Spoiler : Jim Backus (James Gilmore Backus) Born Cleveland, Ohio, February 25, 1913 Died Los Angeles, California, July 3, 1989 Age 76 (pneumonia) One of the most active stars of old time radio. A reckless youth who got kicked out of the Kentucky Military Academy for riding a horse through the school's dining facility, he knuckled down as a young man. Moving to New York, intending to make it big on Broadway (which he did, eventually) he found work in radio as an announcer, leading into his first program, a variety show he hosted (and there are no recordings of that Jim Backus Show known to exist). He was Jack "Flashgun" Casey on Casey, Crime Photographer, for a brief spell. Jim could also be heard on Society Girl, Jack Benny, Mel Blanc, Alan Young, Danny Kaye, Richard Diamond, Father Knows Best, Man From Homicide, Columbia Workshop, Our Miss Brooks, Jeff Regan, Great Plays, Battle Stations, Jerry Lester, This is Our Enemy, Sportsmen's Club, Ed Wynn, Romance, Crisis in War Town, Eddie Cantor, Suspense, Great Gildersleeve, Life of Riley, Fibber McGee and Molly, Fitch Bandwagon (musical version), Bob Burns, Sad Sack, Encore Theater, Hollywood Star Time, Jack Carson, Burns and Allen, Bill Goodwin, Screen Guild, Command Performance, Railroad Hour, Life with Luigi, Martin and Lewis, My Favorite Husband, Lux, Screen Directors' Playhouse, Penny Singleton, Family Theater, Phil Harris-Alice Faye, Magnificent Montague, This is Your FBI, Mr. and Mrs. Blandings, The Line-Up, Charlie McCarthy, December Bride, Bob Hope, a 1953 audition show called His and Hers, and many other shows, many of which do not have any recordings of their broadcasts. Jim was based in New York for the first few years in his career, then moved to L.A. to do movies, Mr. Magoo, more radio, and television.

Spoiler : One of my heroes!! Loved him no matter what he was playing!

Spoiler : I absolutely love this show.

Spoiler : Jim Backus was on the WML panel five times-- that's pretty up there in number of appearances for anyone outside the regulars.

Spoiler : What a voice. Loved Mr Magoo cartoons.

Spoiler : Backus,Jim (birth name was James Gilmore Backus) Born in Cleveland, Ohio 2/25/1913; died 7/3/1989 of Parkinson's disease and pneumonia in Santa Monica, California. Married to actress-writer Henriette Kay (Henny Backus) (1943-1989 his death). Began his career with radio bit roles on Cleveland, Ohio stations (1933-1936), then on New York radio for programs including The Edgar Bergen And Charlie McCarthy Show for NBC (1936- 1944). Dexter Hayes on Society Girl for CBS (1939). Regular on Matinee At Meadowbrook for CBS- Radio (1941). Herbert Updyke character on The Alan Young Show for NBC-Radio (1944-1946, again in 1949) and The Judy Canova Show for NBC-Radio (1950-1951). Moved to Hollywood and became a regular performer on The Mel Blanc Show for CBS-Radio in 1946. Chester Fenwick on The Sad Sack.

Spoiler : for CBS-Radio (1946). Mr. Hendricks on The Bill Goodwin Show for CBS-Radio (1947). Regular on other radio programs that include The Fresh Up Show for Mutual (1945), The Danny Kaye Show for CBS (1945-1946) and The New Lum And Abner Show for CBS and ABC (1947-1954). Host of The Jim Backus Vaudeville Show on CBS-Radio (1942), The Jim Backus Show on Mutual-Radio (1947-1948) and ABC-Radio (1957-1958) and The Big Talent Hunt on Mutual-Radio (1948). Screen debut in Easy Living (1949).

Spoiler : Judge Bradley Stevens on I Married Joan for NBC-Radio (1949) and NBC-TV (1952-1955). Horace Wiggins on The Penny Singleton Show for NBC-Radio (1950). Bullard on The Great Gildersleeve for NBC-Radio (1952-?). Co-star of Hollywood House on ABC-TV (1949-50). John Michael O'Toole on the 1960 syndicated television series, Hot Off The Wire (The Jim Backus Show). Host of Talent Scouts on CBS-TV (1962). Beginning in 1949 provided the voice of the cartoon character Quincy Magoo, and the cartoon shorts were presented on the NBC-TV programs, The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo (1964-1965) and What's New, Mister Magoo (1977-1979). Thurston Howell the III on Gilligan's Island for CBS-TV (1964-1967). Host of Continental Showcase on CBS-TV (1966). J.C. Dithers on Blondie for CBS-TV (1968). Voice of Thurston Howell on the ABC-TV animated series, The New Adventures Of Gilligan (1974-1977).

Spoiler : Backus and his wife, Henny, wrote several books based on anecdotes of their 46-year marriage, including "What Are You Doing After the Orgy," "Only When I Laugh," and "Forgive Us Our Digressiona."

Spoiler : Though not credited, Backus was apparently on the 2-12-35 episode of the Ed Wynn show. He would have been 21 years old at the time. He plays multiple characters, and uses his 'yacht club' voice, which he would use 30 years later on Gilligan's Island.