The hidden illness that took this Hollywood legend’s life

Friends later recalled that Bixby never truly recovered. He continued working, but something fundamental shifted. The warmth remained, but it was layered with sorrow.

Just one year later, Benet herself died. Though Bixby rarely spoke publicly about either tragedy, those close to him understood that grief had become a permanent companion.

A Quiet, Private Man
Despite being one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors in the 1970s, Bixby avoided the social scene. He disliked parties, avoided gossip, and guarded his private life fiercely.

He preferred weekends by the ocean, simple meals, gardening, and quiet conversations.

“I’m a very private person,” he once said. “I don’t enjoy idle chatter.”

That privacy extended to his pain.

Reinventing Himself as a Director

In the 1980s, Bixby increasingly stepped behind the camera. He directed episodes of Goodnight, Beantown, Sledge Hammer!, and eventually became a regular director on Blossom.

Young actors admired him. Crew members respected him. He ran sets with calm authority and deep empathy, understanding performers not as tools, but as collaborators.

Directing gave him something acting no longer could — control, focus, and purpose.

Love, Then Diagnosis
In 1990, Bixby married Laura Michaels. Their relationship ended shortly thereafter, but the following year brought news that overshadowed everything.

In 1991, Bill Bixby was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Rather than hiding his illness, he spoke openly about it, hoping to encourage awareness and early detection. But the disease progressed aggressively.

In 1993, knowing time was limited, Bixby married artist Judith Kliban. Their relationship was described as intense, loving, and deeply present — shaped by the awareness that nothing could be taken for granted.

Working Until the End
Even as his health declined, Bixby refused to retreat. On the set of Blossom, he continued directing as long as physically possible.