James Gilmore Backus (February 25, 1913 – July 3, 1989) was an American actor. Among his most famous roles were Thurston Howell III on the 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island, the father of James Dean's character in Rebel Without a Cause,[1] the voice of the near-sighted cartoon character Mr. Magoo,[2] the rich Hubert Updike III on the radio version of The Alan Young Show, and Joan Davis' character's husband (a domestic court judge) on TV's I Married Joan. He also starred in his own show of one season, The Jim Backus Show, also known as Hot Off the Wire.
Born
James Gilmore Backus
Died
Occupation
Actor
Years active
1948–1984
Known for
Gilligan's Island
Rebel Without a Cause
Mr. Magoo
Rescue from Gilligan's Island
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
Spouses
(m. 1939; div. 1942)
(m. 1943)Awards
An avid golfer, Backus made the 36-hole cut at the 1964 Bing Crosby Pro-Am tournament. He was inducted to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.[3]
Backus was born February 25, 1913, in Cleveland, Ohio,[4] and raised in Bratenahl, Ohio,[5][6] an East Side suburb of Cleveland located on the Lake Erie shore, surrounded by the city on three sides. He was the only son of Russell Gould Backus and Daisy Taylor (née Gilmore) Backus.[5][6] His older sister was Katherine Jane Backus.[5] He attended Shaw High SchoolinEast Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from University SchoolinShaker Heights, Ohio.[7]
Backus was acting on radio as early as 1940,[4] playing the role of millionaire aviator Dexter Hayes on Society GirlonCBS.[8] He had an extensive career and worked steadily in Hollywood over five decades, often portraying characters with an "upper-crust", New England-like air, much like his best-known role, Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island. He appeared in (and narrated) A Dangerous Profession (1949); Deadline – U.S.A. (1951) with Humphrey Bogart; Pat and Mike (1952) with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn; Rebel Without a Cause (1955); The Pied Piper of Hamelin (1957); and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). He also made television appearances on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962).
Backus was the voice of the nearsighted cartoon character Mr. Magoo. Years later, when Backus was a frequent talk show guest, he would recount the time Marilyn Monroe urgently beckoned him into her dressing room. Henny Backus, Jim's wife, recalled the story: "Jim was in the 1952 film Don't Bother to Knock, with Marilyn Monroe. He came home one night during the filming and told me that Miss Monroe in her most seductive breathy voice asked him to meet her in her dressing room. His curiosity got the better of him and he went. Once there, she exclaimed like an excited child, 'Do Mr. Magoo!' And Jim did."[9]
He frequently could be heard on primetime radio programs in the postwar era, including The Jack Benny Program, and he portrayed an exceedingly vain character named Hartley Benson on The Judy Canova Show on the CBS Radio Network, as well as a similar character named Hubert Updike on The Alan Young Show on the NBC Radio Network. He also starred on the short-lived variety program The Jim Backus Show on the ABC Radio Network in 1957 and 1958, when that network changed its name to the American Broadcasting Network (ABN) and tried out a "Live and Lively" format of "Big Time Radio" with orchestras and audiences. Backus costarred in the comedy show I Married Joan from 1952 to 1955, portraying the husband of Joan Davis.
Backus appeared as Thurston Howell IIIonGilligan's Island for all three seasons of its run, 1964 to 1967, and later in reunion TV films, Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978), The Castaways on Gilligan's Island (1979), and The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981). By the third and final film in 1981, Backus was suffering from Parkinson's disease and his participation was limited to a cameo appearance. He also voiced the character in two cartoon versions of the series, The New Adventures of Gilligan from 1974 to 1977 and Gilligan's Planet from 1982 to 1983.
Backus also returned as the voice of Mr. Magoo in various revivals between 1964 and 1977, which included The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo and What's New, Mr. Magoo?. In stark contrast to his usual affluent characters, he guest-starred on The Brady Bunch in 1971 as an old gold prospector, a role he also played on a Gilligan's Island episode. He also had a role in the final season episode "The Hustler" (1974) in which he plays Mike's boss, Mr. Matthews.
Backus played Reverend Sims in the 1975 "Brides and Grooms" episode of Gunsmoke. He also appeared in "Never Con a Killer" (1977), the pilot for the ABC crime drama The Feather and Father Gang. In 1981, he and his wife Henny appeared in an episode of The Love Boat. In it, he had one line in his four scenes.
