Editing Jim Backus

{{Short description|American actor (1913–1989)}}
{{For|the former U.S. Congressman|Jim Bacchus}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Jim Backus
| image              = Jim Backus The Jim Backus Show 1962.JPG
| alt                = Photo of Jim Backus from the television program The Jim Backus Show.
| caption            = Publicity still of Backus for ''[[The Jim Backus Show]]'', 1962
| birth_name         = James Gilmore Backus
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1913|02|25|mf=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Cleveland]], Ohio, U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1989|07|03|1913|02|25|mf=y}}
| death_place        = Los Angeles, California
| awards             = [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
| known_for          = ''[[Gilligan's Island]]''<br>''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]''<br>''[[Mr. Magoo]]''
| resting place      = 
| years_active       = 1948–1984
| occupation         = Actor
| spouse             = {{Plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Betty Kean]]|1939|1942|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Henny Backus]]<br>|1943}}
  }}
}}

'''James Gilmore Backus''' (February 25, 1913 – July 3, 1989) was an American actor. Among his most famous roles were [[Thurston Howell III]] on the 1960s sitcom ''[[Gilligan's Island]],'' the father of [[James Dean]]'s character in ''[[Rebel Without a Cause]],''<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rieder|first=Howard|date=1969|title=Memories of Mr. Magoo|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1225373|journal=Cinema Journal|volume=8|issue=2|pages=17–24|doi=10.2307/1225373|jstor=1225373|issn=0009-7101|url-access=subscription}}</ref> the voice of the near-sighted cartoon character ''[[Mr. Magoo]]'',<ref>{{Cite book|jstor=j.ctv12sdvgj.10 |chapter=Inside Magoo (1960) |last1=Cantor |first1=David |title=Body, Capital, and Screens |year=2020 |pages=181–204 |publisher=Amsterdam University Press |doi=10.2307/j.ctv12sdvgj.10 |s2cid=240850992 }}</ref> the rich Hubert Updike III on the radio version of ''[[The Alan Young Show]]'', and [[Joan Davis]]' character's husband (a domestic court judge) on TV's ''[[I Married Joan]]''. He also starred in his own show of one season, ''[[The Jim Backus Show]]'', also known as ''Hot Off the Wire''.

An avid golfer, Backus made the 36-hole cut at the 1964 [[AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am|Bing Crosby Pro-Am]] tournament. He was inducted to the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 1960.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.walkoffame.com/jim-backus|title=Jim Backus|website=Hollywood Walk of Fame|date=October 25, 2019 }}</ref>

==Early life== 
Backus was born February 25, 1913, in [[Cleveland]], Ohio,<ref name=JGBWWIIdraftreg>[https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/194729014:2238 James Gilmore Backus]. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Accessed June 25, 2023, via ancestry.com paid subscription website.</ref> and raised in [[Bratenahl, Ohio]],<ref name=JGB1920census>[https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/33240534:6061 James G Backus]. 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed June 25, 2023, via ancestry.com paid subscription site.</ref><ref name=JGB1930census>[https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1105833460:6224 James G Backus]. 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed June 25, 2023, via ancestry.com paid subscription site.</ref> an East Side suburb of Cleveland located on the [[Lake Erie]] shore, surrounded by the city on three sides. He was the only son of Russell Gould Backus and Daisy Taylor (née Gilmore) Backus.<ref name=JGB1920census /><ref name=JGB1930census /> His older sister was Katherine Jane Backus.<ref name=JGB1920census /> He attended [[Shaw High School (Ohio)|Shaw High School]] in [[East Cleveland, Ohio]] and graduated from [[University School]] in [[Shaker Heights, Ohio]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2020 |title=BACKUS, JAMES, GILMORE "JIM" |url=https://case.edu/ech/articles/b/backus-james-gilmore-jim |access-date=June 13, 2023 |website=Encyclopedia of Cleveland History {{!}} Case Western Reserve University |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Acting ===
[[File:Virginia Brissac, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, Edward Platt and James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause trailer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.72|[[Virginia Brissac]], Backus, [[Ann Doran]], [[Edward Platt]], and [[James Dean]] in ''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]'' (1955)]]
Backus was acting on radio as early as 1940,<ref name=JGBWWIIdraftreg /> playing the role of millionaire aviator Dexter Hayes on ''Society Girl'' on [[CBS]].<ref name="rtm0340rh">{{cite magazine|title=Thursday's Highlights|magazine=Radio and Television Mirror|date=March 1940|volume=13|issue=5|page=50|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Mirror/40/Mirror-1940-Mar.pdf|access-date=February 24, 2015}}</ref>
He had an extensive career and worked steadily in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] over five decades, often portraying characters with an "upper-crust", New England-like air, much like his best-known role, Thurston Howell III on ''[[Gilligan's Island]]''. He appeared in (and narrated) ''[[A Dangerous Profession]]'' (1949); ''[[Deadline – U.S.]]'' (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 film)|The Pied Piper of Hamelin]]'' (1957); and ''[[It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]]'' (1963). He also made television appearances on ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]'' (1962).

