Mike Holmes made a name for himself in the United States with more than 80 episodes of
his home renovation TV show Holmes on Homes.
But while his status remains legendary in his native Canada, his notoriety has decreased
in the crowded American home makeover TV market.
So what's this renowned handyman been up to in recent years?
We've nailed down the facts.
Spin-offs of spin-offs
A TV fixture for more than a decade, the handyman followed up Holmes on Homes by starring in
Holmes Inspection, Holmes Makes it Right, Holmes Buy it Right, and Holmes & Holmes in
2017.
He's also made numerous appearances on other home-builder shows throughout the years.
So what's next?
Celebrity phone tag
According to Holmes, celebs have been blowing up his phone.
He explained on the Canadian talkshow Strombo,
"Carmen Electra called the office"
"She wants me to fix her house.
So one of my vice presidents calls me and goes 'I just thought I'd let you know that
she called and that we're going to humbly decline.'"
But then something clicked in Holmes' head:
"I said, 'Wait a second!
Wait a second'"
"Boom!
Celebrity homes!"
"People get to — they all want to know what they're like behind the screen, behind the
camera.
They wanna know what they're like"
As of 2017, Holmes' celebrity reno show has yet to materialize, but it may only be a matter
of time.
All in the family
Fans may have noticed Holmes' son, Mike "MJ" Holmes Jr., stepping in occasionally to work
with his dad on TV.
"Being his only son, he can be a bit tough sometimes"
MJ told the Ottawa Citizen, "Someone's got to take over the company one day, and I figure
who better than his son?
We share the same blood, the same passion.
Who better to carry on the legacy?"
But Mike's two daughters, Lisa and Sherry, also play an important role in the family
biz.
While Lisa prefers to work behind the scenes, Sherry told the Times Colonist that she had
no interest in joining the show — until working on a project in New Orleans after
Hurricane Katrina.
The Holmes fam joined forces with Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation to rebuild the Lower
Ninth Ward.
Sherry told the paper, "It was phenomenal.
I would do it again in a heartbeat."
Lawsuit
TV may give the impression that everything in Mike's world is picture perfect, but according
to a 2014 lawsuit, his company has faced serious problems.
According to the Calgary Herald, former Chief Executive Officer Julius Brinkman sued Mike
for $3.1 million, claiming breach of contract and other allegations.
Brinkman claimed the business owed him 5 percent of total shareholdings, in addition to reimbursements
from incurred expenses, and more.
In the suit, Brinkman alleged Mike and others involved in the business "unlawfully converted
those funds for their own use and benefit."
Canada-famous
Holmes was recognized by Canada's House of Commons for his mastery in building and construction,
and received the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
The British Columbia Institute of Technology also awarded him an honorary Doctorate of
Technology, the highest award anyone can receive from the school.
The institute's Dr. Verna Magee-Shepherd said in a statement, "Mr. Holmes is an extraordinary
craftsperson, he is also passionate about his many philanthropic ventures...We are pleased
to award him with this degree, as he sets a positive example not only for our trades
students, but for all members of the BCIT community."
Literary man
Mike's contracting empire includes more than just TV shows.
He's also the author of six books.
The Holmes Manual was fueled by Mike's routine interactions with fans.
He told Strombo:
"Everyone stops me at the airport, 'Can I ask you a question?'
And It just seemed to make sense…
Let's do a manual"
"This way instead of reading the whole book, like a lot of people seem to not want to do
anymore…They want an answer now."
Taking it down a notch
Mike's a busy man, but one defining moment shifted his perspective.
He told Strombo,
"I'm at my daughter's house the other day and I'm looking at my grandkids"
"I was there about an hour and a half…
And I realized, I gotta go, I gotta go. But you know...
After I left I thought, 'Why did I have to leave?'
Why am I always running?"
Mike is now attempting to embrace a new pace and outlook on life.
"I'm trying to tell myself, 'Slow down.
Smell the roses.
Enjoy the people around.'
And if anything, smile."
Ticking clock
Mike says he owes everything he knows to his late father, Jim Holmes.
He wrote on his blog, "In my eyes, he was Superman...he is the inspiration behind what
I do, for sure."
Jim died in a tragic accident, at the age of 55, when he fell down a flight of stairs.
Mike's mom, Shirley, passed away at the age of 56, from a heart attack a few years later.
The losses have left Mike feeling like his days are numbered.
He told Maclean's, "Even when I was younger, I said that I'd never make it to 60...It's
a different focus.
It means that I've got to accomplish everything I want to accomplish by that age."
Mike celebrated his 54th birthday in 2017.
Need a Holmes fix?
Whether you need your home fixed or just need your Holmes fix, there's a show for you.
As of 2017, Mike is on the air via HGTV Canada and the DIY Network with Holmes: Buy It Right.
The show, which premiered in September 2017, aims to help couples find their dream homes.
And of course, Mike "Gets these home buyers to use their heads, in addition to their hearts
and gives them the tools they need to make the most important purchase of their lives."
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