James Gilmore Backus (February 25, 1913 – July 3, 1989) was an American actor and comedian, best known for his role as Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island and for providing the voice of Mr. Magoo.
Partial filmography:
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Anime dub roles
- Chibikko Rémi to Meiken Kapi (1970): Capi the dog
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 E. T. 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
- Sunday in New York (1963): Chief Pilot Drysdale
- 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
- The Girl Most Likely to… (1973): Prof. David Tilson
- 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 (1955) (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 (1955) (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)