Backus was the voice of the nearsighted cartoon character Mr. Magoo. Years later, when Backus was a frequent talk show guest, he would recount the time [[Marilyn Monroe]] urgently beckoned him into her dressing room. Henny Backus, Jim's wife, recalled the story: "Jim was in the 1952 film ''[[Don't Bother to Knock]]'', with Marilyn Monroe. He came home one night during the filming and told me that Miss Monroe in her most seductive breathy voice asked him to meet her in her dressing room. His curiosity got the better of him and he went. Once there, she exclaimed like an excited child, 'Do Mr. Magoo!' And Jim did."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/animation-anecdotes-193/|title=Animation Anecdotes #193 &#124;|website=cartoonresearch.com}}</ref>
[[File:Jim Backus Nancy Kulp Beverly Hillbillies 1963.JPG|thumb|upright=0.81|Backus in a guest appearance on ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]'', with [[Nancy Kulp]] (1963)]]
He frequently could be heard on primetime radio programs in the postwar era, including ''[[The Jack Benny Program]]'', and he portrayed egotistical snob Hubert Updike III on ''[[The Alan Young Show]]'' on the [[NBC Red Network|NBC Radio Network]], as well as the similarly vain Hartley Benson on ''[[The Mel Blanc Show]]'' on the [[CBS Radio News|CBS Radio Network]]. He starred on the short-lived variety program ''The Jim Backus Show'' on the [[Cumulus Media Networks|ABC Radio Network]] in 1957 and 1958, when that network changed its name to the American Broadcasting Network (ABN) and tried out a "Live and Lively" format of "Big Time Radio" with orchestras and audiences. Backus costarred on the TV comedy show ''I Married Joan'' from 1952 to 1955, portraying the husband of Joan Davis.

Backus appeared as [[Thurston Howell III]] on ''[[Gilligan's Island]]'' for all three seasons of its run, 1964 to 1967, and later in reunion TV films, ''[[Rescue from Gilligan's Island]]'' (1978), ''[[The Castaways on Gilligan's Island]]'' (1979), and ''[[The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island]]'' (1981). By the third and final film in 1981, Backus was suffering from [[Parkinson's disease]] and his participation was limited to a [[cameo appearance]]. He also voiced the character in two cartoon versions of the series, ''[[The New Adventures of Gilligan]]'' from 1974 to 1977 and ''[[Gilligan's Planet]]'' from 1982 to 1983. 

Backus also returned as the voice of Mr. Magoo in various revivals between 1964 and 1977, which included ''[[The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo]]'' and ''[[What's New, Mr. Magoo?]]''. In stark contrast to his usual affluent characters, he guest-starred on ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' in 1971 as an old gold prospector, a role he also played on a ''Gilligan's Island'' episode. He also had a role in the final season episode "The Hustler" (1974) in which he plays Mike's boss, Mr. Matthews.

