Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
February 25, 1913
Died
July 3, 1989 (age 76)
Place of Birth
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Also Known As
James Gilmore Backus
Jim Backus
Biography
Jim Backus (1913–1989) was a radio, television, film, and voice actor.
Among his most famous credits are The Alan Young Radio Show, I Married Joan, Gilligan's Island, and Rebel Without a Cause. He also starred on his own show The Jim Backus Show.
Known For
TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
TV
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
TV
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961
TV
The Love Boat
Marvin Waterman
1977
TV
The Love Boat
Mr. Landers
1977
TV
What's My Line?
Self - Panelist
1950
TV
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
TV
Maverick
Joe Wheelwright
1957
TV
Charlie's Angels
Iggy
1976
TV
Love, American Style
Jerry Franks
1969
TV
Studio One
Tim McTaggart
1948
TV
Climax!
Detective Herman
1954
TV
Hill Street Blues
Mr. Magoo (archive footage) (uncredited)
1981
TV
Medical Center
1969
TV
Daniel Boone
Will Scataway
1964
TV
The Beverly Hillbillies
Marty Van Ransohoff
1962
TV
Matinee Theater
1955
TV
I Dream of Jeannie
General Fitzhugh
1965
TV
Robert Montgomery Presents
Lucus Edgerton
1950
TV
The Untouchables
William Norbert
1959
Filmography
2022TVThe Unknown Storyas Self - archive footage2005FilmRebel Without a Cause: Defiant Innocentsas Himself (uncredited)2004FilmLos Angeles Plays Itselfas Frank Stark in Rebel Without A Cause (archive footage)1987FilmHollywood's Hidden Secretsas Self1986TVThe Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show1985FilmPrince Jackas Dealy1982FilmSlapstick of Another Kindas President of the U.S.1982TVGilligan's Planetas Thurston Howell, III (voice)1982FilmNatalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady1981FilmEnchanted Journeyas Gamba1981FilmThe Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Islandas Thurston Howell III1981TVHill Street Bluesas Mr. Magoo (archive footage) (uncredited)1980FilmThere Goes The Brideas Mr. Perkins1980FilmThe Gossip Columnistas Jim Backus1979FilmC.H.O.M.P.S.as Mr. Gibbs1979TVEischied1979TVThe Rebelsas John Hancock1979FilmThe Castaways on Gilligan's Islandas Thurston Howell III1979FilmAngels' Brigadeas Cmdr. Lindsey March1979TV$weepstake$as Major Adams1978FilmRescue from Gilligan's Islandas Thurston Howell III1978TVFlying High1978FilmGood Guys Wear Blackas Albert, the Doorman1978TVFantasy Islandas Cap Truman1977FilmHave I Got a Christmas for Youas Kevin Grady1977FilmPete's Dragonas The Mayor1977TVThe Love Boatas Marvin Waterman1977TVCHiPsas Weitzman1977TVWhat's New, Mr. Magoo?1977FilmNever Con a Killeras Stanley Bunch1976TVCharlie's Angelsas Iggy1975FilmFriday Fosteras Enos Griffith1975TVMobile Oneas Macklin1975TVEllery Queenas Howard Biggers1975TVJoe Forrester1975FilmCrazy Mamaas Mr. Albertson1975FilmCop on the Beatas Jake Mandel1974FilmYes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Clausas Narrator / Santa Claus (voice)1974TVChico and the Man1974TVKolchak: The Night Stalker1974TVHarry Oas Ziggy1974TVThe New Adventures of Gilliganas Thurston Howell III (voice)1974FilmGoodnight Jackieas Mr. Landry1973FilmMiracle on 34th Streetas Shellhammer1973FilmThe Girl Most Likely To...as Prof. David Tilson1973TVPolice Story1972FilmMagic Carpetas George Benson1972FilmOf Thee I Singas Senator Robert F. Lyons1972FilmNow You See Him, Now You Don'tas Timothy Forsythe1972FilmGetting Away from It Allas Mike Lorimar1971FilmMooch Goes to Hollywoodas Jim Backus1971TVAlias Smith and Jones1970FilmMyra Breckinridgeas Doctor1970FilmThe Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico Countyas Staunch1970FilmUncle Sam Magooas Mr. Magoo1970TVNanny and the Professoras Dr. Charles Walters1969FilmWake Me When the War Is Overas Colonel1969TVLove, American Styleas Jerry Franks1969TVThe Brady Bunch1969TVMedical Center1969TVMarcus