Background and career
Earl John Hindman (; 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.
Hindman was born in Bisbee, Arizona, the son of Eulena and Burl Latney Hindman, who worked in the oil pipeline business. He studied acting at the University of Arizona.
Hindman's earliest roles were in low-budget exploitation films in the 1960s, though he moved on to appear in productions from major Hollywood film studios in the 1970s, playing 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 neighbor Wilson W. Wilson on the television sitcom Home Improvement from 1991–1999. Wilson was only ever 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. In later episodes, Wilson is occasionally seen in other environments outside of his backyard, but something – a mask for a costume, an on-set prop, a large bundle Wilson is carrying – always blocks part of his face to the home viewer. His final roles included the movie Final (2001), and appearances in Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
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.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
