Jim Backus
Biography
Jim Backus was an American actor whose career began in radio around 1940 and spanned five decades in Hollywood. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he often played upper-crust characters with a New England air, most famously Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island, a role he kept for the show's three seasons from 1964 to 1967 and revisited in later reunion films. He provided the voice for the nearsighted cartoon character Mr. Magoo, returning to the part in revivals between 1964 and 1977. His film work included Pat and Mike (1952), Don't Bother to Knock (1952), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). He costarred with Joan Davis on I Married Joan from 1952 to 1955, headlined his own short-lived series The Jim Backus Show, and in 1960 was honored with a place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
76years old at death
- Born Ohio
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- James Gilmore Backus (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 39
- Career span
- 33 years1949 to 1982
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Own stunts
Backus was a keen golfer. In 1964, he played in the Bing Crosby Pro-Am tournament and did well enough to make the 36-hole cut.
Behind the camera
Backus helped write Mooch Goes to Hollywood, a 1971 family movie. The story follows a dog with dreams of becoming a movie star.
Jim Backus movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
William Castle directed three of these films, Nicholas Ray two and Otto Preminger two. Five actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Bess Flowers's page
Chet Brandenburg's page
James Garner's page
Fred Clark's page
Alan Hale Jr.'s page
Robert Mitchum's page
All films by William Castle
All films by Nicholas Ray
All films by Otto Preminger
Also two films together34 more actors
- Jane FondaHurry Sundown (1967) and Sunday in New York (1963)
- Mickey RooneyPete's Dragon (1977) and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- Whit BissellAdvance to the Rear (1964) and The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)
- Elisha Cook Jr.Johnny Cool (1963) and Don't Bother to Knock (1952)
- Ian WolfeThe Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962) and Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
- Spencer TracyIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and Pat and Mike (1952)
- Paul FreesMister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962) and His Kind of Woman (1951)
- Ann DoranRebel Without a Cause (1955) and One Last Fling (1949)
- Richard AndersonJohnny Cool (1963) and I Love Melvin (1953)
- Strother MartinThe Wild and the Innocent (1959) and Androcles and the Lion (1952)
- Raymond BurrHis Kind of Woman (1951) and M (1951)
- Willis BoucheyDeadline - U.S.A. (1952) and Don't Bother to Knock (1952)
- Jean SimmonsAngel Face (1953) and Androcles and the Lion (1952)
- Paul StewartDeep in My Heart (1954) and Deadline - U.S.A. (1952)
- Dorothy MaloneMan of a Thousand Faces (1957) and The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)
- Natalie WoodThe Girl He Left Behind (1956) and Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
- Parley BaerWake Me When the War Is Over (1969) and Deadline - U.S.A. (1952)
- Leoda RichardsZotz! (1962) and The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
- Les TremayneMister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962) and I Love Melvin (1953)
- Philip Van ZandtMan of a Thousand Faces (1957) and His Kind of Woman (1951)
- Larry J. BlakeAngel Face (1953) and Iron Man (1951)
- Oskar HomolkaBoys' Night Out (1962) and The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962)
- Evelyn KeyesIron Man (1951) and The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)
- Raymond GreenleafAngel Face (1953) and Deadline - U.S.A. (1952)
- Alan HewittNow You See Him, Now You Don't (1972) and Wake Me When the War Is Over (1969)
- Joe FlynnThe Girl Most Likely to... (1973) and Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972)
- Jessie Royce LandisBoys' Night Out (1962) and The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
- George BaxterIron Man (1951) and The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)
- Martin GabelDeadline - U.S.A. (1952) and M (1951)
- Ruth McDevittThe Girl Most Likely to... (1973) and Boys' Night Out (1962)
- Jeanne CagneyMan of a Thousand Faces (1957) and Don't Bother to Knock (1952)
- Louis NyeThe Wheeler Dealers (1963) and Zotz! (1962)
- Jane KeanPete's Dragon (1977) and Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962)
- Loring SmithHurry Sundown (1967) and Pat and Mike (1952)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Jim Backus's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$105 million
9 of the 39 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 39 films: 9 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 5 never in cinemas; 23 figure not found.
- 9Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 5Never in cinemas
- 23Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 99% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$60M57.1% of the total
- 2$18M17.4% of the total
- 3$8.1M7.7% of the total
- 4$5.0M4.8% of the total
- 5$4.5M4.3% of the total
- 6$4.0M3.8% of the total
- 7$2.2M2.1% of the total
- 8$2.0M1.9% of the total
$1.0 millionfrom the other 1 film with a worldwide figure, 1% of the total
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.