Earl Hindman


Earl John Hindman was an American film and television actor, best known for his role as the kindly unseen neighbor Wilson W. Wilson, Jr. on the television sitcom Home Improvement.
Long before this role, however, he 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?, Greased Lightning, The Brink's Job and Taps, and played the part of J.T. in the Lawrence Kasdan film Silverado.
Hindman's most famous pre-Home Improvement role was as Bob Reid in Ryan's Hope. He played the role from 1975–84 and later returned for its final episodes in 1988–89. Hindman's wife was also on the soap 1977–81 as Polly Longworth, best friend to media tycoon Rae Woodard.
His voice was heard on the Disneyland Railroad from 2002 until 2016 and on the Walt Disney World Railroad from 2002 until late 2010.

Personal life and death

Hindman was born in Bisbee, Arizona, the son of Eula and Burl Latney Hindman, who worked in the oil pipeline business. He studied acting at the University of Arizona.
On May 21, 1976, Hindman married Molly McGreevey, with whom he later acted on Ryan's Hope. McGreevey later became an Episcopal priest.
A longtime smoker, Hindman was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003. He died of the disease on December 29, 2003 at the age of 61, in Stamford, Connecticut, where he is buried in Roxbury Cemetery.

Filmography