Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Judith Kamman Kliban |
| Birth Name | Judith Kamman |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) |
| Occupations | Artist, designer, estate manager |
| Known For | Stewardship of B. Kliban’s artistic estate; marriages to cartoonist B. Kliban and actor Bill Bixby |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly available |
| Place of Birth | New England (region) |
| Spouses | B. Kliban (until his death in 1990); Bill Bixby (m. October 3, 1993–November 21, 1993) |
| Children | None publicly documented |
| Years Active | 1970s–present (estate stewardship since 1990) |
| Current Status | Private; not active in media |
Early Life and Education
Judith Kamman Kliban grew up in New England, a landscape of granite and green that often breeds practical creativity. She carried that spark to the Rhode Island School of Design, training as a painter and designer. The particulars of her early life—birth date, parents, hometown—remain tucked away, as if kept in a well-worn sketchbook no one else gets to open. What is clear is the foundation: an artist’s eye, a designer’s discipline, and a preference for privacy.
RISD’s rigorous studio culture shaped her approach. The lessons of line, texture, and composition proved useful not only in her own art, but later in the textured work of managing an influential cartoonist’s legacy. Education became both toolkit and compass.
Art, Cats, and a Marriage: Judith and B. Kliban
Judith’s first public chapter is written alongside Bernard “Hap” Kliban (1935–1990), the absurdist cartoonist whose cats padded into global culture in the mid-1970s. Their shared life included the real cats behind the myth—furry muses whose deadpan stares and improbable antics became emblems of Kliban’s humor. Somewhere after his 1967 divorce and before his 1990 death, Judith and B. Kliban married, building a home that balanced brushstrokes and punchlines.
His fame soared with “Kliban Cats” in the 1970s—books, calendars, and merchandise that put whiskers on a generation’s refrigerator doors. Family sat close by the drawing board: Kliban’s daughter, Sarah (born 1961), pursued weaving in Hawaii; his brother, Ken Kliban, added a New York thread to the tapestry. Judith was part of that fabric, though she preferred the seamstress’s place—present, steady, rarely in the limelight.
On August 12, 1990, B. Kliban died at 55 from a pulmonary embolism. The sudden loss closed one chapter and opened another that demanded patient stewardship.
One-Woman Stewardship: Keeping the Kliban Cats Alive
After 1990, Judith shifted from partner to guardian. She took the helm of the Kliban estate, managing licensing, copyright, and the gentle machinery of a beloved brand. Her presence appears in small print—“© Judith Kamman Kliban”—a signature as discreet as it is decisive. A largely solo operation, her stewardship has kept the cats prowling across calendars, reprints, and keepsakes, purring in the cultural background year after year.
Rather than chasing headlines, she worked as a lighthouse keeper: maintaining the beam that ensures a body of work stays visible, accessible, and protected. The estate’s durability suggests a careful balance—respect for original art, responsiveness to fans, and an artist’s intuition about where whimsy belongs.
Kliban Estate Highlights
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1975 | Kliban Cats gain widespread popularity through books and calendars |
| 1990 | Judith assumes stewardship of B. Kliban’s estate |
| 1990s–2020s | Ongoing licensing and protection of copyrights under her management |
A Brief, Tender Chapter: Judith and Bill Bixby
Late 1992 brought Judith into the orbit of actor Bill Bixby (1934–1993), a television mainstay known for My Favorite Martian, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, and The Incredible Hulk. By then, Bixby was contending with advanced prostate cancer. Despite the narrowing horizon, there was room for grace. Judith and Bill married on October 3, 1993, in a private ceremony at sunset on a Marin County hillside. He died six weeks later, on November 21, 1993, at the age of 59.
Bixby’s earlier life carried joy and deep sorrow: a son, Christopher (1966–1981), by his first marriage to Brenda Benet, who died tragically young; a second marriage that ended amid illness. In his final chapter, Judith became caregiver and wife, offering constancy when time was short. Their story is brief, luminous—like a flare seen from sea—and repeatedly noted in retrospectives about Bixby’s life.
Family Network at a Glance
Judith’s documented family ties sit largely within her spouses’ circles, with no public record of children of her own.
| Name | Relation to Judith | Key Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard “Hap” Kliban | First husband | 1935–1990 | Cartoonist; “Kliban Cats” |
| Sarah Kliban | Stepdaughter | Born 1961 | Weaver based in Hawaii |
| Ken Kliban | Brother-in-law | — | Based in New York City |
| Bill Bixby | Second husband | 1934–1993 | Actor; married October 3, 1993 |
| Christopher Bixby | Stepson | 1966–1981 | Son of Bill Bixby and Brenda Benet |
| Brenda Benet | Former in-law via spouse’s history | 1945–1982 | Actress; first wife of Bill Bixby |
| Mary Kathleen Brown | Former in-law via spouse’s history | — | First wife of B. Kliban |
Privacy and Presence: Recent Mentions
Judith’s public footprint is deliberately small. Mentions tend to arrive on anniversaries or in social media threads that connect a dot between Kliban’s cats and Bixby’s Hulk—two corners of pop culture stitched together by a private person. Occasional posts credit her in cat-themed illustrations or point to her role in protecting copyrights. She avoids the noise, keeping her work measured and quiet.
Life Events Timeline
| Date/Period | Event |
|---|---|
| Mid-20th century | Born Judith Kamman in New England (exact date not publicly available) |
| — | Trains in painting and design at RISD |
| 1970s | “Kliban Cats” gain widespread recognition |
| Late 1970s–1980s | Judith marries B. Kliban (exact date not publicly available) |
| August 12, 1990 | B. Kliban dies at age 55 from a pulmonary embolism |
| 1990 onward | Judith manages the Kliban estate; copyright credits reflect her stewardship |
| Late 1992 | Introduced to actor Bill Bixby |
| October 3, 1993 | Marries Bill Bixby in a private Marin County ceremony |
| November 21, 1993 | Bill Bixby dies at age 59 |
| 1993–present | Continues to maintain a private life; limited media presence |
FAQ
Is Judith Kliban still alive?
She appears to be alive and maintains a private life with little public activity.
Did Judith Kliban have children?
No children are publicly documented from either marriage.
What is Judith Kliban best known for?
She is known for stewarding the estate of cartoonist B. Kliban and for her brief marriage to actor Bill Bixby.
Where did Judith Kliban study art?
She trained at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
When did Judith Kliban marry Bill Bixby?
They married on October 3, 1993, and he died six weeks later.
What is her connection to “Kliban Cats”?
She managed the licensing and copyrights after B. Kliban’s death, keeping the brand active.
Does Judith Kliban maintain social media?
She does not have a visible public presence; mentions of her are indirect and occasional.
