The Undiagnosed Illness Behind a Hollywood Legend’s Passing

Bill Bixby: The Beloved Actor Behind David Banner Who Left Too Soon

Born in 1934, Bill Bixby’s career spanned over three decades, leaving an unforgettable mark on television history. He became a household name as Dr. David Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk, forever tied to the iconic warning: “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” But beyond the green monster, Bixby’s life was filled with talent, heartbreak, and a quiet humanity that fans still remember fondly today. Tragically, his journey ended far too soon in 1993, at just 59 years old.

Early Life and Breakthrough

Bill Bixby, born Wilfred Bailey Everett Bixby III on January 22, 1934, in San Francisco, was an only child with a passion for performance. He joined the speech and debate team at Lowell High School and later attended City College of San Francisco and UC Berkeley, though he left school to pursue acting full-time. In his early years, he supported himself through modeling and commercial work, slowly carving out a place in television.

His big break came in 1963 with My Favorite Martian, where he played the inquisitive reporter Tim O’Hara alongside Ray Walston’s unpredictable alien. The show ran for three seasons and turned Bixby into a familiar face in American living rooms. From there, his career soared: he starred as widowed father Tom Corbett in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, earning three Emmy nominations, and played illusionist Anthony Blake in The Magician, a short-lived series that cultivated a loyal following.