| Name |
Taran Noah Smith |
| Height |
6' |
| Naionality |
American |
| Date of Birth |
8 April 1984 |
| Place of Birth |
San Francisco, California, USA |
| Famous for |
|
Taran was born in San Francisco, California to David Smith and Candy Bennici. He is of Scottish, Irish, Swedish and Italian descent. He has an older sister, Aria Smith (b. 1977), who was a child model. Taran is named for the main character in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series of novels for young adults.
Taran taught himself to play the drums, and his favorite school subjects were math and art. Taran graduated from high school at fifteen, and briefly attended USC. He was accepted to USC's Film School, but dropped out shortly after beginning classes.
Smith is an environmentalist. In June 2006 he was arrested trying to save the South Central Farm, the largest urban community garden that was threatened by land developers.
On April 27, 2001, shortly after his 17th birthday, Smith married Heidi van Pelt, who was sixteen years his senior. They moved to Lawrence, Kansas and opened a non-dairy cheese manufacturing company called Playfood. At 18, he gained control of his US$1.5 million trust fund, which he accused his parents of squandering by purchasing themself a mansion.
Smith and van Pelt returned to California and opened up a vegan organic restaurant called Playfood.
Despite internet rumors, Smith and Van Pelt never had a child between them.
Smith's Marriage was annulled on April 2 2009.
Smith and van Pelt engaged in a legal battle over the companies that they had co-owned--PlayFood Restaurant inStudio City, California and its manufacturing plant in Kansas City. As a result of this, Smith reconciled with his parents.
Smith filed a lawsuit and a request for a temporary injunction against his former wife and business partner, Heidi van Pelt in February 2007. Smith accused her of channeling funds from their business Playfood Inc. into her own business called Playfood Manufacturing LLC. Smith emerged victorious from the protracted legal battle and remains in control of Playfood Inc.
