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Born in 1934, Bill Bixby built a career spanning more than three decades as a gifted actor and television director. He became a permanent fixture in American homes as Dr. David Bruce Banner in the late 1970s and early 1980s—the man behind the unforgettable warning: “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”
For over thirty years, colleagues and fans alike were drawn to his natural warmth. Actor Ray Walston once summed up his charm perfectly: “I believe that was the reason people liked him — instantly and completely.” Yet, beneath the steady stream of iconic television roles and behind-the-scenes success, Bixby carried immense personal heartbreak and fought a private, grueling battle against a hidden illness that ultimately claimed his life at age fifty-nine.
A Journey to Stardom
Born Wilfred Bailey Everett Bixby III on January 22, 1934, in San Francisco, Bixby discovered a passion for performance early in life. He participated in speech and debate at Lowell High School before attending the City College of San Francisco and UC Berkeley. He ultimately left higher education to pursue acting full-time, initially supporting himself through modeling and commercial work.