Jim Backus

Actor

Jim Backus

Born February 25, 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio, USADied July 3, 1989152 films

Jim Backus (1913–1989) was a radio, television, film, and voice actor.

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Among his most famous credits are The Alan Young Radio Show, I Married Joan, Gilligan's Island, and Rebel Without a Cause. He also starred on his own show The Jim Backus Show.

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The best way into Jim Backus's work
Rebel Without a Cause posterFirst watchRebel Without a Cause19557.5as Frank StarkA major role in one of the best-rated films of their career.After moving to a new town, troublemaking teen Jim Stark is supposed to have a clean slate, although being the new kid in town brings its own problems.View film

Essential films

Ranked by role, acclaim and reach

Filmography

152 films as actor
  1. 1985Prince JackDealy
  2. 1982Slapstick of Another KindPresident of the U.S.
  3. 1981The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's IslandThurston Howell III
  4. 1980There Goes The BrideMr. Perkins
  5. 1980The Gossip ColumnistJim Backus
  6. 1979C.H.O.M.P.S.Mr. Gibbs
  7. 1979The Castaways on Gilligan's IslandThurston Howell III
  8. 1979Angels' BrigadeCmdr. Lindsey March
  9. 1978Rescue from Gilligan's IslandThurston Howell III
  10. 1978Good Guys Wear BlackAlbert, the Doorman
  11. 1977Have I Got a Christmas for YouKevin Grady
  12. 1977Pete's DragonThe Mayor
  13. 1977Never Con a KillerStanley Bunch
  14. 1975Friday FosterEnos Griffith
  15. 1975Crazy MamaMr. Albertson
  16. 1975Cop on the BeatJake Mandel
  17. 1974Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa ClausNarrator / Santa Claus (voice)
  18. 1974Goodnight JackieMr. Landry
  19. 1973Miracle on 34th StreetShellhammer
  20. 1973The Girl Most Likely To...Prof. David Tilson
  21. 1972Magic CarpetGeorge Benson
  22. 1972Of Thee I SingSenator Robert F. Lyons
  23. 1972Now You See Him, Now You Don'tTimothy Forsythe
  24. 1972Getting Away from It AllMike Lorimar
  25. 1971Mooch Goes to HollywoodJim Backus
  26. 1970The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico CountyStaunch
  27. 1970Uncle Sam MagooMr. Magoo
  28. 1969Wake Me When the War Is OverColonel
  29. 1969Hello Down ThereT.R. Hollister
  30. 1968Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?Tru-Blue Lou
  31. 1967Damn YankeesBenny Van Buren
  32. 1967Hurry SundownCarter Sillens
  33. 1965BillieHoward G. Carol
  34. 1965FluffySergeant
  35. 1965John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!Whitepaper
  36. 1964Advance to the RearGen. Willoughby
  37. 1964Mr. Magoo, Man of MysteryMr. Magoo
  38. 1964Mr. Magoo in Sherwood ForestMr. Magoo
  39. 1963The Wheeler DealersBullard Bear
  40. 1963Sunday in New YorkChief Pilot Drysdale
  41. 1963It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldTyler Fitzgerald
  42. 1963Johnny CoolLouis Murphy
  43. 1963My Six LovesSheriff
  44. 1963Operation BikiniBosun's Mate Ed Fennelly
  45. 1963Critic's ChoiceWilliam Von Hagedorn
  46. 1963A Child Is WaitingHot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
  47. 1962Mister Magoo's Christmas CarolMr. Quincy Magoo / Ebenezer Scrooge (voice)
  48. 1962Zotz!Horatio Kellgore
  49. 1962The Wonderful World of the Brothers GrimmThe King (segment "The Dancing Princess")
  50. 1962Boys' Night OutPeter Bowers
  51. 1962The Horizontal LieutenantCmdr. Jeremiah Hammerslag