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

=== Writing and recording ===
[[File:Jim and Henny Backus 1969.JPG|thumb|right|upright=0.81|Backus and his wife, [[Henny Backus|Henny]], 1969]]
Backus and his second wife, [[Henny Backus]], co-wrote several humorous 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?''&nbsp;— the title taken from a line Backus spoke in the 1965 film ''[[John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!]]'' He also co-wrote the 1971 family film ''[[Mooch Goes to Hollywood]]'', about a dog that tries to become a movie star.{{Citation needed |date=August 2022}}

In the late 1950s, he made two novelty [[Gramophone record|45 rpm records]], "Delicious" and "Cave Man". In 1974, a full-length comedy [[LP record|LP album]] was released on the [[Doré Records|Doré]] label under the title ''The Dirty Old Man'', with sketches written by [[Hudson & Landry|Bob Hudson and Ron Landry]], who also appear on the album, along with voice-actress [[Jane Webb]]. Backus also played the voice of God in the recording of ''[[Truth of Truths]]'', a 1971 [[rock opera]] based on the Bible.

=== Television commercials ===
Backus acted in several television commercials. As Mr. Magoo, he also helped advertise the [[General Electric]] line of products over the years.<ref>[http://graphic-design.tjs-labs.com/show-picture?id=1062616508 General Electric advertisement featuring Mr. Magoo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428173629/http://graphic-design.tjs-labs.com/show-picture?id=1062616508 |date=April 28, 2008 }}. ''Life'' Magazine December 14, 1959</ref> In ''Bowl 'Em Over with GE Bulbs'' (1963), a [[Cinécraft Productions]] sales training film made for the GE Large Lamp Division, Backus introduces the Mr. Magoo Soft White light bulb TV advertising campaign for Fall 1963. For the first time, [[General Electric]] commercials would be shown in color on prime-time TV shows, including the [[Tonight Show]] with [[Johnny Carson]].<ref>The Jim Backus Mr. Magoo film, ''Bowl 'Em Over with G-E Bulbs!'', is posted online in the Hagley Museum and Library Digital Archives</ref> He was also spokesman for [[La-Z-Boy]] furniture during the 1970s. An example commercial can be heard during the Zero Hour radio program entitled “Lost In Time” broadcast in 1974.

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 instead of still being shipwrecked, the setting was a luxurious study or den. This would be the final TV appearance for both actors, who were in frail health. They also both appeared on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox's]] short lived talk show ''[[The Late Show (1986 talk show)|The Late Show]]'' with [[Ross Shafer]], along with the rest of the cast of ''Gilligan's Island'', in 1988.

== Death ==
On July 3, 1989, Backus died in Los Angeles from complications of [[pneumonia]] after suffering from [[Parkinson's disease]] for many years.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|first=Glenn|last=Collins|title= Jim Backus, 76, Character Actor Best Known as Mr. Magoo, Dies
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/04/obituaries/jim-backus-76-character-actor-best-known-as-mr-magoo-dies.html|work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 4, 1989 |access-date=July 31, 2012}}</ref>

==Discography==
*''Magoo in Hi-Fi'' ([[RCA Victor]], 1957)<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Dennis-Farnon-And-His-Orchestra-Magoo-In-Hi-Fi/release/9142221 "Dennis Farnon and His Orchestra-Magoo in Hi-Fi"]. Retrieved January 5, 2019.</ref> as Mr. Magoo
*''Delicious!'' ([[Jubilee Records|Jubilee]], 1958)
*''Cave Man'' (Jubilee, 1958)
*''[[Truth of Truths]]'' ([[Oak Records|Oak]], 1971) as God
*''The Dirty Old Man'' ([[Doré Records|Doré]], 1974)
*''Mr. Magoo's A Christmas Carol'' (Wonderwall, 1979)<ref>[https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/upas-mr-magoos-christmas-carol-on-records-part-two/ "UPA's "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" on Records, Part 2]. Retrieved January 5, 2019.</ref> as Mr. Magoo

