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Jim Backus

General Information (Jim Backus)

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Mostly Credited As:

Jim Backus

Sometimes Credited As:

James G. Backus
James Backus

Birth Name:

James Gilmore Backus

Date Of Birth:

February 25, 1913 (Age 76)

Country Of Birth:

USA

Birth Place:

Cleveland, Ohio

Date Of Death:

July 03, 1989

Cause Of Death:

Pneumonia (Los Angeles)

Spouse
Henny Backus	Jan/14/1943 - Jul/03/1989	(His Death)

Jim Backus was one of the few actors to do it all, radio, Broadway, movies, television and cartoons. After attending prep school in his native 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." With his career in full swing, he also tackled two roles that he would be best known for, Mr. Magoo in cartoons and Thurston Howell III, in "Gilligan's Island." After the show's run ended, he continued doing guest spots on television and movies, before passing away on July 3, 1989.

Jim Backus TV Appearances

Main cast

Show: The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show(1986)	As: Smoky the Genie -- [Voice]
Show: Gilligan's Planet(1982)	As: Mr. Howell -- [Voice]
Show: What's New, Mr. Magoo?(1977)	As: Quincy Magoo -- [Voice]
Show: The New Adventures of Gilligan(1974)	As: Mr Thuston Howell III -- [Voice]
Show: Blondie (1968)(1968)	As: J.C. Dithers
Show: The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo(1964)	As: Mr. Magoo / Additional characters -- [Voice]
Show: Gilligan's Island(1964)	As: Thurston Howell III
Show: The Jim Backus Show(1960)	As: John Michael "Mike" O'Toole
Show: Mr. Magoo(1960)	As: Quincy Magoo -- [Voice]
Show: I Married Joan(1952)	As: Judge Bradley Stevens
Show: Hollywood House(1949)	As: Himself (Regular)

