History of Bill Nye in Timeline
Bill Nye, also known as Bill Nye the Science Guy, is an American science communicator, television presenter, and former mechanical engineer. He gained prominence as the host of the educational television show 'Bill Nye the Science Guy' (1993-1999). Initially a mechanical engineer at Boeing, where he invented a hydraulic resonance suppressor tube, Nye transitioned to comedy and science education. He wrote and performed on the sketch television show 'Almost Live!' where he conducted scientific experiments, marking the beginning of his career as a popular science educator.
1917: Birth of Edwin Darby "Ned" Nye
In 1917, Edwin Darby "Ned" Nye, Bill Nye's father, was born. He served in World War II and worked as a contractor building an airstrip on Wake Island.
1921: Birth of Jacqueline Jenkins
In 1921, Jacqueline Jenkins, Bill Nye's mother, was born. She later became a codebreaker during World War II.
November 27, 1955: Bill Nye's Birth
On November 27, 1955, William Sanford Nye was born. He is an American science communicator, television presenter, and former mechanical engineer.
1973: Graduation from Sidwell Friends School
In 1973, Bill Nye graduated from Sidwell Friends School after attending on a scholarship.
1977: Graduation from Cornell University
In 1977, Bill Nye graduated from Cornell University with a BS in mechanical engineering.
1978: Began Standup Comedy
In 1978, Bill Nye started doing standup comedy after winning a Steve Martin lookalike contest, moonlighting while working at Boeing.
October 3, 1986: Quit Boeing to Focus on Comedy
On October 3, 1986, Bill Nye quit his job at Boeing to focus on his burgeoning comedy career.
1986: Began working on Almost Live!
In 1986, Bill Nye began working as a writer/actor on Almost Live!, a local sketch comedy television show in Seattle. He filled in with science stuff when a guest canceled, and his segments became popular.
1986: Left Boeing and joined Almost Live!
In 1986, Bill Nye left his job as a mechanical engineer at Boeing to pursue comedy. He began writing and performing for the local sketch television show Almost Live!, where he regularly conducted wacky scientific experiments.
1987: Met with Carl Sagan
In 1987, during his 10-year college reunion, Bill Nye met with Carl Sagan at Cornell to discuss his interest in developing a science television program. Sagan advised him to "Focus on pure science".
1988: Hosted a radio show
In 1988, Bill Nye hosted a weekly radio show on KJR where he answered listener questions about science topics.
1989: Hosted Fabulous Wetlands
In 1989, Bill Nye hosted Fabulous Wetlands, a short educational show about Washington's wetlands, sponsored by the Washington State Department of Ecology.
1991: Appearance on Back to the Future: The Animated Series
From 1991 to 1993, Bill Nye appeared on live-action educational segments of Back to the Future: The Animated Series, assisting Dr. Emmett Brown.
1992: Member of Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
From 1992 to 1994, Bill Nye was a member of the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board.
1993: Appearance on Back to the Future: The Animated Series
From 1991 to 1993, Bill Nye appeared on live-action educational segments of Back to the Future: The Animated Series, assisting Dr. Emmett Brown.
1993: "Bill Nye the Science Guy" Airs
From 1993 to 1998, Bill Nye the Science Guy aired and became one of the most-watched educational TV shows in the United States. Nye portrayed the "Science Guy" wearing a powder blue lab coat and a bow tie.
1993: Development of "Bill Nye the Science Guy" Pilot
In 1993, Bill Nye, in collaboration with James McKenna, Erren Gottlieb, and Elizabeth Brock, developed a pilot for a new show, Bill Nye the Science Guy, for KCTS-TV. They successfully pitched the show as "Mr. Wizard meets Pee-wee's Playhouse".
1994: Member of Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
From 1992 to 1994, Bill Nye was a member of the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board.
1996: Release of "Bill Nye the Science Guy: Stop the Rock!" CD-ROM
In 1996, a CD-ROM based on the Bill Nye the Science Guy series, titled Bill Nye the Science Guy: Stop the Rock!, was released for Windows and Macintosh.
