Laura Deibel is widely recognized as the first wife of actor and comedian Tim Allen, but her life story goes well beyond her connection to a Hollywood star. She experienced the difficult years before Allen became famous, supported him during some of the most challenging periods of his life, and later chose to live away from the public spotlight.
Before Tim Allen became a household name, Laura knew him as a struggling young comedian with ambitions of building a career in entertainment. She stood beside him through personal difficulties, marriage, parenthood, and the pressures that came with his growing fame. Her journey is ultimately a story about family, loyalty, resilience, and choosing a private life over celebrity attention.
Quick Bio
| Full Name | Laura Deibel |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 12, 1956 |
| Age | 69 years old (as of 2026) |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Birthplace | Omena, Michigan, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Height | 5 feet 6 inches (approx.) |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Education | Western Michigan University |
| Profession | Former Sales Manager, Former CEO of Tim Allen Signature Tools |
| Famous For | Being the first wife of actor Tim Allen |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Ex-Husband | Tim Allen (m. 1984 – div. 2003) |
| Children | 1 daughter – Katherine “Kady” Allen (born December 1989) |
| Stepchildren | Elizabeth Allen-Dick (stepdaughter from Tim’s second marriage) |
| Current Residence | Sherman Oaks, California, USA |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1–$1.5 million |
| Social Media | Inactive/Private |
Who is Laura Deibel?
Laura Deibel is best known for being the first wife of Hollywood actor and comedian Tim Allen. She was born on November 12, 1956, in Omena, Michigan, and met Allen while the two were attending Western Michigan University. Their relationship began during their college years, long before Allen achieved fame and financial success.
Laura remained beside Tim during a particularly difficult period in his life. Before their marriage, Allen served a 28-month federal prison sentence following his conviction for drug trafficking. According to the source material, Laura continued to support him during that period rather than ending their relationship.
The couple eventually married on April 7, 1984, and later welcomed their only daughter, Katherine “Kady” Allen, in December 1989. As Tim’s acting and comedy career developed, Laura largely remained away from the spotlight and focused on family life.
After nearly two decades together, Laura and Tim divorced in 2003. Following the divorce, she largely withdrew from public attention and continued living a private life in Sherman Oaks, California.
Early Life and Education
Laura Deibel was born on November 12, 1956, in Omena, Michigan, a small community in Leelanau County. Details about her parents, siblings, and early family life have remained limited because Laura has generally kept those aspects of her life private.
Her upbringing in Michigan preceded her college years at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. Her time at the university became an important chapter in her life because it was there that she met Tim Allen.
Although much of her early life remains outside the public record, her education helped provide a foundation for her later professional career. Unlike many people connected to Hollywood celebrities, Laura did not build a public career around her relationship with a famous actor.
Meeting Tim Allen at College
Laura met Tim Allen while they were both students at Western Michigan University. The source describes Tim as a freshman and Laura as a junior when they met.
Their connection developed during their college years, when Tim had not yet become the recognizable comedian and actor audiences would later know. At the time, he was still working toward his ambitions in entertainment.
Laura reportedly supported Tim while he pursued those ambitions. Their relationship began before fame, television success, and Hollywood attention entered his life, which made their early years together very different from the celebrity-focused period that followed.
The couple eventually became college sweethearts and remained together through several major turning points in Tim’s life.
Waiting Through Tim’s Prison Sentence
Laura Deibel’s support for Tim Allen during one of the hardest periods of his life became an important part of their story. In 1978, before they were married, Tim Allen was arrested for drug trafficking. He was later convicted and sentenced to 28 months in federal prison, creating a difficult period that put their relationship to the test.
Rather than ending their relationship, Laura chose to stand by him. She visited Tim while he was incarcerated and continued supporting him throughout his sentence. Her decision to remain committed during such a challenging time showed how deeply invested she was in their relationship. She waited for his release, and the couple eventually resumed their life together after he left prison.
That experience became an important chapter in their relationship and strengthened the bond they had developed before marriage. Laura remained committed despite the uncertainty surrounding their future, and their story during those years reflected patience, loyalty, and personal commitment.
Marriage to Tim Allen
Laura Deibel and Tim Allen married on April 7, 1984, in Michigan. Their wedding marked the beginning of nearly two decades of married life.
During the early years of their marriage, Tim was still developing his comedy career. Laura provided stability at home while he worked toward establishing himself as a successful stand-up comedian.
As Allen’s career progressed, Laura continued to remain largely outside the public spotlight. She supported the family while Tim’s professional opportunities expanded, eventually leading him toward television and Hollywood success.
Their marriage therefore covered a major transformation in Tim’s life, from a young comedian trying to establish himself to one of the entertainment industry’s better-known performers.
