Jim Backus
Birthdate: Feb 25, 1913
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Died: Jul 3, 1989
Jim Backus was born James Gilmore Backus on February 25, 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of the few actors to do it all: radio, Broadway, movies, television and cartoons. After attending preparatory school in his hometown Cleveland, Backus enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Art, to ply his trade. While waiting for parts, he did radio and became friends with such future notables as Garson Kanin and Keenan Wynn. Backus stuck it out and soon was doing motion pictures in addition to radio. He was typecast in roles as "rich types" but broke the mold when he portrayed James Dean's father in the classic Rebel Without a Cause (1955). With his career in full swing, Backus also tackled two roles that he would be best known for, Mr. Magoo in cartoons and Thurston Howell III in Gilligan's Island (1964). After the series' run ended, he continued doing guest spots on television and movies, before passing away on July 3, 1989.
Known For
Rebel Without a Cause
(1955)
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
(1963)
His Kind of Woman
(1951)
Jim Backus Movies
actor
Previous (69)
- 2018 | The Gilligan Manifesto
- 2016 |
Pete’s Dragon
asThe Mayor
The adventures of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who happens to be a dragon.
- 2008 |
- 2003 | Los Angeles Plays Itselfas Frank Stark in Rebel Without A Cause
- 1984 | Prince Jackas Dealy
- 1982 | Slapstick of Another Kindas President of the U.S.
- 1981 | The Enchanted Journeyas Gamun
- 1979 | Angels' Brigadeas Cmdr. Lindsey March
- 1979 | C.H.O.M.P.S.as Mr. Gibbs
- 1978 | Good Guys Wear Blackas Doorman
- 1975 | Crazy Mamaas Mr. Albertson
- 1975 | Friday Fosteras Enos Griffith
- 1975 | The Humpbacked Horseas The Tsar
- 1974 | Goodnight Jackieas Mr. Landry
- 1972 | Now You See Him, Now You Don'tas Timothy Forsythe
- 1970 | Myra Breckinridgeas Doctor
- 1970 | The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico Countyas Staunch
- 1969 | Hello Down Thereas T.R. Hollister
- 1968 | Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?as Tru-Blue Lou
- 1965 | Billieas Howard G. Carol
- 1965 | Fluffyas Sergeant
- 1965 | John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!as Miles Whitepaper
- 1964 | Advance to the Rearas General Willoughby
- 1964 | Mr. Magoo in Sherwood Forestas Mr. Magoo
- 1963 | Johnny Coolas Louis Murphy
- 1963 | Operation Bikinias Boatswain's Mate Ed Fennelly
- 1963 | Sunday in New Yorkas Chief Pilot Drysdale
- 1963 | The Wheeler Dealersas Bullard Bear
- 1963 | Critic's Choiceas Dr. William Von Hagedorn
- 1962 | The Horizontal Lieutenantas Cmdr. Jeremiah Hammerslag
- 1962 | Zotz!as Horatio Kellgore
- 1960 | Ice Palaceas Dave Husack
- 1959 | 1001 Arabian Nightsas Uncle Abdul Azziz Magoo
- 1959 | A Private's Affairas Jim Gordon
- 1959 | Ask Any Girlas Maxwell
- 1959 | The Big Operatoras Cliff Heldon
- 1959 | The Wild and the Innocentas Cecil Forbes
- 1958 | Macabreas Police Chief Jim Tyloe
- 1958 | The High Cost of Lovingas Paul Mason
- 1957 | Eighteen and Anxiousas Harvey Graham
- 1957 | Man of a Thousand Facesas Clarence Locan
- 1957 | Top Secret Affairas Col. Homer W. Gooch
- 1956 | Meet Me in Las Vegasas Tom Culdane
- 1956 | The Girl He Left Behindas Sgt. Hanna
- 1956 | The Great Manas Nick Cellantano
- 1956 | The Naked Hillsas Willis Haver
- 1956 | You Can't Run Away from Itas Danker
- 1955 | Francis in the Navyas Commander Hutch
- 1955 | The Square Jungleas Pat Quaid
- 1955 |
Rebel Without a Cause
asFrank Stark
A rebellious young man with a troubled past comes to a new town, finding friends and enemies.
- 1953 | Geraldineas Jason Ambrose
- 1953 | I Love Melvinas Mergo
- 1953 | Mr. Magoo Cartoon Merry-Go-Roundas Mr. Magoo
- 1952 | Don't Bother to Knockas Peter Jones
- 1952 | Here Come the Nelsonsas Joe Randolph
- 1952 | The Rose Bowl Storyas Michael 'Iron Mike' Burke
- 1951 | Bright Victoryas Bill Grayson
- 1951 | Half Angelas Michael Hogan
- 1951 | His Kind of Womanas Myron Winton
- 1951 | Hollywood Storyas Mitch Davis
- 1951 | I Want Youas Harvey Landrum
- 1951 | The Man with a Cloakas Flaherty
- 1951 | I'll See You in My Dreamsas Sam Harris
- 1950 | Customs Agentas Thomas S. Jacoby
- 1950 | Emergency Weddingas Ed Hamley
- 1950 | Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Townas Joseph 'Little Joe' Rogers
- 1949 | A Dangerous Professionas Police Lt. Nick Ferrone
- 1949 | Father Was a Fullbackas Professor Sullivan
- 1949 | One Last Flingas Howard Pritchard
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