Earl John Hindman (October 20, 1942 – December 29, 2003) was an American film and television actor, best known for his role as the kindly neighbor (whose lower face was always hidden from television viewers) Wilson W. Wilson, Jr. on the television sitcom Home Improvement (1991–1999).Long before this role, however, he played villains in two 1970s thrillers, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and The Parallax View. He also played the part of J.T.