Backus and his wife, Henny Backus, co-wrote several humorous books, including: ...Only When I Laugh, his autobiography, Backus Strikes Back, a memoir, Forgive Us Our Digressions: An Autobiography, and What Are You Doing After the Orgy? — the title taken from a line Backus spoke in the 1965 film John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! He also co-wrote the 1971 family film Mooch Goes to Hollywood, about a dog that tries to become a movie star.[citation needed]
In the late 1950s, he made two novelty 45 rpm records, "Delicious" and "Cave Man". In 1974, a full-length comedy LP album was released on the Doré label under the title The Dirty Old Man, with sketches written by Bob Hudson and Ron Landry, who also appear on the album, along with voice-actress Jane Webb.[10] Backus also played the voice of God in the recording of Truth of Truths, a 1971 rock opera based on the Bible.
Backus acted in several television commercials. As Mr. Magoo, he also helped advertise the General Electric line of products over the years.[11]InBowl 'Em Over with GE Bulbs (1963), a Cinécraft Productions sales training film made for the GE Large Lamp Division, Backus introduces the Mr. Magoo Soft White light bulb TV advertising campaign for Fall 1963. For the first time, General Electric commercials would be shown in color on prime-time TV shows, including the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.[12] He was also spokesman for La-Z-Boy furniture during the 1970s. An example commercial can be heard during the Zero Hour radio program entitled “Lost In Time” broadcast in 1974.
In the late 1980s, he was reunited with former co-star Natalie Schafer in an advertisement for Orville Redenbacher's popcorn. They reprised their roles from Gilligan's Island, but instead of still being shipwrecked, the setting was a luxurious study or den. This would be the final TV appearance for both actors, who were in frail health. They also both appeared on Fox's short lived talk show The Late Show with Ross Shafer, along with the rest of the cast of Gilligan's Island, in 1988.
On July 3, 1989, Backus died in Los Angeles from complications of pneumonia after suffering from Parkinson's disease for many years.[13]
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1948
Genie
Short, Voice, Uncredited
Where Will You Hide?
Narrator
Short, Voice
1949
Howard Pritchard
Dr. Franklin
Ragtime Bear
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice, Uncredited
Professor Sullivan
Higgins
Police Lt. Nick Ferrone / Narrator
1950
Spellbound Hound
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice, Uncredited
Joseph 'Little Joe' Rogers
Shanghai Chief Agent Thomas Jacoby
The Miner's Daughter
John Harvard
Short, Voice, Uncredited
Trouble Indemnity
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Willie Dennis
Uncredited
Ed Hamley
Bungled Bungalow
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
1951
The Mayor
Barefaced Flatfoot
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice, Uncredited
Bill Grayson
Michael Hogan
Plutopia
Milton
Short, Voice, Uncredited
Mitch Davis
Myron Winton
Max Watkins
Fuddy Duddy Buddy
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice, Uncredited
Flaherty
Sam Harris
Grizzly Golfer
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Harvey Landrum
1952
Joe Randolph
Sloppy Jalopy
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Jim Cleary
The Dog Snatcher
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Charles Barry
Peter Jones
Pink and Blue Blues
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Michael 'Iron Mike' Burke
Pete Hothead
Floorwalker
Short, Voice, Uncredited
Hotsy Footsy
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Captains Outrageous
Short, Voice
Gen. Curtis E. LeMay
Centurion
1953
District Attorney Judson
Mergo
Safety Magoo
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Magoo's Masterpiece
Short, Voice
Magoo Slept Here
Short, Voice
Jason Ambrose
1954
Magoo Goes Skiing
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Kangaroo Courting
Short, Voice
Four Wheels, No Brakes
Television Quizmaster / New Cat Salesman
Short, Voice, Uncredited
Ben Judson
Destination Magoo
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Look Who's Driving
Charlie
Short, Voice, Uncredited
1955
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Magoo's Check Up
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Magoo Express
Short, Voice
Madcap Magoo
Short, Voice
Cmdr. E.T. Hutch
Stage Door Magoo
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Frank Stark
Magoo Makes News
