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Jim Backus as Thurston Howell III on the sitcom "Gilligan's Island". Source: https://www.slashfilm.com/1583282/jim-backus-gilligans-island-casting-script-rewrites/ (May be subject to copyright) |
He was already a well-established actor when I first saw him, but he would turn in a memorable role on one of TV’s most memorable comedies, and lend his voice to one of my favourite cartoons.
Recently, when I was reflecting on “Gilligan’s Island”, I started thinking about Jim Backus, who played Thurston Howell III. He was also the voice of Mr. Magoo, who I just loved.
From the start
Jim Backus got his start in movies in 1948 and appeared in many including “M” in 1951; “Rebel Without a Cause” in 1955; “Man of a Thousand Faces” in 1957; “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” in 1963; “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t” in 1972; “Pete’s Dragon” in 1977; “The Electric Horseman” and “C.H.O.M.P.S.” in 1979; “There Goes the Bride” in 1980; and many, many more.
Jim Backus got his start in movies in 1948 and appeared in many including “M” in 1951; “Rebel Without a Cause” in 1955; “Man of a Thousand Faces” in 1957; “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” in 1963; “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t” in 1972; “Pete’s Dragon” in 1977; “The Electric Horseman” and “C.H.O.M.P.S.” in 1979; “There Goes the Bride” in 1980; and many, many more.
He was also prolific in television including his own series “The Jim Backus Show” in 1960-1961; as well as guest spots in “The Untouchables”; “Maverick”; “The Beverly Hilbillies”; “Password”; “The Wild, Wild West”; “I Dream of Jeannie”; “The Brady Bunch”; “Alias Smith and Jones”; the television movie “Miracle on 34th Street”; “Gunsmoke”; “Kolchak: The Night Stalker”; “CHiPs”; “Fantasy Island”; the pilot for “The Feather and Father Gang”; “Love Boat”; and more.
Stranded
Jim Backus’ most famous role was as Thurston Howell III in “Gilligan’s Island”. He was a billionire, reduced to a millionaire marooned with his wife Lovey and the other castaways. “Gilligan’s Island” ran three seasons and 98 episodes from 1964 to 1967.
Jim Backus’ most famous role was as Thurston Howell III in “Gilligan’s Island”. He was a billionire, reduced to a millionaire marooned with his wife Lovey and the other castaways. “Gilligan’s Island” ran three seasons and 98 episodes from 1964 to 1967.
He would also provide the voice of Thurston Howell III in the cartoons “The New Adventures of Gilligan’s Island” in 1974-1975 and “Gilligan’s Planet” in 1982; and appear in the TV reunion movies “Rescue from Gilligan’s Island” in 1978, “The Castaways on Gilligan’s Island” in 1979, and “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island” in 1981. He reprised the part of Thurston Howell III, with Natalie Schafer who played Lovey Howell, in commercials for Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn; and a “Gilligan’s Island” reunion episode of “The Family Feud” in 1983.
Mr. Magoo
Jim Backus made his first appearance as the voice of Mr. Magoo in 1949 in “Ragtime Bear”, although it is uncredited. He would go on to voice Mr. Magoo in “Spellbound Hound”, also uncredited, in 1950; “Trouble Indemnity” and “Bungled Bungalow” in 1950.
Jim Backus made his first appearance as the voice of Mr. Magoo in 1949 in “Ragtime Bear”, although it is uncredited. He would go on to voice Mr. Magoo in “Spellbound Hound”, also uncredited, in 1950; “Trouble Indemnity” and “Bungled Bungalow” in 1950.
There would be “Barefaced Flatfoot” and “Fuddy Duddy Buddy”, both uncredited, and “Grizzly Golfer”, all in 1951; and “Sloppy Jalopy”, “The Dog Snatcher”, “Pink and Blue Blues”, “Hotsy Footsy”, and “Captains Outrageous” all in 1952.
“Safety Magoo”, “Magoo’s Masterpiece”, and “Magoo Slept Here”, all came out in 1953; “Magoo Goes Skiing”, “Kangaroo Courting”, and “Destination Magoo”, all debuted in 1954; and “When Magoo Flew”, “Magoo’s Check Up”, “Magoo Express”, “Madcap Magoo”, “Stage Door Magoo”, and “Magoo Makes New” all came out in 1955.