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1948
| ''[[A-Lad-In His Lamp]]''
| [[Genie (Disney)|Genie]]
| Short, Voice, Uncredited
|-
| ''Where Will You Hide?''
| Narrator
| Short, Voice
|-
| rowspan="6"| 1949
| ''[[One Last Fling]]''
| Howard Pritchard
|
|-
| ''[[Easy Living (1949 film)|Easy Living]]''
| Dr. Franklin
|
|-
| ''Ragtime Bear''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice, Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Father Was a Fullback]]''
| Professor Sullivan
|
|-
| ''[[The Great Lover (1949 film)|The Great Lover]]''
| Higgins
|
|-
| ''[[A Dangerous Profession]]''
| Police Lt. Nick Ferrone / Narrator
|
|-
|rowspan="8"| 1950
| ''Spellbound Hound''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice, Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town]]''
| Joseph 'Little Joe' Rogers
|
|-
| ''[[Customs Agent]]''
| Shanghai Chief Agent Thomas Jacoby
|
|-
| ''The Miner's Daughter''
| John Harvard
| Short, Voice, Uncredited
|-
| ''Trouble Indemnity''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[The Killer That Stalked New York]]''
| Willie Dennis
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Emergency Wedding]]''
| Ed Hamley
|
|-
| ''Bungled Bungalow''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
|rowspan="13"| 1951
| ''[[M (1951 film)|M]]''
| The Mayor
|
|-
| ''Barefaced Flatfoot''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice, Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Bright Victory]]''
| Bill Grayson
|
|-
| ''[[Half Angel (1951 film)|Half Angel]]''
| Michael Hogan
|
|-
| ''Plutopia''
| Milton
| Short, Voice, Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Hollywood Story]]''
| Mitch Davis
|
|-
| ''[[His Kind of Woman]]''
| Myron Winton
|
|-
| ''[[Iron Man (1951 film)|Iron Man]]''
| Max Watkins
|
|-
| ''Fuddy Duddy Buddy''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice, Uncredited
|-
| ''[[The Man with a Cloak]]''
| Flaherty
|
|-
| ''[[I'll See You in My Dreams (1951 film)|I'll See You in My Dreams]]''
| Sam Harris
|
|-
| ''Grizzly Golfer''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[I Want You (1951 film)|I Want You]]''
| Harvey Landrum
|
|-
| rowspan="13"| 1952
| ''[[Here Come the Nelsons]]''
| Joe Randolph
|
|-
| ''Sloppy Jalopy''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Deadline – U.S.A.]]''
| Jim Cleary
|
|-
| ''The Dog Snatcher''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Pat and Mike]]''
| Charles Barry
|
|-
| ''[[Don't Bother to Knock]]''
| Peter Jones
|
|-
| ''Pink and Blue Blues''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[The Rose Bowl Story]]''
| Michael 'Iron Mike' Burke
|
|-
| ''Pete Hothead''
| Floorwalker
| Short, Voice, Uncredited
|-
| ''Hotsy Footsy''
|rowspan="2"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Captains Outrageous''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Above and Beyond (1952 film)|Above and Beyond]]''
| Gen. Curtis E. LeMay
|
|-
| ''[[Androcles and the Lion (1952 film)|Androcles and the Lion]]''
| Centurion
|
|-
|rowspan="6"| 1953
| ''[[Angel Face (1953 film)|Angel Face]]''
| District Attorney Judson
|
|-
| ''[[I Love Melvin]]''
| Mergo
|
|-
| ''Safety Magoo''
|rowspan="3"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo's Masterpiece''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo Slept Here''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Geraldine (1953 film)|Geraldine]]''
| Jason Ambrose
|
|-
|rowspan="6"| 1954
| ''Magoo Goes Skiing''
|rowspan="2"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Kangaroo Courting''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Four Wheels, No Brakes''
| Television Quizmaster / New Cat Salesman
| Short, Voice, Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Deep in My Heart (1954 film)|Deep in My Heart]]''
| Ben Judson
|
|-
| ''Destination Magoo''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Look Who's Driving''
