The late Earl Hindman played Tim Taylor’s down to earth, yet mysterious next-door neighbor Wilson for many years on the popular sitcom Home Improvement. This sagacious and scholarly individual had enough advice to last three lifetimes, which was a big help to Taylor and his family. In many respects, Wilson was the kind of neighbor everyone wished they could move next door to.
As much as Tim struggled (with hilarious effect) to understand Wilson’s many important lessons and words of wisdom, he still valued his wisdom. He’s easily one of TV’s most recognizable neighbors of any show, be it a sitcom, drama, or anything else, and his lessons are as relevant now as they ever were.
Updated on July 31st, 2021 by Derek Draven: Wilson is one of the most beloved and mysterious characters in all of sitcom history, and that’s a major part of the joke. Audiences waited years before they finally saw the character’s full face, but that was of lesser consequence compared to the wisdom he imparted on his good friend Tim Taylor. As one of the best-remembered characters in Home Improvement, Wilson’s legacy continues to live on long after the show’s end. He’s definitely the neighbor everyone wished they were blessed with, and he’s a calming source of reassurance during tough times, as well. The character has since been referenced in Tim Allen’s follow-up sitcom Last Man Standing, in part as an homage to the late, great Earl Hindman, who played the character for so many years.
10 Wilson Has A Ph.D. In Forgotten Languages And Cultures
Wilson possesses wisdom on a level comparable to Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. He’s been just about everywhere, which is why he’s so knowledgeable and worldly. His house is full of artifacts, and he often references history and famous quotes as part of his advice. This is one man with a Ph.D. in cultures and languages, with is nothing to scoff at.
Though important lessons and wisdom can be imparted via our own culture and history, it’s always wise to get a sense of how the rest of the world approaches particular problems as well. With a greater treasure trove of wisdom to draw from, Wilson was able to come up with appropriate solutions to complex problems.
9 Wilson’s Hidden Face
Wilson’s running gag is the covering of his face, typically via the fence that separates his house from the Taylor’s. However, Wilson has stepped out from behind the fence on many occasions, giving the audience a closer view of the mysterious character.
For example, plants and scarves have allowed Wilson to hide his face from the audience whenever he walks away from the fence. Eventually, this joke would run a little too far, which is usually what happens with physical comedy that tries to one-up itself over time.
8 Why Did Wilson Hide His Face?
At the curtain call following the end of each episode, Earl Hindman supposedly carried around a miniature version of a picket fence to hide the lower half of his face from the audience, keeping up the façade of his character on the show. It’s a clever take on the method acting technique used by many actors in Hollywood.
Anyone in the live audience hoping to get a sneak peek was either amused or disappointed at this gesture. It’s similar to how iconic rock band KISS relied on their heavy makeup for years in order to sell the sizzle, before finally unmasking years after the fact.
7 Wilson’s Full Name
Wilson’s full name was actually Wilson W. Wilson, which is a comical, but somehow plausible take. Maybe his parents didn’t have many ideas when it came to names, but at the end of the day, the name suits the character well, and it’s just another way for audiences to laugh along with the character.
It’s easy to surmise that his middle initial may in fact stand for “Wilson,” as well. It would certainly go a long way towards maintaining the joke while sounding entirely appropriate at the same time. The irony of the Wilson character is that he appears completely boring on the outside while being fascinating on the inside.
6 The Actor That Was Cool With People Seeing Only Half His Face
Most actors seem to be offended whenever they’re given minimal recognition, and many wish to be the center of attention. Earl Hindman, however, was fine being cast in a role where the audience would only ever see half his face. In some ways, it may have been a blessing in disguise.
Perhaps Hindman favored the anonymity, or perhaps he liked having a mysterious aspect to his character. It’s also possible he simply enjoyed the same joke as the audience and wanted to keep it going as long as he could. Whatever the reason, Hindman went with the flow.
5 Wilson’s Popularity
According to a poll conducted on IMDb, Wilson comes in fourth place when it comes to unseen TV characters that audiences would like to see. He’s part of a long list that includes characters from Charlie’s Angels, Magnum P.I., Friends, and Cheers, to name a few.
Though the urge to see a character get unmasked might be strong, sometimes it ends up being more of a letdown, as opposed to a blessing. There are some mysteries that should never be uncovered, as it tends to ruin the surprise and produce buyer’s remorse.
4 Wilson Unmasked
In the series finale curtain call, audiences got to see Wilson’s face for the very first time. It was a great way to end the show and tie up this particular loose end for the sake of the audience, especially those who had hung around as loyal viewers since the series’ very first episode in 1991.
The fact that the showrunners waited until the end to reveal Wilson’s full face to the world was a smart move. If it had been done halfway, or even later on in the series, it could have seriously spoiled one of the great themes of the show, making it far less unique in the process.
3 The Running Gag On Wilson’s Words
Whenever Tim approached Wilson for advice, it wasn’t uncommon for Wilson to include a famous quote or a reference of historical value to help Tim either understand or solve his problem. One of the running gags on the show was how Tim would consistently butcher Wilson’s sage advice whenever he tried to pass it along.
Poor Wilson’s carefully thought-out words didn’t fall on deaf ears, but they certainly confused anyone on the receiving end of Tim’s interpretation. Wilson doesn’t seem to mind, taking the entire thing in stride. He’s even contributed to some of the best jokes in the entire series.
2 The Fan Theory
Wilson is someone that everyone looks up to, especially Tim. He’s the Yoda of neighbors, with an answer for everything. One fan theory on Reddit has arisen from this observation, centering on Tim’s career as a carpenter. As he receives greater wisdom from his mysterious neighbor, it effectively turns him into a Messiah figure like Jesus Christ.
Tim then goes around trying to spread the lessons he learns from Wilson, who is the closest thing to an omniscient deity that a sitcom can really allow. It’s a plausible theory – Wilson as God, and Tim as Jesus. Alternatively, it could simply be one very smart guy imparting wisdom onto a far less schooled individual.
1 Wilson’s Character Origination
Home Improvement is loaded with plenty of hidden details, and Wilson is one of them. The character comes from a childhood memory of Tim Allen, in which he was too short to see his neighbor over the fence. He extrapolated it into a character that would end up acting as a rock of stability in both his life and his family life.
It’s a perfect example of why the Wilson character was so popular. Not only was Tim trying to teach audiences how to become handy around the house, but he was also learning how to handle family life, which requires a much more precise set of tools.