1997: Candle in the Dark Award
In 1997, Bill Nye received the Candle in the Dark Award from CSICOP for his "lively, creative endeavor."
1997: Death of Edwin Darby "Ned" Nye
In 1997, Edwin Darby "Ned" Nye, Bill Nye's father who served in World War II, passed away.
1998: End of "Bill Nye the Science Guy"
From 1993 to 1998, Bill Nye the Science Guy aired and became one of the most-watched educational TV shows in the United States. Nye portrayed the "Science Guy" wearing a powder blue lab coat and a bow tie.
1998: End of Bill Nye the Science Guy Syndication
In 1998, Bill Nye the Science Guy ended its run in national TV syndication. The show received critical acclaim and numerous Emmy nominations and wins.
May 1999: Honorary Doctorate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
In May 1999, Bill Nye was the commencement speaker at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree.
1999: On-Air Spokesman for Noggin
In 1999, Bill Nye's Science Guy character was the on-air spokesman for the Noggin television network.
1999: Bill Nye the Science Guy Ended
In 1999, Bill Nye's science education television show, Bill Nye the Science Guy, ended after six successful years.
2000: Technical expert on BattleBots
From 2000 to 2002, Bill Nye was the technical expert on BattleBots.
2000: Death of Jacqueline Jenkins Nye
In 2000, Jacqueline Jenkins Nye, Bill Nye's mother who was a codebreaker during World War II, passed away.
2001: Professor at Cornell University
In 2001, Bill Nye began serving as Frank H. T. Rhodes Class of '56 University Professor at Cornell University.
2002: Technical expert on BattleBots
From 2000 to 2002, Bill Nye was the technical expert on BattleBots.
2004: Hosted 100 Greatest Discoveries
In 2004 and 2005, Bill Nye hosted 100 Greatest Discoveries, an award-winning series produced by THINKFilm for the Science Channel.
2005: Hosted 100 Greatest Discoveries
In 2004 and 2005, Bill Nye hosted 100 Greatest Discoveries, an award-winning series produced by THINKFilm for the Science Channel.
2005: Vice President of The Planetary Society
In 2005, Bill Nye became the vice president of The Planetary Society, an organization that advocates for space science research.
2005: Premiere of The Eyes of Nye
In 2005, The Eyes of Nye, a comeback project aimed at an older audience and tackling more controversial science topics, premiered. However, the show lasted only one season.
February 3, 2006: Marriage to Blair Tindall
On February 3, 2006, Bill Nye married musician Blair Tindall, but the marriage was annulled seven weeks later.
2006: End of Professorship at Cornell University
In 2006, Bill Nye ended his tenure as Frank H. T. Rhodes Class of '56 University Professor at Cornell University.
October 28, 2007: Guest appearance on VH1's America's Most Smartest Model
On October 28, 2007, Bill Nye made a guest appearance on the VH1 reality show America's Most Smartest Model.
2007: Hosted Greatest Inventions with Bill Nye
In 2007, Bill Nye hosted an eight-part Discovery Channel series, Greatest Inventions with Bill Nye.
2007: Restraining Order Against Blair Tindall
In 2007, Bill Nye obtained a restraining order against Blair Tindall after she broke into his house and stole items, leading to legal actions.
May 2008: Honorary Doctorate from Johns Hopkins University
In May 2008, Bill Nye received an honorary doctorate from Johns Hopkins University.
November 2008: Portrayed Himself on Stargate Atlantis
In November 2008, Bill Nye portrayed himself in the fifth-season episode "Brain Storm" of Stargate Atlantis.
2008: Appeared on The Climate Code
In 2008, Bill Nye appeared on segments of Heidi Cullen's The Climate Code, later renamed Forecast Earth on The Weather Channel, and also on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire as part of its "Ask the Expert" feature.
October 2009: Advocated for Clean-Energy Climate-Change Legislation
In October 2009, Bill Nye recorded a short YouTube video advocating clean-energy climate-change legislation on behalf of Al Gore's Repower America campaign.
