---
name: "Jim Backus"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jim-backus"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 February 1913"
died: "3 July 1989"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
updated: "2026-09-16T12:47:43.927469+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Jim Backus

Actor. Born 25 February 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Died 3 July 1989.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 February 1913, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- **Died:** 3 July 1989
- **Also known as:** James Gilmore Backus

## 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.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Rebel Without a Cause* (1955), Fi1m 84, as Frank Stark — [page](https://film.one/film/rebel-without-a-cause.md)

## Also known for

- *I Dream of Jeannie* (1965), General Fitzhugh
- *Pete's Dragon* (1977), The Mayor
- *It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World* (1963), Tyler Fitzgerald
- *Gilligan's Island* (1964), Thurston Howell
- *Charlie's Angels* (1976), Iggy
- *The Love Boat* (1977), Marvin Waterman, Mr. Landers
- *Angel Face* (1953), District Attorney Judson
- *Don't Bother to Knock* (1952), Peter Jones

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jim-backus