Tim Allen recently took a moment to remember late actor Earl Hindman, his co-star fromHome Improvementknown for his role as the kindly next door neighbor Wilson. On the classic comedy series, Tim Taylor (Allen) frequently interacted with Wilson, but because of a privacy fence separating their yards, only the top of Wilson’s head was ever shown. It became a running gag that continued on throughout the show’s eight-season run.
Sadly, Earl Hindmanpassed awayin 2003 at the age of 61, just four years afterHome Improvementconcluded. Nearly two decades later, Allen still remembers his old friend rather fondly, as the actor showed on Twitter. In one post, Allen included an image of a red, white, and blue wind spinner sticking up from behind a neighbor’s fence. He also wrote in the tweet, “Summer neighbor keeps forth decorations up all summer. Grateful for great neighbors.”
The photo is reminiscent of Wilson in how the spinner is just high enough to be seen from the other side of the fence. Reminded of his late friend andHome Improvementco-star, Allen posted images ofEarl Hindmanand said in a follow-up tweet, “Wilson’s ghost was holding that spinner. God rest you my old friend Earl Hindman.”
Home Improvementaired for eight seasons between 1991-99. The series primarily followsthe Taylor family, consisting of patriarch Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor (Allen), mother Jill (Patricia Richardson, and children Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan), Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), and Mark (Taran Noah Smith). Richard Karn also starred as Tim’s “Tool Time” co-host Al Borland with Earl Hindman playing the neighbor Wilson.
The idea of aHome Improvement rebootwas discussed earlier this year by both Allen and Karn. In an interview withToday, both actors said they’d be up for doing some kind of a reunion special if all of the stars were able to properly align.
“We’ve talked about it before, and the relationship, as some of you know, with studios and creators and networks gets very complicated,” Allen said. “I’d love to see where Al and Tim are, where ‘Tool Time’ is right now, have the boys all grown up now with kids, I think it’s a great idea.”
When asked if he’d be up for returning as Al Borland, Karn bluntly stated, “Absolutely.”
Meanwhile, Allen and Karn have since reunited for History’s reality competition seriesAssembly Required. The pair serve as co-hosts and coach builders through various DIY challenges in a manner reminiscent of theirHome Improvementcharacters.
“It didn’t seem like something he’d be interested in, even though we see each other quite a bit … it turned out we share an interest in celebrating people who fix things instead of break things,” Allen said of Karn coming on board for the new show.
Allen also recently wrapped up a nine-season run of his sitcomLast Man Standing, which originally was canceled at ABC after six seasons before Fox picked it up for the remainder of the series. A crossover episode in the final season saw Allen reprise his role as Tim Taylor and he even paid tribute to Hindman by mentioning Wilson.
Rest in peace, Earl Hindman. This news comes to us fromTim Allen on Twitter.