September 2010: Executive Director of The Planetary Society
In September 2010, Bill Nye became the second Executive Director of The Planetary Society.
November 2010: Featured in Bill Nye's Climate Lab
In November 2010, Bill Nye became the face of the "Bill Nye's Climate Lab" science exhibition at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California.
2010: Humanist of the Year Award
In 2010, Bill Nye received the Humanist of the Year Award from the American Humanist Association.
May 2011: Honorary Doctorate from Willamette University
In May 2011, Bill Nye received an honorary doctorate from Willamette University.
August 27, 2011: Public Lecture at Cornell University
On August 27, 2011, Bill Nye gave a public lecture at Cornell University, discussing his father's passion for sundials, his time at Cornell, and his work on the Mars rovers' sundials, and presented the university with the Bill Nye Solar Noon Clock.
July 2012: Support for Barack Obama's Reelection
In July 2012, Bill Nye supported President Barack Obama's reelection bid.
September 2012: Criticism of Creationist Views
In September 2012, Bill Nye claimed that creationist views threatened science education and innovation in the United States.
November 2012: Launched Kickstarter Campaign for AERO 3D
In November 2012, Bill Nye launched a Kickstarter campaign for an educational aerodynamics game called AERO 3D, but the campaign was not funded.
2012: Q&A session after Mars Rover landing
In 2012, Bill Nye conducted a Q&A session after the Mars Rover landing.
May 20, 2013: Honorary Doctorate from Lehigh University
On May 20, 2013, Bill Nye received an honorary doctor of pedagogy degree during a commencement ceremony at Lehigh University.
2013: Guest appearance on "The Big Bang Theory"
In 2013, Bill Nye guest-starred in "The Big Bang Theory" episode "The Proton Displacement", where he befriends Sheldon Cooper and is brought in to teach Leonard Hofstadter a lesson, leading to humorous situations and a rivalry with Professor Proton.
2013: Contestant on Dancing with the Stars
In 2013, Bill Nye was a contestant in season 17 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Tyne Stecklein. He was eliminated early after sustaining an injury.
2013: Advisory Council Member for the National Center for Science Education
Since 2013, Bill Nye has been a member of the Advisory Council of the National Center for Science Education.
February 2014: Debate with Ken Ham
In February 2014, Bill Nye debated creationist Ken Ham at the Creation Museum on the viability of creation as a model of origins.
February 28, 2014: White House Student Film Festival Guest
On February 28, 2014, Bill Nye was a celebrity guest and interviewer at the White House Student Film Festival.
2014: Publication of "Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation"
In 2014, Bill Nye wrote "Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation", a bestselling book on science.
March 2015: Change in Stance on GMOs
In March 2015, Bill Nye announced he changed his mind and now supported GMOs, reflected in a new edition of his book "Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation".
May 2015: Honorary Doctorate from Rutgers University
In May 2015, Rutgers University awarded Bill Nye an honorary doctor of science degree and a speaker's fee for presenting the ceremony's keynote address.
October 2015: Honorary Doctorate from Simon Fraser University
In October 2015, Bill Nye was awarded an honorary doctorate of science from Simon Fraser University.
2015: Publication of "Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World"
In 2015, Bill Nye wrote "Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World", a bestselling book on science.
2015: Visit to Everglades National Park with President Obama
On Earth Day 2015, Bill Nye met with U.S. President Obama to visit Everglades National Park in Florida and discuss climate change and science education.
July 2016: Tour of the Ark Encounter with Ken Ham
In July 2016, Ken Ham gave Bill Nye a tour of the Ark Encounter, leading to an informal debate between them.
August 31, 2016: Netflix announced Bill Nye Saves the World
On August 31, 2016, Netflix announced that Bill Nye would appear in a new series, Bill Nye Saves the World, which premiered on April 21, 2017.
2016: Appearance in Food Evolution documentary
In 2016, Bill Nye appeared in the documentary "Food Evolution", directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy and narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson.
