Bill Bixby
A versatile and deeply empathetic actor who brought a soulful, everyman quality to roles ranging from sitcoms to the tragic heroism of The Incredible Hulk.
1934–1993 (age 59)·American actor and director·Birthday: January 22·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bill Bixby possessed a gentle, intelligent presence that made him one of television's most relatable stars across three decades. He first found fame as the straight-man reporter Tim O'Hara in the whimsical sitcom 'My Favorite Martian,' but it was his role as widower Tom Corbett in 'The Courtship of Eddie's Father' that revealed his depth, blending warmth and melancholy as a single father. Bixby, however, resisted being typecast as merely nice. He directed episodes of his shows and took on dramatic parts, like in the miniseries 'Rich Man, Poor Man.' His defining achievement came in the late 1970s with 'The Incredible Hulk,' where he played Dr. David Banner, a man haunted by tragedy and cursed with a monstrous alter ego. Bixby's performance, full of anguish and restless searching, grounded the comic-book premise in raw human emotion, making the series a surprise critical success and cementing his legacy as a performer of remarkable sincerity.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bill was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bill Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Bill's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Died at 59
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
Key Achievements
- Starred as the lead in three successful TV series: 'My Favorite Martian,' 'The Courtship of Eddie's Father,' and 'The Incredible Hulk.'
- Directed numerous episodes of 'The Incredible Hulk' and other television series, showcasing his talent behind the camera.
- Received an Emmy nomination for his supporting role in the landmark television miniseries 'Rich Man, Poor Man.'
- Helped create and produce 'The Incredible Hulk' series, shaping its serious, character-driven tone.
Did You Know?
He was a skilled magician and incorporated illusions into his short-lived series 'The Magician.'
Bixby was a champion swimmer in high school and briefly attended the University of California, Berkeley on a swimming scholarship.
He directed the pilot episode for the popular 1980s sitcom 'Blossom.'
His son, Christopher Bixby, was born in 1971.
“Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.”
