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5 great Bill Bixby roles that weren't The Incredible Hulk
My Favorite Martian? More like Our Favorite Guest Star!
To some of us, he's Dr. David Banner — physician, scientist — searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have. Then an accidental overdose of gamma radiation alters his body chemistry. And now, when David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs. He becomes — The Incredible Hulk!
To others, he'll forever be Tim O'Hara on My Favorite Martian, the eternally put-upon everyman with an Uncle Martin who's less of an uncle and more of a Martian.
But Bill Bixby had one monster of a career outside of The Incredible Hulk. He was in loads of TV shows!
Here's a glimpse at some of our favorite roles from the My Favorite Martian actor. He had an incredible career!
1. The Andy Griffith Show - "Bailey's Bad Boy"
In the 15th episode of The Andy Griffith Show's second season, Bill Bixby plays Ronald Bailey, the spoiled son of a wealthy businessman. After he sideswipes Farmer Fletch's truck, Ron is arrested and learns a thing or two from Sheriff Taylor. Bixby was 28 at the time, even though the character is 19!
2. The Twilight Zone - "The Thirty-Fathom Grave"
In this Rod Serling-penned episode of The Twilight Zone, Bill Bixby plays a sailor aboard a U.S. Destroyer. Things may not be all that they seem when the crew gets a signal from a long-abandoned submarine. That thing hasn't moved since World War II!
3. Barnaby Jones - "To Denise, With Love and Murder"
MURDER! This episode sees Barnaby Jones investigating the case of a missing woman. Her husband, Bill Bixby, just murdered his mistress. So, this one proves Bixby can play the bad guy, too!
4. Mannix - The Empty Tower
Bixby must've impressed producer Quinn Martin. Just two years after appearing on QM Productions' Barnaby Jones, here's Bill Bixby in an episode of Mannix. This time, Bixby's a good guy again, playing Mannix's buddy Tony Elliott, whose office is being burgled!
5. The Love Boat - "Message for Maureen"
Who wasn't in The Love Boat?! That vessel set everybody on a course for adventure! Bill Bixby is sportswriter John Ballard, who just tarnished the career of tennis pro Maureen Mitchell. And here they both are, on this boat!
26 Comments
I got teary-eyed when I saw it - sad experiences in his life and early cancer death.
NOTE: the series does NOT have gross stuff. It is really about their life history, lifestyles and what may have contributed to their illnesses/demise.
It's been on about a dozen years and is highly recommended for fans of the deceased subjects.
Mannix WASN'T a Quinn Martin Production; Bruce Geller produced it, alongside Mission: Impossible.
On the other hand, Bill Bixby did appear on QM's Streets Of San Francisco at least twice, playing very bad guys indeed ...
And then there was Goodnight Beantown.
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Did enjoy his other roles as well though.