March 2017: Premiere of "Bill Nye: Science Guy" at South by Southwest Film Festival
In March 2017, the documentary "Bill Nye: Science Guy", about Bill Nye's life and science advocacy, premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival.
April 21, 2017: "Bill Nye Saves the World" Premiered
On April 21, 2017, Bill Nye Saves the World premiered on Netflix.
April 22, 2017: Honorary Co-Chair of March for Science
On April 22, 2017, Bill Nye was the honorary co-chair of the inaugural March for Science.
July 2017: Comments on Climate Change Deniers
In July 2017, Bill Nye observed that the majority of climate change deniers are older people, suggesting that their views would diminish over time.
October 2017: "Bill Nye: Science Guy" Named NYT Critic's Pick
In October 2017, the documentary "Bill Nye: Science Guy" was named a NYT Critic's Pick.
2017: Discussion of Family History of Ataxia
In 2017, Bill Nye discussed his family history of ataxia and his decision not to have children to avoid passing on the condition in the documentary "Bill Nye: Science Guy".
2017: Ellen's Energy Adventure Closes
In 2017, Ellen's Energy Adventure, an attraction at Epcot at Walt Disney World featuring Bill Nye, closed after running since 1996.
2017: Appearance in Bill Nye: Science Guy documentary
In 2017, footage from Bill Nye's visit to the Ark Encounter with Ken Ham was included in the documentary film "Bill Nye: Science Guy."
May 11, 2018: Release of Final Season of "Bill Nye Saves the World"
On May 11, 2018, the third and final season of "Bill Nye Saves the World" was released on Netflix.
July 2018: Participation in MLB All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game
In July 2018, Bill Nye played for the National League squad at the MLB All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game, achieving a single in the bottom of the third inning.
2018: Attendance at State of the Union Address
In 2018, Bill Nye attended the State of the Union Address after being invited by Congressman Jim Bridenstine.
2018: Guest Appearances on Blindspot and The Big Bang Theory
In 2018, Bill Nye guest-starred in an episode of "Blindspot", playing a fictionalized version of himself, and made a second guest appearance on "The Big Bang Theory" with Neil deGrasse Tyson.
2018: End of "Bill Nye Saves the World" on Netflix
In 2018, the Netflix series Bill Nye Saves the World, which debuted in 2017, ended after three seasons.
May 12, 2019: Appearance on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
On May 12, 2019, Bill Nye appeared on "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" to discuss climate change and the Green New Deal.
August 21, 2019: Endorsement of Jay Inslee
On August 21, 2019, Bill Nye had endorsed Jay Inslee during the 2020 Democratic primaries, until Inslee suspended his campaign.
September 2019: Guest on Getting Curious Podcast
In September 2019, Bill Nye was a guest on Jonathan Van Ness's podcast "Getting Curious", discussing climate change, energy, and environmental issues.
October 28, 2020: Endorsement of Joe Biden
On October 28, 2020, Bill Nye endorsed Joe Biden for president on Twitter, urging followers to vote in the interest of climate change and science.
2020: Voice Acting in Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! and Portrayal of Upton Sinclair in Mank
In 2020, Bill Nye voiced himself in the animated feature "Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!" and portrayed Upton Sinclair in the biopic "Mank".
March 2021: Order for "The End is Nye" Series
In March 2021, Peacock ordered The End is Nye, a new series featuring Bill Nye exploring natural and unnatural disasters.
August 25, 2022: Premiere of "The End Is Nye" on Peacock and Syfy
On August 25, 2022, Bill Nye's most recent series, The End Is Nye, premiered on Peacock and Syfy.
2022: Marriage to Liza Mundy
In 2022, Bill Nye married journalist Liza Mundy.
2024: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2024, Bill Nye was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
January 4, 2025: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
On January 4, 2025, Bill Nye was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden.
2025: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
In January 4th, 2025, Bill Nye was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the United States.
2025: Addressed the No Kings Protest
In October 2025, Bill Nye addressed the No Kings protest in Washington, D.C., declaring, “no thrones, no crowns, no kings!”.
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