Earl Hindman

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Earl Hindman
Born
Earl John Hindman

(1942-10-20)October 20, 1942
DiedDecember 29, 2003(2003-12-29) (aged 61)
OccupationActor
Years active1968–2003
TelevisionHome Improvement
Spouse
(m. 1976)

Earl John Hindman (/ˈhndmən/; October 20, 1942  – December 29, 2003)[1] was an American actor, best known for his role on the television sitcom Home Improvement, which ran from 1991 to 1999. Hindman played the role of the kindly unseen neighbor Wilson W. Wilson, Jr.; more accurately, Wilson was partially seen, because of a running gag that only the top of his face was visible as he talked to his neighbor from the other side of a tall fence.[2]

Early years[edit]

Hindman was born in Bisbee, Arizona, the son of Eula and Burl Latney Hindman, who worked in the oil pipeline business.[3][4] He studied acting at the University of Arizona.[5]

Career[edit]

Hindman played villains in two 1974 thrillers, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and The Parallax View. He also appeared in the films Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? (1971), Greased Lightning (1977), The Brink's Job (1978), Taps (1981), Murder in Coweta County (1983), and played the part of J.T. in the Lawrence Kasdan film Silverado (1985).

Hindman's most famous pre-Home Improvement role was as Bob Reid in Ryan's Hope. He played the role from 1975 to 1984 and later returned for its final episodes in 1988–89. Hindman's wife (Molly McGreevy) was also on the soap 1977–81 as Polly Longworth, best friend to media tycoon Rae Woodard.

Personal life and death[edit]

On May 21, 1976, Hindman married Molly McGreevy, with whom he later acted in Ryan's Hope. McGreevey later became an Episcopal priest.[6]

Hindman died of lung cancer on December 29, 2003, at the age of 61, in Stamford, Connecticut.[5]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1967 Teenage Mother
1968 The Kiss of Her Flesh Don
1969 The Ultimate Degenerate Bruno
1971 Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? Whitey
1974 The Parallax View Deputy Red
Shoot It Black, Shoot It Blue Garrity
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three George Steever aka Mr. Brown
1975–1984, 1988–1989 Ryan's Hope Bob Reid TV series
1977 Greased Lightning Beau Welles
1978 The Brink's Job FBI agent #3
1981 Taps Lieutenant Hanson
1983 Murder in Coweta County J.H. Potts
1985 Silverado J.T.
1987 Three Men and a Baby Satch
1988 Talk Radio Chet / Black John / Jerry Voice
1989 War and Remembrance Lt. Commander Wade McClusky TV miniseries
1991 The Ballad of the Sad Café Henry Macy
Fires Within Sergeant
1991–1999 Home Improvement Wilson W. Wilson, Jr. TV series, 203 episodes
2000 Law & Order Mr. Riley Episode: "Black, White and Blue"
2001 Final Official
2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Sheriff Episode: "The Third Horseman"

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Earl Hindman". Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television (Collection). Vol. 41. Gale. 2002. ISSN 0749-064X. Retrieved November 5, 2022. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Ng, Philiana (March 5, 2018). "Tim Allen Says He's 'Very Interested' in a 'Home Improvement' Reboot (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  3. ^ Saxon, Wolfgang (December 30, 2003). "Earl Hindman, 61, the Neighbor Unseen on 'Home Improvement'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 4, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Shields, Dean (January 15, 2004). "A brother's journey interrupted". Payson Roundup. Payson, Arizona. Archived from the original on October 4, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Collins, Dan (December 30, 2013). "'Home Improvement' Actor Dies". CBS News. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  6. ^ Birkner, Gabrielle (January 2, 2004). "Wilson of TV's "Home Improvement,' Earl Hindman dies at 61 of cancer". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2019.

External links[edit]