Becoming a Mother
In December 1989, Laura and Tim welcomed their only child, Katherine “Kady” Allen.
Motherhood became one of the central parts of Laura’s life. While Tim’s professional career continued to grow, Laura focused heavily on providing their daughter with a stable family environment.
As Tim’s workload increased, Laura took on much of the responsibility associated with raising Katherine and maintaining the household. She also worked to keep her daughter’s childhood relatively private despite her father’s increasing celebrity status.
Katherine eventually grew up to have her own connection to the entertainment world through appearances with her father at several public events. Laura, however, continued to value privacy and kept much of her family life away from the media.
Laura’s Career and Professional Life
Kimberly Buffington is a real estate professional best known publicly as the third wife of actor Dennis Quaid. The couple married on July 4, 2004, but their relationship eventually faced significant difficulties. They separated in 2016, and their divorce was officially finalized in 2018. Despite her connection to a well-known Hollywood actor, Buffington has largely kept her personal life private, especially when it comes to her children.
After the divorce, Buffington and Quaid continued to share parenting responsibilities for their twins, Thomas and Zoe Grace. Reports have indicated that Buffington has the children around 75% of the time, partly because Quaid’s acting career requires a demanding schedule. She has focused much of her attention on providing the twins with a stable childhood away from the intense attention that can come with having a famous parent.
The former couple has also continued to deal with legal matters related to their family arrangements. In a recent child support case, Buffington was reportedly served legal documents at her $3.8 million Los Angeles home on June 29, 2026. The development marked another stage in the ongoing legal proceedings between the former spouses.
Life During the Home Improvement Years
The launch of Home Improvement in 1991 transformed Tim Allen’s career. The sitcom became a major success and helped turn him into a household name.
During this period, Laura Deibel was married to Allen and largely remained behind the scenes. While Tim spent long hours working on filming, rehearsals, and other professional commitments, Laura focused on their home and daughter.
She did not appear to actively seek celebrity attention or make regular red-carpet appearances. Instead, she concentrated on maintaining family stability while Tim’s career became increasingly demanding.
The growing popularity of Home Improvement brought fame and financial success to the family, but it also changed the balance between Tim’s professional responsibilities and his personal life.
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Growing Apart and Marital Struggles
As Tim Allen’s career became more demanding, the pressures of fame and work began affecting his marriage. His filming schedule and other professional commitments meant that he often spent significant amounts of time away from home.
The source material describes Laura as feeling that Tim was increasingly absent from family life. Allen himself later acknowledged that he had not given enough attention to Laura and their daughter during their marriage.
The couple reportedly experienced disagreements and growing emotional distance as their priorities changed. Tim’s busy career left limited time for family and personal relationships, contributing to problems within the marriage.
Over time, the differences between them became increasingly difficult to overcome. Their relationship eventually moved toward separation and divorce after years of marriage.
The Separation and Divorce
Laura Deibel and Tim Allen separated before their divorce was finalized in 2003. The source states that Laura filed for divorce, while the legal reason was listed as irreconcilable differences.
Their marriage had lasted for nearly two decades, and the end of their relationship was a significant transition for both of them.
Unlike some highly publicized celebrity divorces, their separation was described as relatively amicable. The couple shared custody of their daughter Katherine, who was still a teenager at the time.
Tim later acknowledged that he had contributed to the difficulties within the family. Despite the end of their marriage, both Laura and Tim maintained a degree of mutual respect and continued to have a relationship centered around their daughter.
Life After Divorce and Remaining Friends
Following her divorce from Tim Allen, Laura Deibel largely withdrew from public attention and chose a much quieter way of life. She continued living in Sherman Oaks, California, where she had reportedly lived during her marriage. Away from Hollywood’s constant attention, Laura focused on maintaining a peaceful and private life.
She did not give interviews or actively seek media coverage after the divorce. An inactive Facebook account, which reportedly featured a photo of Laura with her daughter Katherine, was associated with her life in Sherman Oaks. Rather than pursuing publicity, Laura appeared to prefer keeping her personal affairs away from the public.
Even after ending their marriage, Laura and Tim Allen reportedly remained on cordial terms, particularly because of their daughter. Laura also became involved with one of Tim’s charitable events, serving as Events Chairman for the “Comedy For Kids: Friends of Tim Allen 39th Annual Fundraiser” in December 2006.
Laura’s last reported public appearance came in March 2010, when she attended the 18th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party alongside Tim Allen. Their continued ability to maintain a respectful relationship after divorce reflects the importance they placed on their daughter and maintaining a positive co-parenting relationship.
