Bill Bixby Was `The Incredible Hulk'

LOS ANGELES - Bill Bixby, who starred in "My Favorite Martian," "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" and "The Incredible Hulk" during his 30 years in television, died of cancer. He was 59.

Mr. Bixby died Sunday at his home in Century City, with his wife Judith Kliban-Bixby, at his bedside, said Pamela Golum, a spokeswoman for the NBC-TV show "Blossom." Mr. Bixby, the show's director, was on the job as recently as last week.

"He didn't want any sympathy," said "Hulk" alter ego Lou Ferrigno.

Mr. Bixby had struggled to overcome prostate cancer diagnosed in spring 1991. The disease eventually spread to his bladder, liver and hips.

"His mood was always optimistic, even if he would come in very drained from treatment," said Judith Allison, co-executive producer of "Blossom."

In the popular CBS sitcom "My Favorite Martian" from 1963-66, Mr. Bixby played reporter Tim O'Hara, foil to a mischievous extraterrestrial.

Mr. Bixby moved into the role of a wise, stalwart dad in "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" on ABC from 1969-72.

After the 1973-74 NBC series "The Magician," Mr. Bixby starred in the comic-book-based series "The Incredible Hulk" on CBS from 1978-82. He played David Banner, a research scientist condemned by a freak lab accident to change into a green-tinged monster when angered.

Born Jan. 22, 1934, in San Francisco, Mr. Bixby studied theater and got his first break appearing in industrial films. He worked steadily in TV after landing a part in an episode of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis."

His occasional films included "Irma La Douce" and "Lonely are the Brave."