The Rise, Fall, and Revival of Last Man Standing: What Happened to the Cast?

For years, Last Man Standing was the show that brought families together every Friday night. The laughter, the characters, the relatable family dynamics—everything about it felt like home. But then, things started to change.

One by one, key cast members began to leave the show, and the replacements didn’t quite have the same charm. Viewers were left asking: why did their favorite characters disappear? Was it creative differences, career changes, or something deeper? The truth is more surprising than you’d expect. Let’s break it all down.

Tim Allen’s Return to TV

After a hiatus from television, Tim Allen made a triumphant return in 2011 with Last Man Standing, a sitcom that would become a major hit for ABC. But it wasn’t an easy decision for Allen. He had turned down huge offers, including one from CBS that would have paid him $1 million per episode.

What drew him to Last Man Standing was the show’s potential to allow him creative control. The show’s creator, Jack Burditt, envisioned Mike Baxter as a modern version of Allen’s beloved Home Improvement character, Tim “The Toolman” Taylor, but older and more experienced.

Allen initially rejected the role three times, feeling it was too similar to his previous character. However, he was eventually persuaded when he was offered the chance to not only star but also serve as an executive producer, which gave him influence over the show’s direction.

This creative freedom played a pivotal role as the show tackled political topics, with Allen’s character serving as a conservative counterpoint to the more liberal views of his family.

Early Success

When Last Man Standing premiered in October 2011, it quickly became a ratings juggernaut. With 13.2 million viewers tuning in for the premiere, it was ABC’s biggest comedy debut since 2004.

The show continued to dominate, particularly with the coveted 18-49 demographic, and maintained strong ratings over its six-season run. But in 2017, ABC made the shocking decision to cancel the series, despite its popularity.

The Departure of Key Cast Members

One of the first major changes occurred after season 1, when Alexandra Krosney, who played Kristen Baxter, the eldest daughter of Mike Baxter, was suddenly written out of the show.

Kristen was a young single mom, trying to balance her life while living with her parents. Krosney’s portrayal of Kristen resonated with viewers, thanks to her mix of humor and emotional depth. However, the producers decided to recast the role with Amanda Fuller, citing “creative differences.”

The decision was also influenced by an on-screen discrepancy. Although Krosney’s character was meant to be the eldest sister, Krosney was actually younger than Molly Ephraim, who played the middle sister, Mandy. Fuller, being older than both Krosney and Ephraim, was thought to be a better fit to play the eldest sibling.

The Ryan Vogelson Character

Another surprising change came with the casting of Ryan Vogelson, Kristen’s ex-boyfriend and the father of her child. Initially portrayed by a 19-year-old Nick Jonas in a guest appearance, Ryan was a one-dimensional, immature character.

But when Tim Doyle became the showrunner in season 2, he wanted to give Ryan more depth. The character was re-imagined as a smarter, politically engaged person who could challenge Mike Baxter’s conservative views.

By season 3, Ryan was played by Jordan Masterson, who brought a new layer to the character, making him a key figure in the show’s exploration of politics and family dynamics.

The Shocking Cancellation

Despite Last Man Standing’s continued popularity, ABC announced in May 2017 that the show would be canceled. This came as a shock to fans and cast members alike.

The show was still pulling in strong ratings, with more than 8 million viewers, and many expected it to return for another season. Tim Allen himself expressed his disbelief on Twitter, while co-stars like Nancy Travis, who played Mike’s wife Vanessa, and Hector Elizondo, who played Ed, also shared their disappointment.

The cancellation was met with speculation that politics might have played a role. In April 2017, Tim Allen made headlines when he joked on Jimmy Kimmel Live that being a conservative in Hollywood felt like living in 1930s Germany.

ABC’s president, Channing Dungey, denied that politics were involved, explaining that the network was shifting its focus from comedies to fantasy and sci-fi shows. However, the timing of the cancellation, coming just two months after Allen’s controversial remarks, left many fans wondering if there was more to the story.

The Revival

The cancellation prompted an outcry from fans, who launched one of the biggest “save the show” campaigns in TV history. Within a day, a petition to bring Last Man Standing back garnered over 400,000 signatures, and fans flooded social media with tweets using the hashtag #SaveLastManStanding. Some even took the campaign to the streets, buying billboards in major cities like Los Angeles and New York.

Behind the scenes, Fox executives saw an opportunity to revive the show. The success of Roseanne‘s revival on ABC gave Fox the idea that a similar strategy could work. In May 2018, Fox announced that Last Man Standing would return for another season, only a year after its cancellation. The network spent $50 million to bring the show back, making it one of the most expensive revivals in recent TV history.

Production Challenges and the Show’s Return

Getting the show back on air was no small feat. The timeline was tight, with the announcement coming in May 2018 and the premiere scheduled for September. The writers had just a few months to create scripts, and the set had to be rebuilt as the original had been taken apart after the show’s cancellation. Additionally, the production team had to film three episodes a week to meet deadlines.

Despite the challenges, the revival was a success. Tim Allen’s salary increased to $235,000 per episode, and the show continued to explore political themes while maintaining its family-oriented humor. Last Man Standing was back, stronger than ever, thanks to the unwavering dedication of its fans and the support of a network willing to take a risk.

