Bixby's ex-wife, actress Brenda Benet, killed herself less than a year. In early 1993, after rumors began circulating about his health, Bixby went public with his illness, and made several appearances on shows such as Entertainment Tonight, Today, and Good Morning America, among others. In 1989 he was making a Hulk TV movie, where he met Laura Michaels, the two of them marrying in Hawaii a year later. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Bill Bixby died on Sunday November 21, 1993 at his home in Century City. Which, of course, puts a pretty negative spin on Bill in terms of how he treated her. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. He gave a dazzling performance, demonstrating every human emotion anyone could ever have. He was great in a social settings and was considered a good guy, but one-on-one he was more reserved. In 1975, he co-starred with Tim Conway and Don Knotts in the Disney movie The Apple Dumpling Gang, which was well received by the public. Everybody was real quiet and he looked around and said, Hey, we have a job to do. Following a run in NBCs 1973-74 series The Magician, actor starred from 1978-82 in CBS comic-book-based The Incredible Hulk, in which he played mild Dr. David Banner, researcher who through a freak lab accident changed when angry into a huge, green monster, played by weightlifter Lou Ferrigno. Eight years later (in 1989), he married the love of his life, Laura Michaels. Miss Benet, 36 years old, was found Wednesday in the bathroom of her West Los Angeles house, said Officer Winston Jones. Bixby was executive producer and co-star of the short-lived sitcom Goodnight, Beantown (198384). The pair developed a close rapport that translated to an off-camera friendship, as well. He organized shows at a resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and in 1959 was hired to work as a model and to do commercial work for General Motors and Chrysler. Her mother paid for these lessons by taking jobs cleaning and sewing. And he doesn't have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Bill Bixby was born Wilfred Bailey Bixby on January 22, 1934 in San Francisco, California. Check out our deep dive into the ups and downs of Bixbys Life: For more of these throwback videos, check out our YouTube Channel! Bill Bixby died of prostate cancer on November 21, 1993. [18] The success of the pilot (coupled with some theatrical releases of the film in Europe) convinced CBS to turn it into a weekly series, which began airing in the spring of 1978. Had always wanted to be a performer and took dance lessons at an early age. Bixby was married three times. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Actor-director Bill Bixby, 59, superdad in TV's "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" and scientist-hero of "The Incredible Hulk" vidseries, died Sunday at his home in Century City after a long bout . In her book The Death of Right and Wrong, talk radio host Tammy Bruce writes of her personal involvement with Bixby and Benet. The couple's 6-year-old son, Christopher Sean Bixby, died last year after a severe throat infection. He played a daredevil stunt pilot in an episode of the short-lived 1976 CBS adventure series Spencer's Pilots, starring Gene Evans. [22], Bixby's first marriage was to actress Brenda Benet. Various roles, where she usually played the exotic type, followed throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A teenager in Detroit has won a $613,000 Lucky 7 Fast Money jackpot with a ticket that was gifted to her by a friend. Marriage was a real crossroads for Bill in terms of deciding to follow the rules of adulthood, making a commitment and being a grownup, says Grove. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Maine teen breaks world record for building Lego World Map. Three years into her marriage with Bill, Brenda gave birth to Christopher on September 25, 1974. Eddie was played by novice actor Brandon Cruz. He had a long and distinguished acting and directing career before and after The Courtship of Eddie's Father. There was just something he conveyed that felt genuine; that he was someone you could actually hang out with. Bill Bixby as Tony Blake from the television program The Magician in 1973. Bixby left behind a rich legacy and big shoes to fill after his death, even though he never had another child with Kliban. to get Bixby a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, How Olivia NewtonJohns Daughter Copes With Grief After Her Mothers Death, Tim Allen Shares Nostalgic Photo That Has 90s Movie Fans Hopeful For More. ''They are absolutely sure at this point'' that she committed suicide, Officer Jones said. He died at a local hospital. He was 59. revolver into her mouth and pulled the trigger. A few months later, in March 1981, six-year-old Christopher died while on a skiing vacation at Mammoth Lakes with Benet. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Earlier this year, he began an experimental hormone-treatment program at the UCLA Medical Center. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. There are people who have stars that, not to be blunt, but I wouldn't bother spitting on their stars. The cause was prostate cancer, said Pamela Golum, a spokeswoman for the NBC-TV show "Blossom.". Instead, he relapsed into a coma and cardiac arrest before closing his eyes for the last time a few hours after surgery. Bixby made his directorial debut on the sitcom in 1970, directing eight episodes. A narrative about how Bixby's intense anger and disappointment focused on Brenda after their divorce has been spun and could easily be the factor that contributed to her suicide. [2][3], An only child, Bixby was born Wilfred Bailey Everett Bixby III, a fourth-generation Californian of English descent, on January 22, 1934, in San Francisco, California. And I really thought I was going to die that night," Mr. Bixby told the syndicated show "Entertainment Tonight. [1] [3] [2] She was 36. Mr. Bixby, the show's director, was on the job until last week. The series, which was cancelled after only two seasons, consists of short biographies of famous people throughout history. Bixby's father died of a heart attack in 1971, a month before Bill's first wedding. However, Christopher never fully recovered. During all of this, he had shifted from acting over to directing full time, shooting 30 episodes of the Mayim Bialik sitcom Blossom between 1992 and 1994 and he continued getting treatment for his cancer. Charles B. Assiff (qv's & corrections by A. Nonymous), Other Works According to Kenneth Johnson, the creator of Marvel's TV version of "The Incredible Hulk": "My personal impression of Bix was that he was a very professional, friendly, accessible guy that never changed. Miss Benet was married to the actor Bill Bixby, who played in the television series ''The Incredible Hulk.'' In 1977, he co-starred in the pilot for the television series Fantasy Island; starred in "No Way Out", the final episode of the NBC anthology series Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected (known in the United Kingdom as Twist in the Tale);[16] and appeared with Donna Mills, Richard Jaeckel, and William Shatner in the last episode, "The Scarlet Ribbon", of NBC's Western series The Oregon Trail, starring Rod Taylor and Andrew Stevens. He did his final interview with Entertainment Tonight shortly before he died, and I think what we see there is a man whos very lonely. On April 7, 1982, Brenda went into the bathroom of her West Los Angeles home, lit and arranged some candles in a circle on the floor and lay down. Three years later, after that show went off the air, he moved into the role of a wise, stalwart parent in "The Courtship of Eddie's Father." He wasnt able to get past the anger for her, over the divorce, to feel sympathy for her and what she was going through.. He was only 59. His co-stars noticed it, as well as his first wife, Brenda, who also accepted his behavior. It might have been nearly three decades since Bill Bixby departed the earth, but memories of the man who played Hulk in "The Incredible Hulk" have stuck with lovers of his work owing to his fantastic acting. Brenda Benet, born Brenda Ann Nelson in Los Angeles, California, on August 14, 1945, was a classic example of the modern-day Hollywood tragedy. He was also a panelist on the 1974 revival of Masquerade Party, which was hosted by Richard Dawson. LOS ANGELES -- Bill Bixby, 59, whose three-decade television career featured starring roles as a Martian's pal, a super dad and a comic book superhero, died of cancer Nov. 21 at his home in. With the loss of his son, Bixby felt intense anger, much of which he directed at Benet. [9][10][11][12][13], Later, he attended the University of California, Berkeley, his parents' alma mater, and left just a few credits short of earning a degree. One episode of the series co-starred Bixby's future wife, Brenda Benet, as one of Tom's girlfriends. In a related story, Lana Wood, the Diamonds Are Forever Bond girl and sister of the iconic actress Natalie Wood, also had a tumultuous life. He ensured that by naming his child after his great friend. Bill Bixby, TV Actor, Dies at 59; Starred in 3 Long-Running Series, https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/23/obituaries/bill-bixby-tv-actor-dies-at-59-starred-in-3-long-running-series.html. Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Florida came to the rescue of a seagull spotted entangled in string and dangling from a utility pole. MAMMOTH, Calif. -- The 6-year-old son of 'Incredible Hulk' television series star Bill Bixby died of a rare childhood illness during a weekend ski trip, a studio spokesman said Tuesday. They were married on July 4, 1971. He underwent chemotherapy and surgery, which made his cancer remain in remission, up until the middle of 1992. Contrary to what his parents wanted, he only studied theater at City College, San Francisco. At the same time, privacy was very important to him and he tended not to expose parts of his inner self. How much was Adam West worth? The marriage fell apart by 1980 and Benet, who revealed herself to be bi-sexual, got in a relationship with Tammy Bruce, currently a Fox news personality. If he sensed otherwise, the actor would politely drift away. It was believed that this and her divorce from Bixby were the events which caused Brenda's life to spin out of control. Indeed, the actor was so impressive in delivering his lines and roles that even his colleagues and other producers admired him. Bixby was known for his role alongside Walston in "My Favorite Martian" and in the 1977 "The Incredible Hulk: The Incredible Hulk. | To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. In April 1982, after police had to break down the bathroom door in her Los Angeles home, they found Brenda dead on the floor after she shot herself in the head with a .38-caliber revolver, Police Sgt. The series was well liked, but lasted for only one season. She began a relationship with Bill Bixby and moved in with him in 1969, and they married in 1971. [24] Benet committed suicide the following year.