Tim Allen says God calls the shots

HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor and comedian Tim Allen says some rough breaks over the years actually bolstered his belief in God.

Allen told ABC's "20/20" said his father's death in a traffic accident along with the two years he spent in prison on drug charges convinced him he was being shoved along a path by unseen hands.

"Whoever built me, this is too much, too weird that it happened by accident," said Allen. "It didn't happen by accident."

Allen told ABC his personal relationship with God was "curious" and had a strong helping of cynicism after his dad died when he was 11. He said he faced the uneasy question of whether he could have prevented the tragedy if he had prayed harder.

Although Allen is now convinced he is operating under a predetermined plan, he isn't dying to know what it is. "I do ask it, but you got to be prepared for the answer," he said, joking that God could answer, "I want you to handle lepers 24/7."