Wilson from "Home Improvement" has died

[Obi]

Actor Earl Hindman, best known for playing a neighbor whose face was forever obscured by a fence on the television show "Home Improvement," died of lung cancer Monday in Stamford, Conn. He was 61.

As Wilson, the neighbor of Tim Allen (news)'s character on the long-running sitcom, Hindman dispensed folksy advice from behind a white picket fence, with only his eyes and forehead visible to audiences. Before appearing on the show, he played Detective Lt. Bob Reid for 16 years on the daytime drama "Ryan's Hope."

Hindman made his name in New York theater, appearing in "Dark of the Moon" off Broadway in 1970 and in "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel" at the Public Theater in 1971. He also acted in two short-lived Broadway plays and in several movies, including "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe" (1991) and "Final" (2001).

He was born in Bisbee, Ariz., and studied acting at the University of Arizona in Tucson.


I don't know what news site they got it from, I just found it on theforce.net's forums...

[Eddie G.]

That's really sad, he had a great character.

[Joker85]

OMG! Jesus will the deaths not end this year? That's so sad. I loved Wilson on that show and he was so young! RIP :( He will be missed.

[Frank Castle]

What the hell! That guy was such a good actor! What a way to end a year. :mad:

[PaQ]

That's so sad and to be during the holidays..
I enjoyed him as Wilson.
It won't be the same next time I hear "Hidee Ho Talyor lads." (sp?)
RIP

[Boy Wonder]

That's sad. You just gotta love the situations where Wilson has something over his mouth so it won't get revealed. What a good guy. I guess he smoked or did an Andy Kaufman.

[Evil Dr. Reef]

Jesus God, 2003 has been a horrible year for the movie industry's actor lifespan. Poor Wilson, though. He was a cool guy on HI.

[David the Joker]

I was a big fan of "Home Improvement" and really liked the character of Wilson Wilson Jr. on "Home Improvement". I also enjoy the advice he would give Tim and the interplay between the two characters. He said some good quotes. I liked how the show kept his face out of view and did very clever camera shots. If they ever did another "Home Improvement" special it wont be the same, the last special was good even though Earl was the narrator because he was unavaible. He was too young to die and we lost many good actors this year. I guess Earl Hindman will be always famous for a guy who you never saw his face (like Dr. Claw).

[TimTwoFace]

Aww man, another good celeb has passed away this year. And he was only 61, too. RIP, Wilson. :(

-Tim

[Dr Kain]

Which guy was he? The guy who always hid behind the fence?

[James]

Which guy was he? The guy who always hid behind the fence?
Yep. That's very sad. I enjoyed his work on that show a great deal - especially when I was younger.

[shogunthethird]

*lights a solitary candle obscured behind a white picket fence*

[Behonkiss]

I jinxed it. I made a post saying we'd get at least one more celeb death before the year ended.

WILSOOOON!

[Animelee]

I remember when they finally revealed how he looked on the final episode.

Home Improvement will never be the same. :(

[Jave]

That's sad. He was my favorite character of Home Improvement.

Rest in Peace Mr. Hindman

[The Penguin]

I read this right before lunch and it just brought back when I used to watch Home Improvement and Tim would ask Wilson for advice and then Tim would get it, but when he tried to explain it to someone else it made no sense and he got everything mixed up. Funny stuff.

Earl Hindman was never a big box office draw or the big star of a TV series, but he did what he did very well and I will always remember him for that. :)

[Alex Toon]

Damn. I go on vacation and look what happens! :mad: I never saw Wilson's face on Home Improvement. Luckily when I die, I might get to see his face in Heaven.

First John Ritter, then Rerun, Art Carny, and now Wilson. :(

Man, 2003 sucked. :(

[Brandon Pierce]

RIP, Wilson

BTW, on other shows where Earl Hindman appeared on other tv shows, was his face shown? I heard he wore like real dark sunglasses or something.

[The Dork Knight]

It's too bad we had to end 2003 with yet another unexpected death.

We'll miss you neighbor. :(

- The Dork Knight

[David Lucas]

Damn that year! Not Earl!

That was one of the sweetest and caring characters on a sitcom, ever. Not only that, but he was so damn intelligent. I don't remember an episode where Wilson wouldn't teach me something about the ancient hindu tribes of Guadalampur or something along those lines.

Not to mention it always gave you Tim's horrible reciting of the information to look forward to.

I honestly feel 2003 was the worst year I've ever had to endure, and I'm sorry that many of the people who I grew up with never got the chance to endure it.

I'll miss you Mr. Hindman, I hope you've remembered all your lines 'cause I'm gonna ask you about all the problems I had in life once I get up there.

[Caffeine King]

That's too bad. :(

I watched Home Improvement all the time when it was on and always wondered what Wilson's face looked like.

I would this out a few days ago when some guy was reading the paper and I saw it on the back and finally saw his real face. :(