Relationship with Daughter Katherine
Laura Deibel has maintained a close and loving bond with her daughter, Katherine “Kady” Allen. Following Laura and Tim Allen’s divorce, Katherine primarily lived with her father and stepmother, Jane Hajduk. Over the years, she has occasionally appeared alongside her father and stepmother at public events, including the Los Angeles premieres of The Santa Clause 3 and Miss Congeniality 2.
Katherine has also attended events such as the Grammy Awards, Toy Story premieres, and the TV Land Awards with her family. Despite growing up around Hollywood, she has generally kept her personal life away from the media. She is also reportedly close to her stepmother, Jane Hajduk. Katherine was present when Tim Allen received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in November 2004. Laura has remained supportive of her daughter and has encouraged her to value responsibility, family, and a private life.
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Did Laura Deibel Remarry?
Laura Deibel has not been publicly reported as having remarried following her divorce from Tim Allen.
The source material does not identify a confirmed long-term romantic partner after her marriage ended. Laura has remained highly private about her personal life, making it difficult to establish details about any relationships she may have had away from the public eye.
Her decision to remain out of entertainment coverage has allowed her to maintain a much quieter lifestyle than many people connected to Hollywood celebrities.
As a result, details about her current romantic status remain limited, and claims about private relationships should be treated cautiously unless confirmed by reliable sources.
Where Is Laura Deibel Today?
According to the source material, Laura Deibel resides in Sherman Oaks, California, and has maintained a quiet lifestyle away from the media.
Born on November 12, 1956, she is 69 years old in 2026. Her life today appears to be considerably removed from the Hollywood environment that surrounded her during her marriage to Tim Allen.
The source describes her as someone who enjoys a private lifestyle and values time away from cameras and public attention. Gardening, cooking, reading, and spending time with her daughter are among the activities associated with her quieter life.
Her last widely noted public appearance was in March 2010 at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party with Tim Allen. Since then, she has largely stayed out of the spotlight.
Laura’s Net Worth
Laura Deibel’s estimated net worth is reported in the source material at approximately $1 million to $1.5 million as of 2026.
Her financial background includes her earlier work as a sales manager in the interior landscaping industry and her reported role as CEO of Tim Allen Signature Tools.
The source also attributes part of her financial position to the divorce settlement from Tim Allen. However, celebrity net-worth figures are generally estimates rather than verified financial statements, so the exact amount of Laura’s current wealth isn’t publicly established.
Unlike many people associated with Hollywood, Laura has not built a public brand around her wealth or lifestyle. Her long-standing preference for privacy has kept most details about her finances away from the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Laura Deibel?
Laura Deibel is best known as the first wife of actor and comedian Tim Allen. She is also the mother of their daughter, Katherine “Kady” Allen. Before choosing a private life, Laura worked as a sales manager and was also reportedly involved in Tim Allen Signature Tools.
How long were Laura Deibel and Tim Allen married?
Laura Deibel and Tim Allen were married for nearly 19 years. They married in 1984 and their divorce was finalized in 2003.
Does Laura Deibel have a daughter?
Yes. Laura Deibel and Tim Allen have one daughter, Katherine “Kady” Allen, who was born in December 1989. Tim also has another daughter, Elizabeth Allen-Dick, from his second marriage.
Why did Laura Deibel and Tim Allen divorce?
Their divorce was based on irreconcilable differences. The source material also describes the pressures of Tim’s demanding career, frequent absence, and growing distance within the marriage as contributing factors.
Did Laura Deibel remarry?
There is no confirmed public record in the source material showing that Laura Deibel remarried after her divorce from Tim Allen. She has maintained a very private personal life since their marriage ended.
Where is Laura Deibel now?
According to the source material, Laura Deibel lives in Sherman Oaks, California. She has largely stayed away from media attention and maintains a quiet lifestyle focused on privacy and family.
Is Laura Deibel active on social media?
Laura Deibel has maintained a very private lifestyle, and there is no confirmed active public social-media presence associated with her in the source material. She has generally avoided interviews and public attention since her divorce from Tim Allen.
Conclusion
Laura Deibel’s life story extends far beyond her identity as Tim Allen’s first wife. She knew Allen before his Hollywood success, remained with him through one of the most difficult periods of his early life, married him in 1984, and raised their daughter while his career transformed.
Her years alongside Tim Allen also exposed her to the challenges that can accompany fame, long working schedules, and changing family priorities. Their marriage eventually ended in divorce, but the two maintained a cordial connection through their shared relationship with their daughter.
Today, Laura is best known for the private life she chose after leaving the public side of Hollywood behind. Her story offers a different perspective on celebrity relationships: not every person connected to a famous actor wants to remain in the spotlight. For Laura Deibel, privacy, family, and a quieter life appear to have mattered far more than celebrity attention.
