Jim Backus

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Jim Backus (born February 25, 1913 in Cleveland , Ohio , † July 3, 1989 in Los Angeles , California ; actually James Gilmore Backus ) was an American actor and voice actor .

Career

The son of an engineer had worked as a speaker in radio plays since the early 1940s. His voice became known to millions of Americans after 1949 for lending it to the cartoon character Mister Magoo . He spoke this character in various cartoon series until the 1970s. Another well-known cartoon character that he dubbed "Smoky the Genie" from Bugs Bunny .

From the late 1940s, Backus also played as an actor in numerous movies and television productions. He had one of his early roles as a supporting actor in the Tracy / Hepburn comedy Pat and Mike (1952). Three years later, Backus embodied in ... because they don't know what they are doing the father of James Dean . He has also appeared in movies like the comedies A Total, Totally Crazy World (1963), Where Were You When The Lights Go Out? (1968), It cracks, it hisses, there's nothing to see (1972) or the fantasy film musical Elliot, das Schmunzelmonster (1977). Backus was also seen in serious roles, for example in Sieg über das Dunkel (1951) and Temptation on 809 (1952).

On television, Backus appeared alongside Joan Davis on NBC sitcom I Married Joan from 1952 to 1955 . From 1960 to 1961 Backus had his own comedy series: Hot Off the Wire was subtitled The Jim Backus Show . From 1964 to 1967 he played the millionaire "Thurston Howell III" in the sitcom Gilligan's Island . This role has probably shaped his image the most, and he also played in the various follow-up productions in the 1970s and 1980s. In the animated adaptations of the series ( The New Adventures of Gilligan , 1974-1977 and Gilligan's Planet , 1982-1983) he also spoke Howell. In addition, Backus had frequent guest appearances in various television series, including Smoking Colts , Three Girls and Three Boys and Charlie's Angels until his death .

He also wrote several humorous books with his wife Henny Backus. Backus was also successful on record, so he released the two singles Delicious and Cave Man in the late 1950s . Jim Backus died in 1989 of complications from pneumonia after suffering from Parkinson's for a long time. He was buried in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery . His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame can be found at 1735 Vine Street.

Filmography (selection)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Obituary for Jim Backus , in the New York Times, July 4, 1989
personal data
SURNAME Backus, Jim
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Backus, James Gilmore (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actor and voice actor
DATE OF BIRTH February 25, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Cleveland , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH 3rd July 1989
Place of death Los Angeles , California