Welby, M.D.as Bill1969TVThe Barbara McNair Showas Self1969FilmHello Down Thereas T.R. Hollister1968TVBlondieas J.C. Dithers /Mr. Dithers1968TVThe Good Guys1968TVThe Mod Squadas Emile Wade1968FilmWhere Were You When the Lights Went Out?as Tru-Blue Lou1968TVRowan & Martin's Laugh-Inas Self (uncredited)1967TVAccidental Family1967FilmDon't Make Wavesas Self (uncredited)1967FilmDamn Yankeesas Benny Van Buren1967FilmHurry Sundownas Carter Sillens1967TVThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Houras Self1966TVContinental Showcaseas Self - Host1965FilmBillieas Howard G. Carol1965TVI Dream of Jeannieas General Fitzhugh1965TVThe Wild Wild Westas Fabian Swanson1965FilmFluffyas Sergeant1965FilmJohn Goldfarb, Please Come Home!as Whitepaper1964TVGilligan's Islandas Thurston Howell, III1964TVThe Famous Adventures of Mr. Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1964TVDaniel Booneas Will Scataway1964FilmRendezvous in Spaceas Moon (voice)1964FilmAdvance to the Rearas Gen. Willoughby1964FilmMr. Magoo, Man of Mysteryas Mr. Magoo1964FilmMr. Magoo in Sherwood Forestas Mr. Magoo1963FilmThe Wheeler Dealersas Bullard Bear1963FilmSunday in New Yorkas Chief Pilot Drysdale1963FilmIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Worldas Tyler Fitzgerald1963FilmJohnny Coolas Louis Murphy1963TVBurke's Lawas Harold Mason1963TVArrest and Trialas Sam Thayer1963FilmMy Six Lovesas Sheriff1963FilmOperation Bikinias Bosun's Mate Ed Fennelly1963FilmCritic's Choiceas Dr. William Von Hagedorn1963FilmA Child Is Waitingas Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)1962FilmMister Magoo's Christmas Carolas Mr. Quincy Magoo / Ebenezer Scrooge (voice)1962FilmZotz!as Horatio Kellgore1962TVThe Merv Griffin Showas Self1962TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self1962TVThe Beverly Hillbilliesas Marty Van Ransohoff1962FilmThe Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimmas The King (segment "The Dancing Princess")1962FilmBoys' Night Outas Peter Bowers1962FilmThe Horizontal Lieutenantas Cmdr. Jeremiah Hammerslag1961TVThe Mike Douglas Showas Self1961TVThe Dick Powell Showas Monte1961TVCain's Hundredas Karl Bigger1961FilmMagoo Meets Frankensteinas Mr. Magoo1960TVThe Mr. Magoo Showas Mr Magoo1960TVThe Jim Backus Show1960FilmInside Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice) / Self1960FilmIce Palaceas Dave Husack1960FilmI Was a Teenage Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1960FilmTom, Dick and Harrietas James1959FilmMagoo Meets Boing Boing (The Noise-Making Boy)as Mr. Magoo (voice)1959Film1001 Arabian Nightsas Uncle Abdul Azziz Magoo (voice)1959TVThe Untouchablesas William Norbert1959FilmAsk Any Girlas Mr. Maxwell1959FilmA Private's Affairas Jim Gordon1959FilmThe Big Operatoras Cliff Heldon1959FilmTerror Faces Magooas Mr. Magoo1959FilmThe Wild and the Innocentas Mr. Forbes1959FilmMagoo's Lodge Brotheras Mr. Magoo (voice)1959FilmMerry Minstrel Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1959FilmMagoo’s Homecomingas Mr. Magoo (voice)1959FilmBwana Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1959FilmA Princess for Magooas Narrator1958TV77 Sunset Stripas Maury Samuels1958FilmGumshoe Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1958FilmLove Comes to Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1958FilmMacabreas Sheriff Jim Tyloe1958FilmMagoo’s Cruiseas Mr. Magoo (voice)1958FilmMagoo’s Three-Point Landingas Mr. Magoo / Air Traffic Controller / Sully (voice)1958FilmThe High Cost of Lovingas Paul Mason1958FilmThe Explosive Mr. Magooas Mr Magoo (voice)1958FilmScoutmaster Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1958FilmMagoo's Young Manhoodas Mr. Magoo (voice)1957FilmMagoo's Private Waras Mr. Magoo (voice)1957FilmMagoo's Moose Huntas Mr. Magoo (voice)1957FilmThe Pied Piper of Hamelinas King's Emissary1957FilmEighteen and Anxiousas Harvey Graham1957FilmRock Hound Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1957FilmMagoo