Bill Bixby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bill Bixby
Bixby as The Magician, 1973
Born	Wilfred Bailey Everett Bixby III (1934-01-22)January 22, 1934 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	November 21, 1993(1993-11-21) (aged 59) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley
Occupation	Actor director producer game-show panellist
Years active	1959–1993
Television	My Favorite Martian, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Magician, The Incredible Hulk
Spouse(s)	Brenda Benet ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1980)​ Laura Michaels ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 1991)​ Judith Kliban ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	1

Wilfred Bailey Everett Bixby III (born January 22, 1934 – died November 21, 1993), known professionally as Bill Bixby, was an American actor, director, and producer. He was also a frequent guest on game shows.

Bill Bixby had a long career that lasted over 30 years. He appeared in plays, movies, and many TV shows. He is best known for his roles as Tim O'Hara in My Favorite Martian, Tom Corbett in The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Anthony Blake in The Magician, and Dr. David Banner in The Incredible Hulk.

Early Life and Beginnings

Bill Bixby was born in San Francisco, California, on January 22, 1934. He was the only child in his family. His father worked as a store clerk, and his mother was a senior manager at a department store.

After finishing Lowell High School in 1952, Bill studied drama at City College of San Francisco. He also served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve for a few years. Later, he attended the University of California, Berkeley.

Before becoming famous, Bill worked many different jobs. He was a bellhop and a lifeguard. In 1959, he started working as a model and in commercials for big car companies like General Motors.

Bill Bixby's Acting Career

Bill Bixby started his acting career in 1961. He appeared in a musical called The Boy Friend. Soon after, he made his first TV appearance on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.

He became a popular guest star on many TV shows. Some of these included The Twilight Zone and The Andy Griffith Show. In 1963, he also appeared in the movie Irma La Douce. During the 1970s, he continued to guest star on shows like Ironside and The Love Boat.

Becoming a TV Star

Bixby as Tim O'Hara in My Favorite Martian, when an accident turns Uncle Martin back into a baby (season 2, episode 28)

In 1963, Bill Bixby got a big role in the CBS sitcom My Favorite Martian. He played Tim O'Hara, a young reporter. He starred alongside Ray Walston in this popular show. The series ran for 107 episodes until 1966.

After My Favorite Martian, Bill Bixby appeared in a few movies. He was in Ride Beyond Vengeance and Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!. He also starred in two movies with Elvis Presley: Clambake and Speedway.

The Courtship of Eddie's Father

In 1969, Bill Bixby took on another important TV role. He played Tom Corbett in The Courtship of Eddie's Father on ABC. The show was about a father who was raising his young son alone. He also managed a big magazine and tried to find love again.

With The Courtship of Eddie's Father co-stars, Brandon Cruz and Miyoshi Umeki

The role of Eddie was played by a young actor named Brandon Cruz. Bill and Brandon became very close friends, both on and off screen. The show also featured Miyoshi Umeki as Mrs. Livingston, the housekeeper.

Bill Bixby was nominated for an Emmy Award for his acting in 1971. He also started directing episodes of the show in 1970. The series ended in 1972 after three seasons.

Bill and Brandon Cruz stayed in touch after the show. Brandon even appeared as a guest on Bill's later series, The Incredible Hulk. Brandon Cruz later named his son Lincoln Bixby Cruz, showing how much he valued their friendship.

Magic and Movies

In 1973, Bill Bixby starred in The Magician. In this show, he played a stage illusionist named Anthony Blake. Bill Bixby was an amateur magician himself. He even hosted TV specials about magic and was a member of a special magic club called The Magic Castle.

Bill Bixby was also a popular guest on game shows. He often appeared on Password and The Hollywood Squares. In 1975, he starred in the Disney movie The Apple Dumpling Gang with Tim Conway and Don Knotts.

He received two Emmy Award nominations in 1976 for his roles in The Streets of San Francisco and Rich Man, Poor Man. From 1976 to 1980, he hosted a show on PBS called Once Upon a Classic.

The Incredible Hulk

Bixby as Dr. David Banner in the 1977 pilot for the Incredible Hulk television series.

Bill Bixby took on the famous role of Dr. David Banner in The Incredible Hulk. This show was based on the Marvel characters. The show's creator, Kenneth Johnson, chose Bill Bixby for the part. Bill's performance was praised for showing the sadness and intelligence of Dr. Banner.

During the show's run, Bill invited his friends Ray Walston and Brandon Cruz to appear as guest stars. He also worked with actress Mariette Hartley, who later starred with him in his last series, Goodnight, Beantown. Bill Bixby also directed one episode of The Incredible Hulk.

The series ended after a few seasons. However, Bill Bixby continued to play Dr. Banner in three TV movies: The Incredible Hulk Returns, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, and The Death of the Incredible Hulk. He also directed the last two of these movies.

Later Career and Personal Life

After The Incredible Hulk, Bill Bixby continued to work as an executive producer and co-star in the sitcom Goodnight, Beantown (1983–84). He also directed several episodes of this show. He directed episodes for other TV series, including Wizards and Warriors and Sledge Hammer!.

Bill Bixby hosted a documentary series for Nickelodeon called Against the Odds. This series told short stories about famous people from history. He also hosted specials about Elvis Presley.

His last acting role was in a TV movie called Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of Murder in 1992. He finished his career by directing 30 episodes of the NBC sitcom Blossom.

Bill Bixby was married three times. His first marriage was to actress Brenda Benet. They had a son named Christopher. Sadly, Christopher passed away in 1981 at a young age. Bill later married Laura Michaels and then Judith Kliban.

In early 1991, Bill Bixby was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He shared his health journey publicly in 1993. Bill Bixby passed away on November 21, 1993, at the age of 59, due to complications from his illness.

Filmography

Film

Television

Production credits

Television

See also

In Spanish: Bill Bixby para niños