Earl John Hindman ( October 20 , 1942 -- December 29 , 2003 ) was an American actor , best known for his role as the kindly neighbor ( whose lower face was always hidden from television viewers ) Wilson W. Wilson , Jr. on the television sitcom `` Home Improvement '' ( 1991 -- 1999 ) .
Earl John Hindman ( October 20 , 1942 -- December 29 , 2003 ) was an American actor . He was best known for his role as the neighbor ( whose whole face was always hidden from television viewers ) Wilson W. Wilson , Jr. on the television sitcom `` Home Improvement '' ( 1991 -- 1999 ) , starring Tim Allen .