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Pat Quaid
1956
Tom Culdane
Magoo's Canine Mutiny
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Magoo Goes West
Short, Voice
Calling Dr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Willis Haver
Magoo Beats the Heat
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Short, Voice
Trailblazer Magoo
Short, Voice
Magoo's Problem Child
Short, Voice
Psychiatrist
Sgt. Hanna
Danker
Meet Mother Magoo
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Nick Cellantano
1957
Col. Homer W. Gooch
Magoo Goes Overboard
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Matador Magoo
Short, Voice
Magoo Breaks Par
Short, Voice
Magoo's Glorious Fourth
Short, Voice
Clarence Locan
Magoo's Masquerade
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Magoo Saves the Bank
Short, Voice
Rock Hound Magoo
Short, Voice
Harvey Graham
Magoo's Moose Hunt
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Magoo's Private War
Short, Voice
1958
Magoo's Young Manhood
Short, Voice
Scoutmaster Magoo
Short, Voice
The Explosive Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Paul Mason
Magoo's Three-Point Landing
Mr. Magoo / Air Traffic Controller
Short, Voice
Magoo's Cruise
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Love Comes to Magoo
Short, Voice
Gumshoe Magoo
Short, Voice
Police Chief Jim Tyloe
1959
Bwana Magoo
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Norbit, the accountant
Magoo's Homecoming
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Merry Minstrel Magoo
Short, Voice
Magoo's Lodge Brother
Short, Voice
Maxwell
Mr. Forbes
Terror Faces Magoo
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Jim Gordon
Cliff Heldon
Uncle Abdul Azziz Magoo
Voice
1960
Dave Husack
Magoo Meets Frankenstein
Mr. Magoo
Short, Voice
Magoo Meets McBoing Boing
Short, Voice
I Was a Teenage Magoo
Short, Voice
Inside Magoo
Mr. Magoo / Himself
Short, Voice, Cancer awareness short produced by the American Cancer Society
1961
Mr. Arbutt
Voice, Uncredited
1962
Cmdr. Jeremiah Hammerslag
Peter Bowers
Horatio Kellgore
The King
('The Dancing Princess')
1963
Hot Dog vendor
Uncredited
Bosun's Mate Ed Fennelly
Sheriff
Dr. William Von Hagedorn
Louis Murphy
Tyler Fitzgerald
Chief Pilot Drysdale
Bullard Bear
1964
Gen. Willoughby
1965
Mr. Magoo in Sherwood Forest
Mr. Magoo
Voice
Mr. Magoo's Noah's Ark
Mr. Magoo, Mr.Magoo as Noah
Voice
Miles Whitepaper
Sergeant
Howard G. Carol
1967
Carter Sillens
Himself
Uncredited
1968
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?
Tru-Blue Lou
1969
T.R. Hollister
1970
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
Staunch
Doctor
1972
Now You See Him, Now You Don't
Timothy Forsythe
1974
Goodnight Jackie
Mr. Landry
1975
Konyok-gorbunok
The Tsar
Voice
Mr. Albertson
Enos Griffith
1977
The Tsar
Voice, English version
Mayor of Passamaquoddy
1978
Doorman
1979
Cmdr. Lindsey March
Mr. Magoo
Voice, Uncredited
Mr. Gibbs
1980
Mr. Perkins
1986
Gamun
Voice, English version
1982
President of the U.S.
1984
Dealy
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1952–1955
Judge Bradley Stevens
1957
King's Emissary
TV movie
1960–1961
Mike O'Tool
William Norbert
Episode: "Star Witness"
Mr. Magoo
Voice
1961
Joe Wheelwright
1962
Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol
Ebenezer Scrooge / Mr. Magoo
TV movie, Voice
1963
Marty Van Ransohoff
Episode: "The Clampetts Entertain"
1964–1965
The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo
Mr. Magoo
Voice
1964–1967
Thurston Howell III
1964
Mr. Magoo in Sherwood Forest
Mr. Magoo
TV movie, Voice
1966
Himself
Game Show Contestant / Celebrity Guest Star
1967
Coach Benny Van Buren
1968
Fabian Swanson
Episode: "The Night of the Sabatini Death"
1968–1969
Mr. Dithers
1969
Henry Arsdale
3 episodes
Colonel
TV movie
1970
General Fitzhugh
Episode: "Help, Help, a Shark"
Mr. Magoo
TV movie, Voice
1971–1974
Zaccariah T. Brown / Harry Mathews
3 episodes
1972
S2:E19, "The Biggest Game in the West"
1973
Tilson
TV movie
1973
Shellhammer
TV movie
1974–1975
The New Adventures of Gilligan
Thurston Howell III
Voice
1974
Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
Narrator / Santa Claus
TV special, Voice
1975
Reverend Sims
Episode: "Brides and Grooms"
Herb Bresson
Episode: "Chopper"
1977
Mr. Magoo
Voice
1977
Weitzman
Episode: "Undertow"
1978
Cap Truman
Episode: “Anniversary/Reunion”
1978
Thurston Howell III
TV movie
1979
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
TV movie
John Hancock
TV Miniseries
1981
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
Thurston Howell III
TV movie
1982
Voice
1983
Himself/Gilligan’s Island reunion
Game Show