Bill Bixby

Bill Bixby (born January 22, 1934 in San Francisco, California - November 21, 1993), was an American actor, director, and producer. He is known for the role of David Banner in the TV series The Incredible Hulk.

Bixby died from complications of prostate cancer in Los Angeles on November 21, 1993. He was 59 years old.

 Career 
Bill Bixby made the most of his career in television. His credits on the big screen include: Irma la Douce (1963), with Jack Lemmon, and directed by Billy Wilder; Ride Beyond Vengeance (1966), western starring Chuck Connors; and two movies starring Elvis Presley, Clambake (1967) and Speedway (1968). His first television series was My Favorite Martian, playing the role of Tim O'Hara, and co-starring Ray Walston. The show aired on CBS from 1963 to 1966. Bixby continued to have success on television as the star of the ABC sitcom The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969–1972), where he played a widower who cares for his young son played by Brandon Cruz. He also played in The Magician (1973–1974), as a famous magician Anthony Blake, who is also a detective. The biggest hit of his career would come in the late 1970s, playing the role of David Banner in CBS TV series The Incredible Hulk with Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk. The show is based on the character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. After the success of the series, there were three movies filmed for television: The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988), directed by Nicholas Corea; The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989); and The Death of the Incredible Hulk, directed by Bixby.

Bill Bixby was nominated for three Emmy Awards for his work in The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969), The Streets of San Francisco (1972), and Rich Man, Poor Man (1976).

 Filmography 

+ Movie Year Títle Role Notes 1962 Lonely Are the Brave  Airman in Helicopter  Uncredited 1963 Irma la Douce   Tattooed sailor   1963 Under the Yum Yum Tree   Track team coach     1963–66 My Favorite Martian Tim O'Hara  TV series1966 Ride Beyond Vengeance  Johnsy Boy Hood 1967  Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!  Dick Bender 1967  Clambake James J. Jamison III  1968  Speedway Kenny Donford   1969–73 The Courtship of Eddie's Father  Tom Corbett   TV series1971  Big Fish, Little Fish    Ronnie  TV movie1972 The Couple Takes a Wife   Jeff Hamilton   TV movie 1973 Steambath   Tandy  TV movie1973  Shirts/Skins   Teddy Bush   TV movie 1973–74 The Magician Anthony Blake   TV series1974  Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love William  TV movie1975 The Apple Dumpling Gang Russel Donavan  1976 Rich Man, Poor Man Willie Abbott  TV mini-series 1976 The Invasion of Johnson County Sam Lowell  TV movie 1976 The Great Houdini  Rev. Arthur Ford   TV movie 1977 Black Market Baby Herbert Freemont   TV movie 1977 The Incredible Hulk Dr. David Banner  TV movie 1977 The Incredible Hulk: Death in the Family   Dr. Bruce Banner   TV movie 1978–82 The Incredible Hulk  Dr. Bruce Banner   TV series 1982 Murder Is Easy  Luke Williams  TV movie  1982 I've Had It Up to Here   TV movie 1983–84 Goodnight, Beantown Matt Cassidy  TV series1985  International Airport  Harvey Jameson   TV movie 1986 Sin of Innocence  David McGary  TV movie 1986 True Confessions      TV series 1988 The Incredible Hulk Returns Dr. Bruce Banner  TV movie1989 The Trial of the Incredible Hulk  Dr. Bruce Banner  TV movie1990 The Death of the Incredible Hulk Dr. Bruce Banner   TV movie

 References 
Cult TV: the essential critical guide, by Jon E. Lewis, Penny Stempel
Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials: 1974-1984, by Vincent Terrace]

 Other websites 
. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
. Retrieved March 10, 2010

Category:1934 births
Category:1993 deaths
Category:American movie actors
Category:American television actors
Category:American television directors
Category:American television producers
Category:Cancer deaths in Los Angeles
Category:Deaths from prostate cancer
Category:Actors from San Francisco