James Gilmore Backus (February 25, 1913 – July 3, 1989) was an American comic actor. He is known for Mr. Magoo and Gilligan's Island.
Partial filmography:
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Film roles
- The Killer That Stalked New York (1950): Willie Dennis (uncredited)
- M (1951): The Mayor
- His Kind of Woman (1951): Myron Winton
- Don't Bother to Knock (1952): Peter Jones
- Androcles and the Lion (1952): Centurion
- Angel Face (1953): District Attorney Judson
- Francis in the Navy (1955): Commander Hutch
- Rebel Without a Cause (1955): Frank Stark
- Man of a Thousand Faces (1957): Clarence Locan
- The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962): The King
- A Child Is Waiting (1963): Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
- Johnny Cool (1963): Louis Murphy
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963): Tyler Fitzgerald
- The Wheeler Dealers (1963): Bullard Bear
- Advance to the Rear (1964): Gen. Willoughby
- Hurry Sundown (1967): Carter Sillens
- Don't Make Waves (1967): as Himself (uncredited)
- Hello Down There (1969): T.R. Hollister
- Myra Breckinridge (1970): Doctor
- Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972): Timothy Forsythe
- Pete's Dragon (1977): The Mayor
- Good Guys Wear Black (1978): Albert the Apartment Doorman
- Angels Revenge (1979): Commander Lindsey March
- C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979): Mr. Gibbs
- Enchanted Journey (1981): Gamun (voice, English dub)
Television roles
- I Married Joan (1952–55): Judge Bradley Stevens
- Playhouse 90 (1 episode, 1958): Jerry
- The Millionaire (1 episode, 1959): Henry Banning
- 77 Sunset Strip (1 episode, 1960): Maury Samuels
- The Untouchables (1 episode, 1960): William Norbert
- The Jim Backus Show (1960–61): Mike O'Toole
- Maverick (1 episode, 1961): Joe Wheelwright
- Mr. Magoo (1960–62): Quincy Magoo (voice)
- Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962)
- The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo (1964–65)
- What's New, Mr. Magoo? (1977)
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1 episode, 1963): Marty Van Ransohoff
- Burke's Law (3 episodes, 1963–64): Harold Mason/Pork Pie Hannigan/Herkimer Witt
- Gilligan's Island (1963–67): Thurston Howell III
- The New Adventures of Gilligan (1974–75)
- Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978)
- The Castaways on Gilligan's Island (1979)
- The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981)
- Gilligan's Planet (1982)
- Daniel Boone (1 episode, 1968): Will Scataway
- I Spy (1 episode, 1968): Tom Matthews
- The Wild Wild West (1 episode, 1969): Fabian Swanson
- Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In (1 episode, 1970): Guest Performer
- I Dream of Jeannie (1 episode, 1970): Gen. Charles Fitzhugh
- Nanny and the Professor (1 episode, 1970): Dr. Charles Walters
- Love, American Style (2 episodes, 1970): Jerry Franks/Jerry
- The Brady Bunch (3 episodes, 1971–74): Zaccariah T. Brown/Harry Matthews
- Alias Smith and Jones (1 episode, 1972): Joseph P. Sterling
- The Mod Squad (1 episode, 1973): Ernie Wade
- Miracle on 34th Street (TV movie, 1973): Shellhammer
- Marcus Welby, M.D. (1 episode, 1974): Bill
- Chico and the Man (1 episode, 1975): Harold Erickson
- Harry O (1 episode, 1975): Ziggy
- Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1 episode, 1975): Herb Bresson
- Gunsmoke (1 episode, 1975): Rev. Sims
- New Zoo Revue (1 episode, 1975): Traveling Salesman
- Ellery Queen (1 episode, 1975): Howard Biggers
- Filmation's Ghostbusters (1 episode, 1975): Eric, the Red (voice)
- Police Story (2 episodes, 1975–76): Jake Mandel/Pollack
- Ark II (1 episode, 1976): Arnie Pool
- Charlie's Angels (1 episode, 1977): Iggy
- CHiPs (1 episode, 1977): Weitzman
- Fantasy Island (2 episodes, 1978–80): Cap Truman/H.H. Moran
- The Love Boat (2 episodes, 1978–81): Marvin Waterman/Mr. Landers
- Trapper John, M.D. (1 episode, 1983): Gus
Short film roles
- Mr. Magoo shorts (1949–60): Quincy Magoo (voice)
- Trouble Indemnity (1950)
- When Magoo Flew (1954)
- Magoo's Puddle Jumper (1956)
- Looney Tunes
- A-Lad-in His Lamp (1948): Smokey the Genie (voice, uncredited)
- The Windblown Hare (1949): Big Bad Wolf (voice, uncredited)