[25]. Whatever Happened to Bill Bixby and the Cast of The Courtship of Eddies Father? Bill Bixby, television actor, director and producer best known for his starring role as Dr. . Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A Michigan man who couldn't remember if he had already purchased a lottery ticket ended up with two identical tickets -- and won two jackpots. He also directed several episodes of ABC's "Rich Man, Poor Man" in the 1970s. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. "Blossom" star Mayim. Bixby was 59 years old. The cause was prostate cancer, said Pamela Golum, a spokeswoman for the NBC-TV show "Blossom." Bill Bixby/Sons They were married in 1971, and she gave birth to their son, Christopher, in September 1974. [citation needed], After graduation from high school in 1952, against his parents' wishes, he majored in drama at City College of San Francisco. With the loss of his son, Bixby felt intense anger, much of which he directed at Benet. A statue of The Incredible Halk stands near the red carpet at the premiere of Universal Pictures' "The Incredible Hulk" held at the Universal City Walk on June 8, 2008 in Universal City, California. It wasnt crap. For over 30 years, he was in great demand and his big roles and directing credits have been a personal testimony to his fans. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Later, he starred in My Favorite Martian from 1963-1966 with Ray Walston. His parents were not people who showed a lot of affection, Grove relates. The actor/director was diagnosed with prostate cancer in spring 1991. He was 59. As crazy as his private life might have been, publicly and professionally he was pretty much a goodie goodie., In that video interview with Entertainment Tonight mentioned by Grove,Bill himself commented on his own legacy, stating, I would hope that Ive left behind something that would lead to goodwill, and then my life would have been worth something.. It reached a point where he had to direct from a sofa. In early 1991, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent treatment. In a retrospective on The Incredible Hulk, Glenn Greenberg declared Bixby's performance to be the series's "foremost" strength, elaborating that he "masterfully conveyed the profound loneliness and tragedy of Dr. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Deceased (1934-1993) Bill Bixby/Living or Deceased "| Source: Getty Images, Television historian Ed Robertson claimed that the actor knew how to play every role to the letter. With Blossom being his last job before he died, I dont think most of us would hope that our lives would end that way. He was 59. | Source: Getty Images. How did Bill bixbys son die? 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During the same time, Bixby directed several episodes of another short-lived television series, Wizards and Warriors, which aired in 1983. [4][5][6][7][8] He served primarily in personnel management with Marine Attack Squadron 141 (VMA-141) at Naval Air Station Oakland, and attained the rank of private first class before his 1956 discharge. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. His first tv role was on the 1961 tv series, The Joey Bishop Show. The cause was prostate cancer, said Pamela. Bixby, a San Francisco native, served in the US Marine Corps Reserve during the Korean War and later worked as a lifeguard in Detroit, where he met an advertising executive who offered him a job. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. The series concerned a widowed father raising a young son, managing a major syndicated magazine, and at the same time trying to re-enter the dating scene. His father, Wilfred Bailey Everett Bixby II, was a store clerk. "I prayed for some extra time, but what we got was really intense and quite fabulous.". He was 59. He soon went to Hollywood, where he landed a part in an episode of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." Cruz believed that the actor's legacy would carry on despite Bixby's untimely death. Banner while also bringing to the role an abundance of warmth, intelligence, humor, nobility, likability, and above all else, humanity. Bixby met Laura Michaels, who had worked on the set of one of his Hulk movies, in 1989. "[14], In a 2011 interview with Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith about how Bill Bixby's fame was supposed to posthumously honor him for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Cruz said, "When I found out they were putting this out, I thought, 'It's about time.' But right now, lets work. And thats the way Bill was. As far as Bixby was concerned, things didnt get any easier, with the 1990s moving his life along like something of an express train. He was also someone who had so much energy and intensity that it was sometimes overwhelming., He points to Bixbys parents in explanation for at least part of the way that he was, particularly his mother. [26][27] He was divorced in the same year. Bixby was an introvert and never dispensed personal details, but he was also a sensational performer with great energy in work and social life. GOOD MORNING: "I thought I was going to die I was in so much pain," Bill Bixby recalls of his nine-day hospital stay in April for treatment of prostate cancer. Was believed that this and her divorce from Bixby were the events which caused Brenda life! Arrest before closing his eyes for the NBC-TV show & quot ; star Mayim, 1974 of and! Of prostate cancer on November 21, 1993 Bishop show of control were people! 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