| Charlie
| Short, Voice, Uncredited
|-
|rowspan="9"| 1955
| ''[[When Magoo Flew]]''
| Mr. Magoo 
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo's Check Up''
|rowspan="3"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo Express''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Madcap Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Francis in the Navy]]''
| Cmdr. E.T. Hutch
|
|-
| ''Stage Door Magoo''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]''
| Frank Stark
|
|-
| ''Magoo Makes News''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[The Square Jungle]]''
| Pat Quaid
|
|-
|rowspan="14"| 1956
| ''[[Meet Me in Las Vegas]]''
| Tom Culdane
|
|-
| ''Magoo's Canine Mutiny''
|rowspan="3"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo Goes West''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Calling Dr. Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[The Naked Hills]]''
| Willis Haver
|
|-
| ''Magoo Beats the Heat''
|rowspan="4"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Magoo's Puddle Jumper]]''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Trailblazer Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo's Problem Child''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[The Opposite Sex]]''
| Psychiatrist
|
|-
| ''[[The Girl He Left Behind]]''
| Sgt. Hanna
|
|-
| ''[[You Can't Run Away from It]]''
| Danker
|
|-
| ''Meet Mother Magoo''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[The Great Man]]''
| Nick Cellantano
|
|-
|rowspan="12"| 1957
| ''[[Top Secret Affair]]''
| Col. Homer W. Gooch
|
|-
| ''Magoo Goes Overboard''
|rowspan="4"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Matador Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo Breaks Par''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo's Glorious Fourth''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Man of a Thousand Faces (film)|Man of a Thousand Faces]]''
| Clarence Locan
|
|-
| ''Magoo's Masquerade''
|rowspan="3"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo Saves the Bank''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Rock Hound Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Eighteen and Anxious]]''
| Harvey Graham
|
|-
| ''Magoo's Moose Hunt''
|rowspan="5"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo's Private War''
| Short, Voice
|-
|rowspan="9"| 1958
| ''Magoo's Young Manhood''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Scoutmaster Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''The Explosive Mr. Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[The High Cost of Loving]]''
| Paul Mason
|
|-
| ''Magoo's Three-Point Landing''
| Mr. Magoo / Air Traffic Controller
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo's Cruise''
|rowspan="3"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Love Comes to Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Gumshoe Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Macabre (1958 film)|Macabre]]''
| Police Chief Jim Tyloe
|
|-
|rowspan="11"| 1959
| ''Bwana Magoo''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]''
| Norbit, the accountant 
|
|-
| ''Magoo's Homecoming''
| rowspan="3" |Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Merry Minstrel Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo's Lodge Brother''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[Ask Any Girl (film)|Ask Any Girl]]''
| Maxwell
|
|-
| ''[[The Wild and the Innocent]]''
| Mr. Forbes
|
|-
| ''Terror Faces Magoo''
| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''[[A Private's Affair]]''
| Jim Gordon
|
|-
| ''[[The Big Operator (1959 film)|The Big Operator]]''
| Cliff Heldon
|
|-
| ''[[1001 Arabian Nights (1959 film)|1001 Arabian Nights]]''
| Uncle Abdul Azziz Magoo
| Voice
|-
|rowspan="5"|1960
| ''[[Ice Palace (film)|Ice Palace]]''
| Dave Husack
|
|-
