set to play Jill in ‘Home Improvement’

actress frances fisher
Frances Fisher / Wikimedia Commons

The writers decided to recast the role of Jill just three days into rehearsals for the show. They said that Frances is a great actress but just wasn’t right for the role.

RELATED: Tim Allen Talks About Possibility Of ‘Home Improvement’ Revival

tim and jill taylor home improvement
Tim and Jill / ABC

It seems crazy that anyone except Patricia Richardson would play Jill! She is just perfect in the role. Frances probably isn’t too upset about not getting the part because she went on to appear in The X-Files, Grey’s Anatomy, Fargo, and more. She also played Rose’s mother in Titanic!

patricia richardson home improvement
Patricia Richardson / ABC

Patricia almost turned down the role because she had just given birth to twins. However, the network really wanted her and worked around her breastfeeding schedule. She ended up saying yes because of the support of her husband. She also loved that the show’s producers had also worked on her favorite show: Roseanne.

Next up: ‘Family Feud’ Contestant’s Reply Brings Steve Harvey To Tears
Previous article: ‘Family Feud’ Contestant’s Reply Brings Steve Harvey To Tears
Next Post: Museum Shares A Peek Inside Elvis Presley’s Personal Bibles

Primary Sidebar

© 2025 DoYouRemember? Inc.

  • about us
  • media
  • privacy
  • terms
  • DMCA
  • CONTACT US
  • AUTHORS