Brandon Call Now: J.T. From ‘Step by Step’ Quit Acting After a Traumatic Incident

Brandon Call is a successful actor who began his career at a young age. Between 1991 and 1997, he played the role of John Thomas “J.T.” Lambert in “Step by Step,” and fans have wondered where Brandon Call is now after the series ended.

“Step by Step” was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 90s. With only seven seasons, the series aired its first episode on September 20, 1991, with the last on June 26, 1998.

The series was focused on the families of the divorced Frank Lambert, played by Patrick Duffy, and the widowed Carol Foster, played by Suzanne Somers.

Photo of Brandon Call on August 8, 1996 | Source: Getty Images

In the series, Foster’s children, played by Staci Keanan, Angela Watson, and Christopher Castile, had no choice but to get along with Lambert’s children, played by Brandon Call, Christine Lakin, and Josh Byrne, as their parents married, creating a large blended family.

Since the end of the series, only a few of the cast, like Patrick Duffy, continued acting. Most of the show’s stars quit the business, and Call is one of them. He left the celebrity life of an actor for good after a traumatic near-death experience.

Brandon Call at an ABC TV Affiliates dinner on June 11, 1987, in California | Source: Getty Images

Brandon Call Was One of the Most Promising Young Actors of the 90s

Call was born on November 17, 1976, and started acting in 1984 when he played the role of Addie Becker’s son in an episode of “Simon & Simon.” One year later, he made his movie debut when he voiced Fairfolk in “The Black Cauldron.”

That same year, he made his live-action acting debut starring as David Barnes in “Jagged Edge” alongside Glenn Close, Peter Coyote, Jeff Bridges, John Clark, and others.

Brandon Call at an event in the United States circa 1991 | Source: Getty Images

It was not until 1989 that he became famous for his role as Hobie Buchannon in one season of “Baywatch.” With the success of his career, he starred in other movies and series such as “Blind Fury,” “Webster,” “Warlock,” and more.

In 1991, Call finally got his big break with his role as JT in “Step by Step,” and he was one of the cast members that made the show as successful as it was for its time.

Brandon Call at the 1992 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards on November 14, 1992, in Los Angeles | Source: Getty Images

Brandon Call Suffered a Traumatic Event That Changed Him as a Person

In September 1996, Call had an experience that completely transformed him. After filming an episode of “Step by Step,” he reportedly got into an altercation with another driver, Tommy Eugene Lewis, on his way home.

The former actor tried to escape but unknowingly drove into a dead end. When Lewis finally caught up with him, he shot into the actor’s car six times, leaving him with injuries on both hands.

After the incident, Call could drive himself to the police station before passing out as he came out of his vehicle. They took him to UCLA Medical Center for treatment, and Lewis was found guilty of attempted premeditated murder.

Brandon Call at the ABC TV Affiliates dinner on June 10, 1993, in California | Source: Getty Images

In October 2022, on “Pod Meets World,” Call’s “Step by Step” co-star Lakin recalled the situation and gave her opinion on how the incident would have affected the former actor. She said:

“That will change you as a person, a traumatic event like that. I feel like he just really had no interest in being in the spotlight anymore.”

Brandon Call at an event in the United States in 1994 | Source: Getty Images

Brandon Call Moved Away from the Spotlight after the End of ‘Step by Step’

Despite his growing fame with “Step by Step,” once the series ended in 1998, Call took a break from the celebrity lifestyle and eventually left the industry.

There has been very little information on his life after the show except that he became a first-time father the same year the series ended.

In 2005, various reports about the former actor’s working situation surfaced. Some allegedly stated that he worked at a gas station owned by his parents, while others said he owned the station.

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