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Bill Bixby

Bill Bixby

Actor and director, also producer · Died November 21, 1993, aged 59 · San Francisco, California, USA

Wilfred Bailey Everett Bixby III (January 22, 1934–November 21, 1993) was an American actor, director, and producer. His career spanned more than three decades, during which he became well-known for a variety of television roles. Bixby achieved early popularity starring as Tim O'Hara in the CBS sitcom "My Favorite Martian" (1963-1966), and he later played the widowed father Tom Corbett in the ABC sitcom "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" (1969-1972). He was also recognized for his role as stage magician and detective Anthony Blake in "The Magician" (1973-1974). Bixby's most iconic role came in the late 1970s when he portrayed Dr. David Banner in the CBS science-fiction drama "The Incredible Hulk," a role he reprised in three television movies. In addition to acting, he directed numerous episodes of shows throughout his career. Bixby was nominated for three Emmy Awards. He passed away from complications of prostate cancer on November 21, 1993, at age 59. His enduring legacy is marked by his kind and compassionate portrayals and the versatility he brought to his work across television and film.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 22, 1934
Died
November 21, 1993 (aged 59)
From
San Francisco, California, USA
Works as
Actor and director, also producer
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 88 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 47% in 30 days

What are Bill Bixby's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
34%
Morality
26%
Self
18%
Power
7%
Society
5%
Ideas
5%
Survival
5%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 14 · Serious 3 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 10 · Charged 8 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 11 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 12 of 16 analyzed roles.

Hero
12 of 16
Shadow
2 of 16
Herald
1 of 16
Ally
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
12
Tense
11
Joyful
9
Melancholic
6
Absurd
2
Other
11

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Bill Bixby's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bill Bixby's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

88 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • L'Incroyable Hulk : L'Homme Mystère (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Dr David Banner

  • The Woman Who Loved Elvis(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of Murder(1992)

    as Nick Osborne

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Baby of the Bride(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Sons and Daughters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Ferris Bueller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Blossom(1990)

    Show 28 episodes · Director · Actor

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • The Death of the Incredible Hulk(1990)

    Director · Executive Producer · as David Banner

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Elvis Files (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Narrator

  • The Nutt House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Exploring Psychic Powers Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • The Trial of the Incredible Hulk(1989)

    Director · Executive Producer · as David Banner

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Murphy's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Incredible Hulk Returns(1988)

    Director · Executive Producer · as Dr. David Bruce Banner

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • J.J. Starbuck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Spies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Better Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Sledge Hammer!(1986)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · as Zeke (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • True Confessions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · as Host

  • Sin of Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as David McGary

  • International Airport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Harvey Jameson

  • Detective in the House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • W*A*L*T*E*R (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show Creator

  • Goodnight, Beantown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 18 episodes · as Matt Cassidy

  • Wizards and Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Murder Is Easy(1982)

    as Prof. Luke Williams

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Merlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

  • Bride of the Incredible Hulk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Dr. David Bruce Banner

  • Black Market Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Herbert Freemont

  • The Magic of David Copperfield (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Flying High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Narrator

  • Three on a Date(1978)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Return of the Incredible Hulk(1977)

    as David Banner

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    as Dr. David Bruce Banner

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 82 episodes · Director · as David Banner

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as John Ballard

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Oregon Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Actor

  • Fantasy Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Arnold Greenwood

  • Once Upon a Classic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Great Houdinis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Reverend Ford

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Spencer's Pilots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · as Philo McGrew

  • The Invasion of Johnson County(1976)

    as Sam Lowell

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bert D'Angelo Superstar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Rich Man, Poor Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · as Willie Abbott

  • Kate McShane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Barbary Coast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Apple Dumpling Gang(1975)

    as Russel Donavan

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love(1974)

    as William

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Shirts/Skins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Teddy Bush

  • The Magician (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 21 episodes · Director · as Anthony Blake

  • Steambath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Tandy

  • The Magician (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Anthony Dorian

  • Barnaby Jones(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Alex Chandler

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • The Couple Takes a Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Jeff Hamilton

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerry Schilling

  • Search (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Congratulations, It's a Boy! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Johnny Gaines

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Alan · as Darian

  • Medical Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Hurst

  • The Courtship of Eddie's Father(1969)

    Show 73 episodes · Director · as Tom Corbett

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Room 222 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Speedway(1968)

    as Kenny Donford

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Clambake(1967)

    as James J. Jamison III

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · as Tony Elliott

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Danny Thomas Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as David

  • Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!(1967)

    as Dick Bender

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Gallin

  • That Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ride Beyond Vengeance(1966)

    as Johnsy Boy Hood

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Valentine's Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Pierce

  • Under the Yum Yum Tree(1963)

    as Track Team Coach (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • My Favorite Martian(1963)

    Show 107 episodes · as Tim O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • The Lieutenant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Pvt. Stu Sallaway

  • Irma la Douce(1963)

    as Tattooed Sailor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Combat!(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Kline

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Lonely Are the Brave(1962)

    as Airman in Helicopter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Straightaway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Ben Mollenhour · as Dr. John Grant

  • The Joey Bishop Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 34 episodes · as Charles Raymond

  • The Andy Griffith Show(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronald Bailey

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as OOD

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 88 titles from 1959 to 2009; peak year 1989.

Biggest box office

The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)

$37M worldwide

Highest rated

The Incredible Hulk (1977)

Midcredits 69th

Most popular right now

The Incredible Hulk (1977)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19592009

Peak 1989 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1962Screen debut· Lonely are the Brave
  • 1977First top-billed film· The Incredible Hulk
  • 1977Breakout· The Incredible Hulk
  • 1977Career best· The Incredible Hulk

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting68 of 88: 56 only acting, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thDirecting30 of 88: 19 only directing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score32ndProducing3 of 88: 0 only producing, 3 with another roleOther crew1 of 88: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

88 titles, 12 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 11 of them.

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s24 · 23 acting · 3 crew1970s33 · 27 acting · 11 crew1980s19 · 11 acting · 11 crew1990s9 · 4 acting · 7 crew2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 50% of 12 roles
6272

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Bill Bixby's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · director

Three on a Date (1978)

88th percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Lonely Are the Brave (1962)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Bill Bixby's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 29 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Bill Bixby work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bill Bixby's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Lou Ferrigno shares the most, 6.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles