Biography
Jim Backus (1913–1989) was an American actor who worked in radio, film, television and voice acting. He is best known for playing Frank Stark, the father of James Dean’s character, in Rebel Without a Cause (1955).
Backus trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and began his career in radio in the 1940s. His other prominent roles include Thurston Howell III in the television series Gilligan’s Island (1964–1967) and the voice of the cartoon character Mr Magoo. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