  52. 1961Magoo Meets FrankensteinMr. Magoo
  53. 1960Ice PalaceDave Husack
  54. 1960I Was a Teenage MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  55. 1960Tom, Dick and HarrietJames
  56. 1959Magoo Meets Boing Boing (The Noise-Making Boy)Mr. Magoo (voice)
  57. 19591001 Arabian NightsUncle Abdul Azziz Magoo (voice)
  58. 1959Ask Any GirlMr. Maxwell
  59. 1959A Private's AffairJim Gordon
  60. 1959The Big OperatorCliff Heldon
  61. 1959Terror Faces MagooMr. Magoo
  62. 1959The Wild and the InnocentMr. Forbes
  63. 1959Magoo's Lodge BrotherMr. Magoo (voice)
  64. 1959Merry Minstrel MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  65. 1959Magoo’s HomecomingMr. Magoo (voice)
  66. 1959Bwana MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  67. 1958Gumshoe MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  68. 1958Love Comes to MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  69. 1958MacabreSheriff Jim Tyloe
  70. 1958Magoo’s CruiseMr. Magoo (voice)
  71. 1958Magoo’s Three-Point LandingMr. Magoo / Air Traffic Controller / Sully (voice)
  72. 1958The High Cost of LovingPaul Mason
  73. 1958The Explosive Mr. MagooMr Magoo (voice)
  74. 1958Scoutmaster MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  75. 1958Magoo's Young ManhoodMr. Magoo (voice)
  76. 1957Magoo's Private WarMr. Magoo (voice)
  77. 1957Magoo's Moose HuntMr. Magoo (voice)
  78. 1957The Pied Piper of HamelinKing's Emissary
  79. 1957Eighteen and AnxiousHarvey Graham
  80. 1957Rock Hound MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  81. 1957Magoo Saves the BankMr. Magoo (voice)
  82. 1957Man of a Thousand FacesClarence Locan
  83. 1957Magoo's MasqueradeMr. Magoo (voice)
  84. 1957Magoo Breaks ParMr. Magoo (voice)
  85. 1957Matador MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  86. 1957Magoo Goes OverboardMr. Magoo (voice)
  87. 1957Top Secret AffairCol. Homer W. Gooch
  88. 1956Meet Mother MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  89. 1956The Great ManNick Cellantano
  90. 1956The Opposite SexPsychiatrist
  91. 1956You Can't Run Away from ItDanker
  92. 1956The Girl He Left BehindSgt. Hanna
  93. 1956Magoo's Problem ChildMr. Magoo (voice)
  94. 1956Trailblazer MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  95. 1956Magoo's Puddle JumperMr. Magoo (voice)
  96. 1956Magoo Beats the HeatMr. Magoo(voice)
  97. 1956The Naked HillsWillis Haver
  98. 1956Calling Doctor MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  99. 1956Magoo Goes WestMr. Magoo (voice)
  100. 1956Meet Me in Las VegasTom Culdane
  101. 1956Magoo's Canine MutinyMr. Magoo (voice)
  102. 1955The Square JunglePat Quaid
  103. 1955Magoo Makes NewsMr. Magoo
  104. 1955Rebel Without a CauseFrank Stark
  105. 1955Francis in the NavyCommander Hutch
  106. 1955Madcap MagooMr. Magoo
  107. 1955Magoo ExpressMr. Magoo
  108. 1954Destination MagooMr. Magoo (voice)
  109. 1954Deep in My HeartBen Judson
  110. 1954When Magoo FlewMr. Magoo/Pilot (voice)
  111. 1953GeraldineJason Ambrose
  112. 1953I Love MelvinMergo
  113. 1953Angel FaceDistrict Attorney Judson
  114. 1953Above and BeyondGen. Curtis E. LeMay
  115. 1952Androcles and the LionCenturion
  116. 1952Hotsy FootsyMr. Magoo (voice)
  117. 1952Pete HotheadLavery the Floorwalker/Mailman (uncredited)
  118. 1952The Rose Bowl StoryMichael "Iron Mike" Burke
  119. 1952Pink and Blue BluesMr. Magoo (voice)
  120. 1952Don't Bother to KnockPeter Jones