James Gilmore Backus is an American radio, television and film actor and voice actor. His most famous roles: the cartoon character Mr. Magoo, the wealthy Hubert Aldyck III in the radio show The Alan Young Show, national judge and husband Joan Davis in the TV series I Married Joan, James Dean is the father of the protagonist in the movie Riot Without a Cause And Thurston Howell III in the comedy series Gilligan's Island. Also known as the host of his own show, The Jim Backus Show.
Biography
James Gilmore Backus was born on February 25, 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Bratenal (Ohio) - a wealthy village in the suburbs of Cleveland. Jim's parents are Russell Gould Backus and Daisy Taylor (née Gilmore) Backus.
The future actor was educated at Shaw High School in East Cleveland, Ohio.
In his youth, Backus became interested in golf and kept his passion for this game throughout his life and even set a record. In 1964, Jim hit 36 holes at the Bing Crosby Pro-Am, which was considered an unsurpassed achievement at the time.
Jim Backus died on July 3, 1989 in Los Angeles from complications of pneumonia after many years of Parkinson's disease. The actor was buried in the southwest section of Westwood Willage Memorial Park and Cemetery in Westwood, Los Angeles.
Actor's career
Jim Backus' film career began in 1940, when he began playing the millionaire aviator Dexter Hayes on CBS in the film A Girl from Society.
Since then, he has had an extensive career in Hollywood that spanned over five decades. The acting role of Jim Backus became characters in the style of "New England", and the most famous character in this style was Thurston Howell III in the movie "Gilligan's Island".
As a voice actor, Backus rose to fame as the voice of the short-sighted cartoon character Mr. Magu. Many years later, when Jim became a frequent guest on various kinds of talk shows, he recalled a story. Once Marilyn Monroe beckoned him to her dressing room. This happened in 1952 on the set of the film "Don't Knock, Not to Knock" with Marilyn Monroe in the title role. After that, he came home late at night after filming and confessed to his wife Hanny Backus that he “seduced” Marilyn Monroe all night with his hoarse voice in her dressing room. Jim went to her only out of curiosity, and when he got to her, she exclaimed like an excited child "Mister Magu!" After that, they sat together until midnight.
Jim Backus made frequent prime-time radio appearances in the post-war era, including the Jack Benny radio program. On The Judy Canova Show on CBS, Backus portrayed an extremely vain character named Hartley Benson, as well as a similar character named Hubert Aldyck on The Alan Young Show on NBC.
He hosted his own show, The Jim Backus Show, on the ABC radio network in 1957 and 1958. The ABC network then changed its name to the American Broadcasting Network (ABN) and moved to a "Live and Lively" format with orchestras and spectators. The Jim Backus show no longer existed.
Between 1952 and 1955, Backus played the role of husband Joan Davis in the comedy series I Married Joan.
The common characters of Jim Backus were rich and well-born people. In stark contrast to this background was the main role of the old gold digger in the movie "Brady Bunch". He also had a starring role in an episode of "Gilligan's Islands," in the season finale "The Hustler," in which Backus plays Mike's boss, Mr. Matthews.
Jim played a role on Gilligan's Island for three consecutive episodes from 1964 to 1967. After the series, he also played in television sequels about reunion of heroes, which were filmed between 1978 and 1981. By the third and final sequel to Harlem Travelers on Gilligan's Island, Jim Backus was already suffering from Parkinson's disease and his participation was tried to be as episodic as possible.
Backus returned as the voice actor for Mr. Magu in various sequels between 1964 and 1977, including The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magu and What's New, Mr. Magu?
In 1977, Jim starred in the movie Never Kill, a pilot version of the ABC crime drama The Feather and the Father of the Gang.
Writing career
Jim Backus has co-authored several humorous books with his wife, Henny Backus. These include Only When I Laugh, Backus's autobiography Backus Strikes Back, and Backus's memoirs Forgive Us Our Retreats, Autobiography, or What Are You Doing After An Orgy? This unusual title for the memoir was taken from a line used by Backus in the 1965 film John Goldfarb Please Come Home!
In 1971, Backus co-authored the 1971 family film Torment Goes Hollywood. The plot of the film tells about a dog who is trying to become a Hollywood star.
In the late 1960s, Jim released two gramophone records called "Delicious" and "Cave Man". In 1974, a full-length comedy LP entitled "The Dirty Old Man" was released on Dore Records with sketches by Bob Hudson and Ron Landry, as well as a recording of the voice of the famous voice actress Jane Webb.
In 1971, Backus voiced the role of God in the recording of the rock opera "Truth of Truth", the plot of which is based on the Bible.
Advertising creativity
Backus often starred in television commercials. Most often as Mr. Magu. Over the years, Jim has promoted the General Electric product line. In the 1970s, he was the face of an advertising campaign for furniture manufacturer La-Z-Boy.
In the late 1980s, along with his former colleague Natalie Schafer, Backus starred in an advertisement for Orville Redenbacher's popcorn. In this commercial, Schafer and Backus played their roles from Gilligan's Island, but instead of still being shipwrecked, the scene of the video was replaced by a luxurious study or room. This commercial was the last to appear on the screens for both Backus and Schafer.
