Jim Backus

Born February 25, 1913, Jim Backus had an extensive career and worked steadily in Hollywood over five decades, often portraying characters with an "upper-crust", New England-like air, such as Thurston Howell, III in Gilligan's Island. He appeared in 'A Dangerous Profession" (1949) (as well as narrating), 'Deadline – U.S.A." (1951) with Humphrey Bogart, "Pat and Mike" (1952) with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955), "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" (1957) and "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963). He also made an appearance on "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962).

Backus was the voice of the nearsighted cartoon character, Mr. Magoo. In 1952, he had a brief scene in "Don't Bother to Knock" with Marilyn Monroe, who was a reported model for the character of Ginger Grant. Years later, when Backus was a frequent talk show guest, he would recount the time Monroe urgently beckoned him into her dressing room. Once there, she exclaimed in her breathy voice, "Do Mr. Magoo!".

Jim frequently could be heard on prime-time radio programs in the postwar era, including "The Jack Benny Program," and portrayed an exceedingly vain character named Hartley Benson on "The Mel Blanc Show" on the CBS Radio Network, as well as a similar character named Hubert Updike on "The Alan Young Show" on the NBC Radio Network. He also starred on the short lived variety program "The Jim Backus Show" on the ABC Radio Network in 1957 and 1958, when that network changed its name to ABN (The American Broadcasting Network) and tried out a "Live and Lively" format of "Big Time Radio" with orchestras and audiences.

In stark contrast to his usual affluent characters, he appeared on "The Brady Bunch" as an old gold prospector, a role he also played in a dream sequence on a "Gilligan's Island" episode. He also appeared in the final season episode "The Hustler," in which he plays Mike's boss, Mr. Matthews

Jim stayed with "Gilligan's Island" from 1964 to 1967 and returned for the revival of the TV series in films made between 1978 and 1982, but in the third and final film, The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island, ill health forced him to only make a cameo appearance. He also did revivals of "Mr. Magoo" from 1964 to 1977, including "The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo" and "What's New, Mr. Magoo."

In 1977, Backus appeared in "Never Con a Killer," the pilot for the ABC crime drama, "The Feather and Father Gang." An avid golfer, Backus made the 36-hole cut at the 1964 Bing Crosby Pro-Am tournament.

On July 3, 1989, Backus died in Los Angeles, California from complications of pneumonia, after suffering from Parkinson's disease for many years. Jim was buried at the southwest corner of Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, Los Angeles.