Bill Bixby: The Man Behind David Banner Who Left Too Soon
Bill Bixby wasn’t just a TV star—he was the kind of performer who made millions feel like he belonged in their living room. Born in 1934, he built a career spanning more than three decades, blending warmth, charm, and depth on screen and behind the camera. Most famously, he became a household name as Dr. David Banner in The Incredible Hulk (1978–1982)—the man whose calm demeanor hid a simmering warning: you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. Sadly, the world lost Bixby far too early in 1993 at the age of 59.
Early Life and Big Break
Wilfred Bailey Everett Bixby III entered the world on January 22, 1934, in San Francisco. An only child, he discovered a love for performance in high school, joining the speech and debate team. He studied briefly at City College of San Francisco and UC Berkeley but left to pursue acting full-time, supporting himself with modeling and commercials.
Bixby’s career took off in 1963 with My Favorite Martian, where he played reporter Tim O’Hara alongside Ray Walston’s chaotic alien. The show ran for three seasons, instantly making Bixby a familiar face in American households. From there, he starred as Tom Corbett in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, earning three Emmy nominations, and later as illusionist Anthony Blake in The Magician, a cult favorite despite its short run.
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