You remember Brad Taylor. The oldest, slightly cocky son on Home Improvement who was always messing with his younger brothers. For a lot of us, Zachery Ty Bryan is frozen in that 1990s time capsule, wearing flannel and holding a wrench. But the reality of his life today is a world away from a scripted sitcom set.
Life got complicated. Really complicated.
Specifically, the actor’s family tree has grown significantly over the last decade, often amidst a backdrop of legal battles and personal upheaval. If you’re looking for the breakdown on the Zachery Ty Bryan children, you’re looking at a group of seven kids split between two very different chapters of his life.
The First Four: Life with Carly Matros
Long before the headlines shifted toward mugshots, Bryan was married to his high school sweetheart, Carly Matros. They met at La Cañada High School and eventually tied the knot in 2007. For a while, they were the picture-perfect Hollywood-adjacent family.
Between 2014 and 2019, the couple welcomed four children.
First came the twins, Taylor Simone and Gemma Rae, born in June 2014. Then came another daughter, Jordana Nicole, in 2016. Finally, they had a son named Pierce Alexander in early 2019. Honestly, back then, Bryan’s social media was a constant stream of "proud dad" posts. He seemed like a guy who had successfully transitioned from child stardom to stable fatherhood.
Then 2020 happened.
The couple announced their split in September 2020. It was messy, even by celebrity standards. Bryan famously admitted later that he’d essentially "copy-pasted" Armie Hammer’s divorce announcement because he didn't know what to say. It was a weird move that signaled things were unraveling behind the scenes.
The Second Chapter: A Growing Family Amidst Chaos
Not long after the split from Matros, things took a sharp turn. Bryan became involved with Johnnie Faye Cartwright. This relationship has been, to put it mildly, volatile.
Despite the legal drama—including multiple arrests for domestic violence and DUI—the couple continued to expand their family. By 2026, Bryan has three children with Cartwright, bringing his total count to seven.
- Kennedy: Their first daughter together was born in early 2022.
- The Twins (Parker and Sequoia): In May 2023, Cartwright gave birth to another set of twins.
It’s a lot to keep track of. Two sets of twins by two different women is rare enough, but the circumstances surrounding the younger three children have been particularly harrowing for anyone following the news.
Why Everyone Is Talking About the Kids in 2026
The reason the Zachery Ty Bryan children are trending lately isn't because of a cute "where are they now" segment. It's because of a series of frightening incidents that have put the kids in the middle of police reports.
Just recently, in late 2025, an incident occurred near Lowell, Oregon. Police reportedly found Bryan and Cartwright in a truck with their three small children—Kennedy, Parker, and Sequoia. The reports were grim. There were allegations of reckless endangerment and even claims that Cartwright had attempted to run Bryan over while the kids were inside the vehicle.
It’s the kind of news that makes you feel for the kids.
According to various reports from late 2025 and early 2026, the younger children were temporarily placed with a family member following these arrests. It’s a stark contrast to the stable, suburban life Bryan’s older children likely experienced in their early years.
The Reality of Parenting Under Fire
How do you parent seven kids while facing nearly 20 months in prison?
That’s the question Bryan is currently facing. In early 2026, his legal situation reached a boiling point. After admitting to probation violations, the threat of significant jail time became very real. For the older kids—who are now entering their pre-teen and teenage years—this is happening in the public eye. They can read the internet. They see the memes.
His former co-stars, like Tim Allen, have expressed a sort of distance and sadness about it all. Allen famously told The Hollywood Reporter that he doesn't even recognize the guy Bryan has become.
A Quick Breakdown of the Seven
- Taylor Simone & Gemma Rae (Twins): Born to Carly Matros (2014).
- Jordana Nicole: Born to Carly Matros (2016).
- Pierce Alexander: Born to Carly Matros (2019).
- Kennedy: Born to Johnnie Faye Cartwright (2022).
- Parker & Sequoia (Twins): Born to Johnnie Faye Cartwright (2023).
What This Means for the Future
The "Brad Taylor" nostalgia is officially dead.
When people search for information on Zachery Ty Bryan’s family, they aren't looking for sitcom trivia anymore. They are looking for updates on child custody and welfare. The contrast between the two sets of children is massive. You have one group largely shielded from the drama in their later childhood, and another group that has quite literally been present for police interventions.
What you can do next: If you are following this story, the best thing is to look for official court updates regarding custody and the ongoing probation hearings scheduled for February 2026. The safety of the children is the primary concern for the Oregon Department of Human Services and the families involved. Supporting organizations that help children in high-conflict households is a practical way to turn this celebrity news into a positive action.
