Jim Backus

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James Gilmore Backus (1913-July 25, 1913-89) was an American radio, television, film, and voice actor.

Mr. Magoo, the rich Hubert Updike III on the radio version of The Alan Young Show, Joan Davis' character's father in 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island, was one of his most well-known roles.

In addition, he appeared in his own show of one season, The Jim Backus Show, also known as Hot Off the Wire. Backus, a keen golfer, cut 36 holes at the 1964 Bing Crosby Pro-Am tournament for the 36 holes.

Early life

Backus was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew in Bratenahl, Ohio, an East Side suburb of Cleveland, surrounded by the lake Erie shore. Russell Gould Backus and Daisy Taylor (née Gilmore) Backus' sons. He attended Shaw High School in East Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio.

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Career

Backus appeared on radio as early as 1940, as Dexter Hayes, a millionaire aviator, appeared on CBS's Society Girl. He had a lengthy career and spent his time in Hollywood over five decades, often portraying characters on a "upper-crust" New England-like air, much like his best-known part, Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island. (and narrated) A Dangerous Profession (1949) with Humphrey Bogart; The Puppet Piper of Hamelin (1955); Anders, A Dangerous Profession (1961) He has appeared on television shows on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962).

Mr. Magoo, the nearsighted cartoon character, was the voice of Backus. Backus would recall the time Marilyn Monroe beckoned him into her dressing room years later as he was a regular talk show guest. Jim's wife, Henny Backus, told the tale: "Jim was in the 1952 film Don't Bother to Knock with Marilyn Monroe. During the filming, he came home one night and told me that Miss Monroe, in her most seductive breathy voice, begged him to meet her in her dressing room. His curiosity got the better of him, and he went. Do Mr. 'Do Mr. 'Do Mr. 'Do Mr.' she screamed as she arrived, she erupted like an excited child.'

Magoo!'

And Jim did."

He could be seen on primetime radio programs in the postwar period, including The Jack Benny Program, and 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 NBC Radio Network, and on The Alan Young Show on the NBC Radio Network. In 1957 and 1958, Jim Backus Show on ABC Radio Network changed its name to American Broadcasting Network (ABN) and tried out a "Live and Live" style of "Big Time Radio" with orchestras and viewers. Backus appeared on I Married Joan from 1952 to 1955, portraying Joan Davis' husband.

He appeared on The Brady Bunch as an old gold prospector, which was in stark contrast to his usual fanciful characters. He appeared in the last season episode "The Hustler," in which he plays Mike's boss, Mr. Matthews.

Backus appeared on Gilligan's Island for all three seasons of its existence, 1964-1967, and later in nostalgia TV films made between 1978 and 1981. Backus was suffering from Parkinson's disease by the third and final film on Gilligan's Island, and his presence was limited to a cameo appearance. Mr. Magoo's voice was also featured in numerous revivals from 1964 to 1977, including The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo and What's New, Mr. Magoo?

In the 1975 "Brides and Grooms" episode of Gunsmoke, Backus appeared Reverend Sims. He appeared in "Never Con a Killer" (1977), the ABC crime drama "The Feather and Father Gang's pilot. He and his wife Henny appeared in an episode of The Love Boat in 1981. In it, he had one line in his four scenes.

Backus and his partner, Henny Backus, co-wrote many amusing 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 name was taken from a line Backus' remarks in the 1965 film John Goldfarb's "Please Come Home!" He also co-wrote Mooch Goes to Hollywood, a 1971 family film about a dog that aims to become a movie star.

He made two rare 45 rpm records, "Delicious" and "Cave Man" in the late 1950s. On the Doré label, a full-length comedy LP album was released under the name The Dirty Old Man, with sketches by Bob Hudson and Ron Landry, who also appeared on the record, as well as voice-actress Jane Webb. In the recording of Truth of Truths, a 1971 rock opera based on the Bible, Backus also played God.

Backus appeared in several television commercials. Over the years, Mr. Magoo helped promote the General Electric line of products. Backus Films' productions sales training film for the GE Large Lamp Division, "Em Over With GE Bulbs (1963), a Cinécraft Productions sales training film, introduces Mr. Magoo Soft White light bulb television commercial campaign for Fall 1963. GM Electric advertisements will be seen in color on prime-time television shows, including Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. During the 1970s, he served as a spokesperson for La-Z-Boy furniture.

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 the scene was not really shipwrecked rather than being shipwrecked. This will be the last TV appearance for both actors who were in frail health. They appeared on Fox's short lived talk show The Late Show With Ross Shafer, as well as the majority of the cast of Gilligan's Island, 1988.

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