Episode Cast Credits

Show: Fantasy Island (1977) (1978)
	• Eagleman / Children of Mentu	03x23: (May/17/1980)	As	H.H. Moran
	• Reunion / Anniversary	01x11: (Apr/29/1978)	As	Cap
Show: Eischied (1979)
	• Angels of Terror	01x04: (Oct/19/1979)	As	Unknown
Show: Sweepstakes (1979)
	• Episode 4	01x04: (Feb/16/1979)	As	Major Adams
Show: The Love Boat (1977)
	• The Inspector/A Very Special Girl/Until the Last Goodbye	01x19: (Feb/11/1978)	As	Mr. Waterman
Show: Hallmark Hall Of Fame (1951)
	• Have I Got A Christmas For You	27x03: (Dec/16/1977)	As	Kevin Grady
Show: CHiPs (1977)
	• Undertow	01x02: (Sep/22/1977)	As	Weitzman
Show: Charlie's Angels (1976)
	• Angels on Ice (2)	02x04: (Sep/21/1977)	As	Iggy
	• Angels on Ice (1)	02x03: (Sep/21/1977)	As	Iggy
Show: Police Story (1973) (1973)
	• Odyssey of Death (2)	03x15: (Jan/16/1976)	As	Pollack
	• Odyssey of Death (1)	03x14: (Jan/09/1976)	As	Pollack
	• The Return of Joe Forrester	02x22: (May/06/1975)	As	Jake Mandel
Show: Ellery Queen (1975)
	• The Adventure of the Mad Tea Party	01x08: (Oct/30/1975)	As	Howard Biggers
Show: Mobile One (1975)
	• The Pawn	01x03: (Sep/19/1975)	As	Macklin
Show: Joe Forrester (1975)
	• Stake Out	01x01: (Sep/09/1975)	As	Mandel
Show: Gunsmoke (1955)
	• Brides and Grooms	20x19: (Feb/10/1975)	As	Reverend Sims
Show: Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974)
	• Chopper	01x15: (Jan/31/1975)	As	Herb Bresson, [Special Guest Stars]
Show: Harry O (1974)
	• Sound of Trumpets	01x17: (Jan/30/1975)	As	Ziggy
Show: Chico and the Man (1974)
	• The Beard	01x15: (Jan/24/1975)	As	Harold Ericson
Show: The Brady Bunch (1969)
	• The Hustler	05x21: (Mar/01/1974)	As	Harry Matthews
	• Grand Canyon or Bust	03x02: (Sep/24/1971)	As	Zaccariah T. Brown
	• Ghost Town, U.S.A.	03x01: (Sep/17/1971)	As	Zaccariah T. Brown
Show: Medical Center (US) (1969)
	• Vortex	04x24: (Mar/07/1973)	As	Dr. Danvers
Show: The Mod Squad (1968)
	• Death in High Places	05x19: (Jan/25/1973)	As	Unknown
Show: Alias Smith and Jones (1971)
	• The Biggest Game in the West	02x19: (Feb/03/1972)	As	J.P. Sterling
Show: This Is Your Life (1971) (1971)
	• Gen. Omar Bradley	01x17: (Dec/05/1971)	As	Himself
Show: Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968)
	• Episode #75	04x09: (Nov/09/1970)	As	Himself
	• Episode #61	03x21: (Feb/09/1970)	As	Himself
Show: Nanny and the Professor (1970)
	• The Tyrannosaurus Tibia	01x09: (Mar/18/1970)	As	Dr. Charles Walters
Show: The Barbara McNair Show (1969)
	• Jackie Kahane / Jim Backus / Lionel Hampton / The Spiral Starecase / Vicki Lawrence	01x11: (Nov/30/1969)	As	Himself
Show: The Good Guys (1968)
	• The Prospector	01x25: (Mar/26/1969)	As	Henry Arsdale
	• Love Comes to Annie Butterworth	01x23: (Mar/12/1969)	As	Henry Arsdale
	• Father Knows Nothing	01x20: (Feb/19/1969)	As	Henry Arsdale
Show: The Wild Wild West (1965)
	• The Night of the Sabatini Death	04x17: (Feb/07/1969)	As	Swanson
Show: I Spy (US) (1965)
	• Happy Birthday... Everybody	03x20: (Feb/26/1968)	As	Tom Mathews
Show: Daniel Boone (1964) (1964)
	• The Scrimshaw Ivory Chart	04x15: (Jan/04/1968)	As	Will Scataway
Show: Accidental Family (1967)
	• What is This-Thanksgiving or a Nightmare?	01x10: (Nov/24/1967)	As	Fred
Show: The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967) (1967)
	• Show #16	01x16: (May/20/1967)	As	Himself
Show: Password (1961)
	• (PT) EPISODE #174	04x40: (Jul/01/1965)	As	Panelist
Show: The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo (1964)
	• Mr. Magoo's Little Snow White Part 2	01x15: (Jan/09/1965)	*Voiced*	Dwarves
Show: Gilligan's Island (1964)
	• Two on a Raft	01x01: (Sep/26/1964)	As	Thurston Howell III
Show: Burke's Law (1963) (1963)
	• Who Killed Vaudeville?	02x02: (Sep/23/1964)	As	Herkimer Witt
	• Who Killed Carrie Cornell?	01x20: (Feb/14/1964)	As	"Pork Pie" Hannigan
	• Who Killed Mr. X?	01x02: (Sep/27/1963)	As	Harold Mason
Show: Arrest and Trial (1963)
	• Birds of a Feather	01x30: (Apr/19/1964)	As	Sam Thayer
Show: The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)
	• The Clampetts Entertain	01x31: (Apr/24/1963)	As	Marty Van Ransohoff
Show: The Dick Powell Show (1961)
	• Charlie's Duet	02x25: (Mar/19/1963)	As	Monte
Show: Cain's Hundred (1961)
	• Five for One	01x11: (Dec/05/1961)	As	Karl Biggers
Show: Maverick (1957)
	• Three Queens Full	05x04: (Nov/12/1961)	As	Big Joe Wheelwright
Show: The Untouchables (1959) (1959)
	• Star Witness	01x15: (Jan/14/1960)	As	William Norbert, [Special Guest Stars]
Show: 77 Sunset Strip (1958)
	• Collector's Item	02x15: (Jan/08/1960)	As	Maury Samuels
Show: The Millionaire (1955)
	• Millionaire Henry Banning	05x28: (Apr/01/1959)	As	Henry Banning
Show: Playhouse 90 (1956)
	• Free Weekend	03x10: (Dec/04/1958)	As	Jerry
Show: This Is Your Life (1952) (1952)
	• Jim Backus	06x07: (Nov/26/1958)	As	Himself
Show: Studio One (1948)
	• The McTaggert Succession	10x30: (May/05/1958)	As	Tim McTaggart
	• In Love with a Stranger	09x41: (Jul/22/1957)	As	Father
Show: Climax! (1954)
	• Mad Bomber	03x28: (Apr/18/1957)	As	Detective Herman
Show: Robert Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theatre (1950)
	• Reclining Figure	08x24: (Feb/25/1957)	As	Lucas Edgerton
Show: Matinee Theater (1955)
	• A Family Affair	01x138: (May/14/1956)	As	guest star
Show: Flying High (1978)
	• Fun Flight	01x18: (Unaired)	As	Man