| ''Magoo Meets Frankenstein''
|rowspan="3"| Mr. Magoo
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Magoo Meets McBoing Boing''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''I Was a Teenage Magoo''
| Short, Voice
|-
| ''Inside Magoo''
| Mr. Magoo / Himself
| Short, Voice, Cancer awareness short produced by the [[American Cancer Society]]
|-
| 1961
| ''[[The Errand Boy]]''
| Mr. Arbutt
| Voice, Uncredited
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1962
| ''[[The Horizontal Lieutenant]]''
| Cmdr. Jeremiah Hammerslag
|
|-
| ''[[Boys' Night Out (film)|Boys' Night Out]]''
| Peter Bowers
|
|-
| ''[[Zotz!]]''
| Horatio Kellgore
|
|-
| ''[[The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm]]''
| The King 
| ('The Dancing Princess')
|-
|rowspan="8"| 1963
| ''[[A Child Is Waiting]]''
| Hot Dog vendor
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Operation Bikini]]''
| Bosun's Mate Ed Fennelly
|
|-
| ''[[My Six Loves]]''
| Sheriff
|
|-
| ''[[Critic's Choice (film)|Critic's Choice]]''
| Dr. William Von Hagedorn
|
|-
| ''[[Johnny Cool]]''
| Louis Murphy
|
|-
| ''[[It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]]''
| Tyler Fitzgerald
|
|-
| ''[[Sunday in New York]]''
| Chief Pilot Drysdale
|
|-
| ''[[The Wheeler Dealers]]''
| Bullard Bear
|
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Advance to the Rear]]''
| Gen. Willoughby
|
|-
|rowspan="5"| 1965
| ''Mr. Magoo in Sherwood Forest''
| Mr. Magoo
| Voice
|-
| ''Mr. Magoo's Noah's Ark''
| Mr. Magoo, Mr.Magoo as Noah
| Voice
|-
| ''[[John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!]]''
| Miles Whitepaper
|
|-
|''[[Fluffy (1965 film)|Fluffy]]''
| Sergeant
|
|-
| ''[[Billie (1965 film)|Billie]]''
| Howard G. Carol
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1967
| ''[[Hurry Sundown (film)|Hurry Sundown]]''
| Carter Sillens
|
|-
| ''[[Don't Make Waves]]''
| Himself 
| Uncredited
|-
| 1968
| ''[[Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?]]''
| Tru-Blue Lou
|
|-
| 1969
| ''[[Hello Down There]]''
| T.R. Hollister
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1970
| ''[[The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County]]''
| Staunch
|
|-
| ''[[Myra Breckinridge (film)|Myra Breckinridge]]''
| Doctor
|
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Now You See Him, Now You Don't]]''
| Timothy Forsythe
|
|-
| 1974
| ''Goodnight Jackie''
| Mr. Landry
|
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1975
| ''Konyok-gorbunok''
| The Tsar
| Voice
|-
| ''[[Crazy Mama]]''
| Mr. Albertson
|
|-
| ''[[Friday Foster (film)|Friday Foster]]''
| Enos Griffith
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1977
| ''[[The Humpbacked Horse (film)#1975 version|The Magic Pony]]''
| The Tsar 
| Voice, English version
|-
| ''[[Pete's Dragon (1977 film)|Pete's Dragon]]''
| Mayor of Passamaquoddy
|
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Good Guys Wear Black]]''
| Doorman
|
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1979
| ''[[Angels Revenge|Angels' Brigade]]''
| Cmdr. Lindsey March
|
|-
| ''[[The Electric Horseman]]''
| Mr. Magoo
| Voice, Uncredited
|-
| ''[[C.H.O.M.P.S.]]''
| Mr. Gibbs
|
|-
| 1980
| ''[[There Goes the Bride (1980 film)|There Goes the Bride]]''
| Mr. Perkins
|
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Enchanted Journey (film)|Enchanted Journey]]''
| Gamun
| Voice, English version
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Slapstick of Another Kind]]''
| President of the U.S.
|
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Prince Jack]]''
| Dealy
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1952–1955
| ''[[I Married Joan]]''
| Judge Bradley Stevens
|
|-
| 1957
| ''[[The Pied Piper of Hamelin (1957 film)|The Pied Piper of Hamelin]]''
| King's Emissary
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1960–1961
| ''[[The Jim Backus Show]]''
| Mike O'Tool