Saves the Bankas Mr. Magoo (voice)1957TVMaverickas Joe Wheelwright1957FilmMan of a Thousand Facesas Clarence Locan1957FilmMagoo's Masqueradeas Mr. Magoo (voice)1957TVTonight Starring Jack Paaras Self1957FilmMagoo Breaks Paras Mr. Magoo (voice)1957FilmMatador Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1957FilmMagoo Goes Overboardas Mr. Magoo (voice)1957FilmTop Secret Affairas Col. Homer W. Gooch1956FilmMeet Mother Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1956FilmThe Great Manas Nick Cellantano1956FilmThe Opposite Sexas Psychiatrist1956FilmYou Can't Run Away from Itas Danker1956FilmThe Girl He Left Behindas Sgt. Hanna1956FilmMagoo's Problem Childas Mr. Magoo (voice)1956TVThe Gale Storm Showas Arthur Hutchins1956FilmTrailblazer Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1956FilmMagoo's Puddle Jumperas Mr. Magoo (voice)1956FilmMagoo Beats the Heatas Mr. Magoo(voice)1956FilmThe Naked Hillsas Willis Haver1956FilmCalling Doctor Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1956FilmMagoo Goes Westas Mr. Magoo (voice)1956FilmMeet Me in Las Vegasas Tom Culdane1956FilmMagoo's Canine Mutinyas Mr. Magoo (voice)1955FilmThe Square Jungleas Pat Quaid1955FilmMagoo Makes Newsas Mr. Magoo1955TVMatinee Theater1955FilmRebel Without a Causeas Frank Stark1955TVGunsmokeas Reverend Sims1955FilmFrancis in the Navyas Commander Hutch1955FilmMadcap Magooas Mr. Magoo1955FilmMagoo Expressas Mr. Magoo1955TVThe Millionaireas Henry Banning1954FilmDestination Magooas Mr. Magoo (voice)1954FilmDeep in My Heartas Ben Judson1954TVClimax!as Detective Herman1954TVThe George Gobel Showas Self1954FilmWhen Magoo Flewas Mr. Magoo/Pilot (voice)1953FilmGeraldineas Jason Ambrose1953FilmI Love Melvinas Mergo1953FilmAngel Faceas District Attorney Judson1953FilmAbove and Beyondas Gen. Curtis E. LeMay1952FilmAndrocles and the Lionas Centurion1952FilmHotsy Footsyas Mr. Magoo (voice)1952TVI Married Joanas Judge Bradley Stevens1952FilmPete Hotheadas Lavery the Floorwalker/Mailman (uncredited)1952FilmThe Rose Bowl Storyas Michael "Iron Mike" Burke1952FilmPink and Blue Bluesas Mr. Magoo (voice)1952FilmDon't Bother to Knockas Peter Jones1952FilmPat and Mikeas Charles Barry1952FilmDeadline - U.S.A.as Jim Cleary1952FilmHere Come the Nelsonsas Joe Randolph1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Kevin Grady1951FilmI Want Youas Harvey Landrum1951FilmGrizzly Golferas Mr. Magoo1951FilmI'll See You in My Dreamsas Sam Harris1951FilmThe Man with a Cloakas Flaherty1951FilmFuddy Duddy Buddyas Mr. Magoo (voice)1951FilmIron Manas Max Watkins1951FilmHis Kind of Womanas Myron Winton1951FilmBright Victoryas Bill Grayson1951FilmHollywood Storyas Mitch Davis1951FilmPlutopiaas Milton the Cat1951FilmHalf Angelas Michael Hogan1951FilmBarefaced Flatfootas Mr. Magoo1951FilmMas The Mayor1951FilmBungled Bungalowas Mr. Magoo1950FilmThe Popcorn Storyas Narrator1950FilmEmergency Weddingas Ed Hamley1950FilmThe Killer That Stalked New Yorkas Willie Dennis (uncredited)1950TVLux Video Theatreas Harry1950FilmTrouble Indemnityas Mr. Magoo (voice)1950TVThe Colgate Comedy Houras Self1950FilmCustoms Agentas Shanghai Chief Agent Thomas Jacoby1950FilmMa and Pa Kettle Go to Townas Joseph "Little Joe" Rogers1950FilmSpellbound Houndas Mr. Magoo1950TVWhat's My Line?as Self - Panelist1950TVRobert Montgomery Presentsas Lucus Edgerton1950FilmEdgar Bergen with Charlie McCarthyas Magistrate Backus1949FilmA Dangerous Professionas Police Lt. Nick Ferrone / Narrator (voice)1949FilmThe Great Loveras Higgins1949FilmEasy Livingas Dr. Franklin1949FilmFather Was a Fullbackas Professor Sullivan1949FilmRagtime Bearas Mr. Magoo (voice)1949FilmOne Last Flingas Howard Pritchard1948TVStudio Oneas Tim McTaggart1948FilmA-Lad-in His Lampas Smokey the Genie (voice) (uncredited)1948FilmWhere Will You Hide?as Narrator—FilmAnimation Mavericks: The Forgotten Story of UPAas Self / Mr. Magoo (archive footage, audio)