The Man Behind the Fence: Earl Hindman

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Earl Hindman. 1942-2003.

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Blog Created: 6-19-2025

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Earl John Hindman (/ˈhaɪndmən/; 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.

Early years ~

Hindman was born in Bisbee, Arizona, the son of Eula and Burl Latney Hindman, who worked in the oil pipeline business. He studied acting at the University of Arizona.

Career ~

Hindman's earliest roles were in low-budget exploitation movies 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 unseen neighbor Wilson W. Wilson on the television sitcom Home Improvement from 1991-1999; more accurately, Wilson was 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.

His final roles included the movie Final (2001), and appearances in Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Personal life and death ~

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.

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Molly Paine McGreevy. Earl's wife.

HOME IMPROVEMENT - 100th Episode Party - Shoot Date: April 8, 1995. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) EARL HINDMAN;BLAKE CLARK.

Earl Hindman, (behind the fence) with Tim Allan.

Co-star, Richard Karn.

UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 13: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images-TV MINISERIES - "War and Remembrance, Part 3" - 11/13/88, Michael Woods (left, Warren Henry), Robert S. Woods (third from left, Lt. Cmdr. Eugene Lindsey) and Earl Hindman (center, Lt. Cmdr. Wade McClusky) starred in the Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images-TV miniseries "War and Remembrance" based on the Herman Wouk novel., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images).

Tim Allan and Earl Hindman taking a break from filming Home Improvement.

WESTWOOD PREMIERE OF J.PASQUIN'S 'JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE'

HOME IMPROVEMENT - 100th Episode Party - Shoot Date: April 8, 1995. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) PORTRAIT OF TIM ALLEN, PATRICIA RICHARDSON, ZACHERY TY BRYAN, RICHARD KARN, TARAN NOAH SMITH, DEBBE DUNNING AND EARL HINDMAN WITH CREW.

RYAN'S HOPE - Show Coverage - Shoot Date: March 4, 1977. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: EARL HINDMAN;KAREN MORRIS GOWDY;HANNIBAL PENNEY.

RYAN'S HOPE - Show Coverage - Shoot Date: March 4, 1977. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) EARL HINDMAN;ILENE KRISTEN.

RYAN'S HOPE - Show Coverage - Shoot Date: August 20, 1975. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: KATE MULGREW;BERNARD BARROW;EARL HINDMAN.

RYAN'S HOPE - Show Coverage - Shoot Date: September 5, 1978. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: EARL HINDMAN;DANIEL HUGH KELLY.

RYAN'S HOPE - NYC Location Shoot - Shoot Date: April 15, 1983. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) EARL HINDMAN.

Earl Hindman, Robin Greer And Corbin Bernsen Appear on Ryan's Hope. 1984.

CIRCA 1974: (R) Actor Earl Hindman in a scene from the movie "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" circa 1974. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images).

HOME IMPROVEMENT - "The Karate Kid Returns" - Airdate: January 14, 1997. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) TIM ALLEN AND EARL HINDMAN (BACKROW, 3RD FROM L) WITH THE BEACH BOYS (L-R: CARL WILSON;MIKE LOVE;HINDMAN;AL JARDINE;BRUCE JOHNSTON;UNKNOWN).

1998 The cast of "Home Improvement." Back: Earl Hindman and Taran Smith. Front from L-R: Richard Karn, Zachary Ty Bryan, Patricia Richardson, Tim Allen, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Debbe Dunning.

HOME IMPROVEMENT - "I'm Scheming of a White Christmas" - Airdate: December 16, 1992. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) STANDING (L-R): TIM ALLEN;PATRICIA RICHARDSON;RICHARD KARN;EARL HINDMAN SEATED(L-R): ZACHERY TY BRYAN;TARAN NOAH SMITH;JONATHAN TAYLOR-THOMAS.

HOME IMPROVEMENT - "Mark's Big Break" - Airdate: February 9, 1999. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) EARL HINDMAN.

HOME IMPROVEMENT - "Whitewater" - Airdate: September 22, 1998. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) EARL HINDMAN;MICHAEL CUDLITZ;TIM ALLEN;DEBBE DUNNING;RICHARD KARN.

HOME IMPROVEMENT - "The Long and Winding Road" - Airdate: May 18, 1999. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) RICHARD KARN;DEBBE DUNNING;EARL HINDMAN;TARAN NOAH SMITH;ZACHERY TY BRYAN;TIM ALLEN;PATRICIA RICHARDSON.

HOME IMPROVEMENT - "The Long and Winding Road" - Airdate: May 18, 1999. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) MEGAN CAVANAGH;EARL HINDMAN;RICHARD KARN.