| 
|-
| ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]''
| William Norbert
| Episode: "Star Witness"
|-
| ''[[Mister Magoo]]''
| Mr. Magoo
| Voice
|-
| 1961
| ''[[Maverick (TV series)|Maverick]]''
| Joe Wheelwright
|
|-
| 1962
| ''[[Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol]]''
| Ebenezer Scrooge / Mr. Magoo
| TV movie, Voice
|-
| 1963
| ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]''
| Marty Van Ransohoff 
| Episode: "The Clampetts Entertain"
|-
| 1964–1965
| ''[[The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo]]''
| Mr. Magoo
| Voice
|-
| 1964–1967
| ''[[Gilligan's Island]]''
| Thurston Howell III
|
|-
| 1964
| ''Mr. Magoo in Sherwood Forest''
| Mr. Magoo
| TV movie, Voice
|-
| 1966
| ''[[Password (American game show)|Password]]''
| Himself
| Game Show Contestant / Celebrity Guest Star
|-
| 1967
| ''[[Damn Yankees! (1967 film)|Damn Yankees!]]''
| Coach Benny Van Buren
|-
| 1968
| ''[[The Wild Wild West]]''
| Fabian Swanson 
| Episode: "The Night of the Sabatini Death"
|-
| 1968–1969
| ''[[Blondie (1968 TV series)|Blondie]]''
| Mr. Dithers
|
|-
|rowspan= "2"| 1969
| ''[[The Good Guys (1968 TV series)|The Good Guys]]''
| Henry Arsdale 
| 3 episodes
|-
| ''[[Wake Me When the War Is Over]]''
| Colonel
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1970
| ''[[I Dream of Jeannie]]''
| General Fitzhugh
| Episode: "Help, Help, a Shark"
|-
| ''[[Uncle Sam Magoo]]''
| Mr. Magoo
| TV movie, Voice
|-
| 1971–1974
| ''[[The Brady Bunch]]''
| Zaccariah T. Brown / Harry Mathews
| 3 episodes
|-
|1972|| ''[[Alias Smith and Jones (TV series)|Alias Smith and Jones]]'' ||  || S2:E19, "[[List of Alias Smith and Jones episodes|The Biggest Game in the West]]"
|-
| 1973
| ''[[The Girl Most Likely To...]]''
| Tilson
| TV movie
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Miracle on 34th Street (1973 film)|Miracle on 34th Street]]''
| Shellhammer
| TV movie
|-
| 1974–1975
| ''[[The New Adventures of Gilligan]]''
| Thurston Howell III
| Voice
|-
| 1974
| ''Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus'' 
| Narrator / Santa Claus
| TV special, Voice
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1975
|''[[Gunsmoke]]''
|Reverend Sims
|Episode: "Brides and Grooms"
|-
|''[[Kolchak: The Night Stalker]]''
|Herb Bresson 
|Episode: "Chopper" 
|-
| 1977
| ''[[What's New, Mr. Magoo?]]''
| Mr. Magoo
| Voice
|-
| 1977
| ''[[CHiPs]]''
| Weitzman
| Episode: "Undertow"
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Fantasy Island]]''
| Cap Truman
| Episode: “Anniversary/Reunion”
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Rescue from Gilligan's Island]]''
| rowspan="2"| Thurston Howell III
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1979
| ''[[The Castaways on Gilligan's Island]]''
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[The Rebels (miniseries)|The Rebels]]''
| John Hancock
| TV Miniseries
|-
| 1981
| ''[[The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island]]''
|rowspan="2"| Thurston Howell III
| TV movie
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Gilligan's Planet]]''
| Voice
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Family Feud]]''
|rowapan=“2” | Himself/''[[Gilligan’s Island]]'' reunion
| Game Show
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|822}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{Tcmdb name}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes-person|jim_backus}}
* {{Discogs artist|Jim Backus}}
* {{Find a Grave|1174}}
* [http://www.virtual-history.com/movie/person/10443/jim-backus Literature on Jim Backus]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backus, Jim}}
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[[Category:American male television actors]]
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[[Category:Male actors from Cleveland]]
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