Jim Backus
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 Jim Backus' credit from Love American Style. |
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| Born: | 25 February 1913 Cleveland, Ohio, USA |
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| Died: | 3 July 1989 Los Angeles, California USA |
| Occupation: | Radio, television, film actor, and voice actor |
| Net worth: | $.5 million |
| Spouse: | Henny Backus |
James Gilmore Backus (February 25, 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio - July 3, 1989 In Los Angeles, California) was a radio, television, film actor, character actor, and voice actor. Among his most famous roles are the voice of Mr. Magoo, the rich Hubert Updike III of the Alan Young radio show, Joan Davis' husband (a domestic court judge) on TV's I Married Joan, James Dean's father in Rebel Without a Cause, and Thurston J. Howell III on the 1960s hit sitcom Gilligan's Island.
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[edit] The "upper-crust" character
Backus had an extensive career and worked steadily in Hollywood over five decades, often portraying characters with an "upper-crust", New England-esque air, such as the aforementioned Mr. Howell. For example, he appeared in Father was a Fullback in 1949, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World back to back in 1962 and 1963, and in Prince Jack in 1984, and provided the voice of Mr. Magoo.
However, in stark contrast to his usual affluent characters, he made a memorable appearance on "The Brady Bunch." He portrayed an old gold prospector who, upon believing the Brady's were after his claim, tricked the entire clan to enter an old jail cell, then locked them in.
Backus was seen in the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode Angels Revenge.
[edit] From acting to writing
Backus and his wife, Henny Backus, co-wrote several humorous books, including Only When I Laugh. He also co-wrote the 1971 family film Mooch Goes to Hollywood, about a dog who tries to become a movie star.
In his youth, Backus was a student at the Kentucky Military Institute, but was expelled for riding a horse through the mess hall.
In the late 1950's he had two very funny novelty 45 RPM records, "Delicious" and "Cave Man". They were a zany kind of humor and they did become popular in areas where they were distributed.
[edit] T.V. Commercials
Backus did several television commercials, most notably the voice for Western Airlines, saying "the only way to fly".
[edit] Death
On July 3, 1989, Backus died in Los Angeles, California from complications of pneumonia, after suffering from Parkinson's disease for many years.
[edit] External links
- Jim Backus at the Internet Movie Database
- Jim Backus at the Voice Chasers Database