In the end, Last Man Standing proved that even in a rapidly changing television landscape, a loyal fan base and a little bit of political controversy could be the recipe for a comeback.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0z3BmZl1EU

‘Last Man Standing’ Cast: Check-In with Tim Allen and Crew

Last Man Standing is a Tim Allen classic, featuring the actor as Mike Baxter, a happily married father to three daughters, who is dealing with being the only male in his household. Mike tries to maintain his manliness in a female-dominated home by escaping to work as a marketing director at the Outdoor Man store. Check-in with the cast of Last Man Standing and see what the stars have been up to!

Tim Allen

2011/2023
Jason Merritt / Staff // Phillip Faraone / Stringer

Character Played: Mike Baxter

Born: June 13, 1953, in Denver, Colorado

Best Known For: TV series including Home Improvement (1991-1999), as well as such movies as The Santa Clause franchise (1994-2006), the Toy Story franchise (1995-2019)

Thoughts on Last Man Standing: “To be very honest, I have had problems letting go of this one. It’s just been three or four weeks and I’m literally just feeling better… This crew, from the guy at the gate to Radford inside to people we ate with, I loved every second of this experience.”

Nancy Travis

2011/2024
John Lamparski / Contributor // Jamie McCarthy / Staff

Character Played: Vanessa Baxter 

Born: September 21, 1961, in New York City

Best Known For: Movies Three Men and a Little Lady (1990), So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), The Vanishing (1993) and Greedy (1994)

Thoughts on Last Man Standing: “You can watch it with anybody in your family and you can be entertained by it, and you can also be stimulated by it,” Nancy says. “It’s nice that it speaks to so many people.”

Hector Elizondo

2011/2024
Victor Decolongon / Contributor // VALERIE MACON / Contributor

Character Played: Ed Alzate

Born: December 22, 1936, in New York City

Best Known For: Pretty Woman (1990), Runaway Bride (1999), The Princess Diaries (2001) and The Princess Diaries 2 (2004)

Thoughts on Last Man Standing: “The thing about Ed that’s interesting is that when they need to fill up a hole, they have Ed. [Laughs.] He can be the generous guy or the stingy guy; the hard-ass guy or the easy-going guy; the soft-hearted guy or not.”

Christoph Sanders

2011/2022
Kevin Winter / Staff // Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor

Character Played: Kyle Anderson

Born: April 21, 1988, in Hendersonville, North Carolina

Best Known For: The TV series Ghost Whisperer (2008-2010) and the movies Hounddog (2007), Big Kill (2019) and Faith Based (2020)

Thoughts on Last Man Standing: “The show has always been so good at showing a nice picture of an American family,” he said. “People come in and out of your life. Good and bad things happen. If we can continue that growth and show people we have grown and haven’t just been standing still, that’s what I want to see.” 

Amanda Fuller

2011/2023
Jonathan Leibson / Contributor // Arturo Holmes / Staff

Character Played: Kristin Baxter

Born: August 27, 1984, in Sacramento, California

Best Known For: Movies including Red White & Blue (2010) and Starry Eyes (2014)

Thoughts on Last Man Standing: “It’s nice when you’re on a show for so long that’s about a family that you can actually track the amount of time it would take for a house full of kids to be all not in the house anymore… [that] gives it a whole other level of heart, which I think is nice.” 

Kaitlyn Dever

2011/2024
Paul Archuleta / Contributor // Jesse Grant / Stringer

Character Played: Eve Baxter

Born: December 21, 1996, in Phoenix, Arizona

Best Known For: The TV series Justified (2011-2015) and Unbelievable (2019), as well as the movies Short Term 12 (2013) and Booksmart (2019)

Thoughts on Last Man Standing: “I was 13 when I started the show, so I grew up there. Over time he [Tim] taught me a lot about comedic timing and not being afraid to ad-lib and make up your own thing.”

Molly Ephraim

2011/2022
Jesse Grant / Contributor // Rodin Eckenroth / Stringer

Character Played: Mandy Baxter

Born: May 22, 1986, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Best Known For: The TV series Halt and Catch Fire (2017) and Brockmire (2017). Also known for the movie The Front Runner (2018)

Thoughts on Last Man Standing: “I think I’m more relaxed doing comedy and I like being able to play a character so much different than myself, so it’s been a nice change of pace for me personally.”

Jordan Masterson

2012/2020
Mark Sullivan / Stringer // JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX / Contributor

Character Played: Ryan Vogelson

Born: April 9, 1986, in Long Island, New York

Best Known For: The TV series Greek (2010-2011) and the movie The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

Jonathan Adams

2005/2018
John Sciulli // StaffDavid Livingston / Stringer

Character Played: Chuck Larabee

Born: July 16, 1967, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Best Known For: TV series including American Dreams (2002-2005), Bones (2005-2006) and Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2011-2013). Also known for the movies Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010) and Diablo III (2012)

Thoughts on Last Man Standing: “I had comedy in my DNA. It was something I had done a great deal of and when I came to Hollywood all they wanted me to do was dramatic roles… It was really nice to get a chance to actually stretch all those comedy muscles that I developed over the years with Chuck.”