There was “Magoo’s Canine Mutiny”, “Magoo Goes West”, “Calling Dr. Magoo”, “Magoo Beats the Heat”, “Magoo’s Puddle Jumper”, “Trailblazer Magoo”, “Magoo’s Problem Child”, and “Meet Mother Magoo” all in 1956; “Magoo Goes Overboard”, “Matador Magoo”, “Magoo Breaks Par”, “Magoo’s Glorious Fourth”, “Magoo’s Masquerade”, “Magoo Saves the Bank”, “Rock Hound Magoo”, “Magoo’s Moose Hunt”, and “Magoo’s Private War” all in 1957; and “Magoo’s Young Manhood”, “Scoutmaster Magoo”, “The Explosive Mr. Magoo”, “Magoo’s Three-Point Landing”, “Magoo’s Cruise”, “Love Comes to Magoo”, and “Gumshoe Magoo” all in 1958.
Then there was “”Bwana Magoo”, “Magoo’s Homecoming”, “Merry MinstrelMagoo”, “Magoo’s Lodge Brother” and “Terror Faces Magoo” all in 1959; “Magoo Meets Frankenstein”, “Magoo Meets McBoing Boing”, “I Was a Teenage Magoo”, and “Inside Magoo” all in 1960; “Mr, Magoo in Sherwood Forrest” and “Mr. Magoo’s Noah’s Ark” both in 1965; and “The Electric Horseman” in 1979.
I was not aware Mr. Magoo was a theatrical release until recently.
Mr. Magoo also took his act to television starting in 1964-1965 in “The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo”; then in the television movies “Mr. Magoo in Sherwood Forrest” in 1964; “Uncle Sam Magoo” in 1970; and “What’s New Mr. Magoo” in 1977.
After school and weekends
I picked up the trail of Jim Backus in the early 1980s when reruns of “Gilligan’s Island” appeared on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial. He was awesome in the role, never taking himself seriously and always seeming to think he was just a little bit better than everyone else – and wasn’t – for comic effect.
I picked up the trail of Jim Backus in the early 1980s when reruns of “Gilligan’s Island” appeared on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial. He was awesome in the role, never taking himself seriously and always seeming to think he was just a little bit better than everyone else – and wasn’t – for comic effect.
I also watched Mr. Magoo cartoons on Saturday mornings, likely in some of the revivals. Mr. Magoo was extremely near-sighted, getting into all sorts of trouble he never saw coming – literally. He always seemed to avoid certain danger. The brunt of that was usually borne by those around him.
Back then, there was no PVR or even a VCR to tape Mr. Magoo. The best I could do was buy the book, and I believe I did buy a Mr. Magoo comic in a book.
Death
One thing I noticed, even as a child, was the shake Jim Backus had. It was more noticeable in later shows I saw him in. His role was even reduced to a cameo at the end of “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island”, due to health problems.
One thing I noticed, even as a child, was the shake Jim Backus had. It was more noticeable in later shows I saw him in. His role was even reduced to a cameo at the end of “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island”, due to health problems.
It turned out he had Parkinson’s Disease. In 1989 he died of pneumonia related to his Parkinson’s.
He was 76.
Parting thoughts
I only knew Jim Backus through his role as Thurston Howell III and the voice of Mr. Magoo, but those were both iconic roles.
I only knew Jim Backus through his role as Thurston Howell III and the voice of Mr. Magoo, but those were both iconic roles.
Every time I hear a name that ends in “the third”, I think of Thurston Howell. My cousin Krista married Jamie Howell. As corny as it sounds, I asked “Who’s Jamie’s Dad – Thurston Howell III”. The name was also synonymous with opulence, wealth and privilege – to comic advantage.
No matter what I saw Jim Backus in, whether “Love Boat”, “Fantasy Island”, “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t”, or “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”, I always thought “It’s Mr. Howell”.
Even with Mr. Magoo, I recall the first time I saw a Mr. Magoo cartoon.
“That’s Mr. Howell,” I thought.
That’s staying power.
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