Earl Hindman, American actor (d. 2003)
Earl John Hindman (October 20, 1942 – December 29, 2003) was an American actor, best known for his role as the kindly unseen neighbor Wilson W. Wilson, Jr. on the television sitcom Home Improvement (1991–99).Long before this role, however, he played 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), Murder in Coweta County (1983), and played the part of J.T. in the Lawrence Kasdan film Silverado (1985).
Hindman's most famous pre-Home Improvement role was as Bob Reid in Ryan's Hope. He played the role from 1975 to 1984 and later returned for its final episodes in 1988–89. Hindman's wife (Molly McGreevy) was also on the soap 1977–81 as Polly Longworth, best friend to media tycoon Rae Woodard.