# Earl Hindman

Earl John Hindman (/ˈhaɪndmən/; October 20, 1942 – December 29, 2003) was an American actor, best known for his roles as Bob Reid on the television soap opera Ryan's Hope from 1975-1984 and 1988-89, and as Wilson W. Wilson on the sitcom Home Improvement from 1991-1999.

## Early years

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.

## Career

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), and Murder in Coweta County (1983). Hindman also played the part of J.T. in the Lawrence Kasdan film Silverado (1985), and the part of Satch in the Leonard Nimoy film Three Men and a Baby (1987).
One of Hindman's well-known early roles was as Bob Reid on the soap opera Ryan's Hope. He played the role from 1975-1984 and later returned for its final episodes in 1988-89. Hindman's wife (Molly McGreevy) was also on the soap from 1977–81 as Polly Longworth, best friend to media tycoon Rae Woodard.
In one of his most famous roles, Hindman played the role of the kindly unseen neighbor Wilson W. Wilson on the television sitcom Home Improvement from 1991-1999; 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.
His final roles included the movie Final (2001), and appearances in Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

## Personal life and death

On May 21, 1976, Hindman married Molly McGreevy, with whom he later acted in Ryan's Hope. McGreevy later became an Episcopal priest.
Hindman died of lung cancer on December 29, 2003, at the age of 61, in Stamford, Connecticut.

## Filmography
### Film

| 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 | |
| 1974 | Shoot It Black, Shoot It Blue | Garrity | |
| 1974 | The Taking of Pelham One Two Three | George Steever aka Mr. Brown | |
| 1977 | Greased Lightning | Beau Welles | |
| 1978 | The Brink's Job | FBI agent #3 | |
| 1981 | Taps | Lieutenant Hanson | |
| 1985 | Silverado | J.T. | |
| 1987 | Three Men and a Baby | Satch | |
| 1988 | Talk Radio | Chet / Black John / Jerry | Voice |
| 1991 | The Ballad of the Sad Café | Henry Macy | |
| 1991 | Fires Within | Sergeant | |
| 2001 | Final | Official | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1975–1984, 1988–1989 | Ryan's Hope | Bob Reid | TV series |
| 1983 | Murder in Coweta County | J.H. Potts | TV movie |
| 1986 | The Equalizer | Findlay | Episode: "Breakpoint" |
| 1986–1987 | The Equalizer | Lieutenant Elmer | 3 episodes |
| 1989 | War and Remembrance | Lt. Commander Wade McClusky | TV miniseries |
| 1991–1999 | Home Improvement | Wilson W. Wilson Jr. | 203 episodes |
| 2000 | Law & Order | Mr. Riley | Episode: "Black, White and Blue" |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Sheriff | Episode: "The Third Horseman" |