Jim Backus, one of his last interviews

[herrveidt]

Magoo is dead...LONG LIVE MAGOO...Mr.Backus and your lovely wife, RIP.

[SUNDOGG97]

I always get a laugh when I think of this man and always will

[DancingSpiderman]

Would have been really funny to have Jim walking around his own house, picking up knickknacks , doddering around from room to room, speaking in that Mr. Magoo voice HAAHAHAhaha!

Seems like a sweet guy. Rest In Peace, Jim.

[princelv33]

I so loved Mr. Magoo!

[flitriver]

I love it! To the Reagan's: "Can I come over and borrow a cup of money?"

PRICELESS!!!

[af62250]

When ever I see politicians talking about the rich in any sort of way like taxing them a vision of Thirston Howe lll (Jim Backus) pops into my mind. Giligans Island made a real impression on me even to this day.

[indyracingnut]

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying although his Gilligan's Island character was great, my favorite character he played was James Dean's father in "Rebel Without A Cause" I just find it a more "human" character than Thurston Howell III.

[borbetomagus]

You might enjoy one of his earliest performances as Smoky the Genie in this 1948 Bugs Bunny cartoon, "A-Lad-in His Lamp" -- /watch?v=c0vd4askdXk&t=0m57s

[kayla12gh]

I love Mr. Howell in Gilligan's Island, him and natalie Schafer were the funniest in Gilligan's Island. :)

[k1rtm0han]

Out of every character in Gilligan's Island, I always found Mr. Howell to be the funniest. I mean he's a grown man who sleeps with a teddy bear even though he's happily married! LOL thats so priceless!

[SlackerSlayer]

@k1rtm0han Knowing what Kay Griggs said about some of the "elite", sleeping with a teddy bear... I love the comments that I remember, about his disdain for "Yale men" (skull n bones).

[JubalCalif]

Heavens to Murgatroid! What a sheer delight to watch! What a beloved man the late great Mr Backus was! So many wonderful performances! And he & his beautiful and equally talented wife Henny wrote many books. The one I owned ("What Are You Doing After the Orgy?") was hilarious. THANK YOU so much for sharing this heartwarming clip with us! CHEERS! :-)

[mkworkman]

5:08 YouTube video: The talented actor who played wealthy characters like Mr. Magoo and Thurston Howell, III (on Gilligan's Island) is interviewed, appropriately enough, for Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous in 1985.

February 25, 1913: birth of Jim Backus, American actor (d. 1989).

[BigTex541]

Jim Backus was one of the funniest comedians I know of, both as Mr. Howell & Mr Magoo.

[JubalCalif]

@BigTex541

Well said!  I totally concur !!!

[jogman]

Jim Backus died on July 03, 1989, approximately 4 years afetr this was filmed. He contracted pnemonia and that combined with complications from Parkinson's Disease did him in. RIP Mr. Backus.

[uyg2008]

I remember this show....Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous!

[madamerotten]

Among him numerous career accomplishments was his role in "Rebel Without a Cause."

[gibby100]

We're 4 Buffalo!

[Marksnotebook]

During Backus' time on TV we had so many good actors who were class acts. Sex was not always the number one issue. Neither was greed. Respect of a fellow man was imperative. I don't watch new movies today. I prefer these old shows and I am not an old man yet. I just like decency with a theme that means something good. Reagan, Backus, John Wayne, Lucille Ball, Dean Martin, Grace Kelly, plus so many more are all gone now. And so few actors of today show any character. A pity.

[fairchildharrison]

When I was growing up in the sixties and seventies, Jonathan Winters was considered TV's funniest man, but I always thought his act derivative of Jim Backus's Mr. Magoo and some of his other comic characters. Rest in peace, Jim.

[seymourbbest]

Wow great video! Gilligan's Island is my all time favorite show. I'm 48 and I remember watching it back in the 60s when it originally aired and I still love it. Rest in peace Mr Backus and all the rest of the castaways that have left us. You guys will always be a part of my childhood memories.

[TVSeriesFinalecom]

Actually three are still with us -- Dawn Wells (Mary Ann), Russell Johnson (Prof) and Tina Louise (Ginger) -- as well as creator Sherwood Schwartz.

[AndrewGilmore1986]

@TVSeriesFinalecom Unfortunately, Sherwood Schwartz recently passed away. :(

[darian1968]

yep him doing the voice for Mr, MIGoo? sorry for the spelling But he did a good job when i saw that as a kid in re-runs. But Gilligan's Island would not have been the same, I think Mary-Anne is the only one living still. Sniff. I miss those days.

[wlbaz]

Ah...great clip!  Jim Backus was indeed very talented, but very humble, too. :)

[gregsmusic1]

i very much enjoyed Mr. Howell when i was a kid,and all the other cast memebers{Gilligans Island. They definitely do not make programs like that anymore, todays programs,at least most of them are bad and not worth watching

[sultanoswat]

Would you accept 100,000, no well then 200,000? Classic, the running joke of Gilligans Island he never quite understood his money wasn't worth a damn there. Critics too didn't get it that silly was what the show was, it didn't try to be more then it was. There was a little for everyone, eye candy with Mary Ann. It matched all the other silly shows then, The Munsters, The Addams Family, Gomer Pyle. What did the critics want? Without a doubt Backus had the best role Thurston Howell III

[jdohe]

Well, I think the value of the money was believable at the time because they were always expecting to be rescued. In hindsight, it looks silly because we know they aren't going to be rescued.

[Gerkinstock]

But they actually were rescued-- twice (in 1978 and again in 1979). I believe Mr. Howell ended up buying out the other six castaways and turned the island into a vacation resort.

[jdohe]

I didn't check.. but I'm sure that Thurston BOUGHT the island, and GAVE equal shares to the other castaways.

[RomneyGack]

I once wrote a short script back in the 80s and had a part for JB as a bachelor uncle who liked to give out advice, smoke cigars, and fish for carp. Then he died. :(

[theincredibleiannune]

I Remember Jim also the spokes man for Canfields sodas with his Magoo Voice Canfields for everyone!

[143AC]

I agree with Mr.Backus.."Mr.Magoo"was a foolish man.

Who only saw things and people in his own ridicules fashion. I wish that more people could laugh with and accept this

cartoon character the way Mr.Backus did?

[walleyrt69]

God bless and rest in peace Mr. Backus.

[tonysshadow]

Ronnie Reagan moves nearby and an ACTOR says...there goes the neighborhood.

Sheesh!... Ive loved Jim Backus almost since my birth in 1958. I had no idea he was so stupid.

[TVSeriesFinalecom]

He was joking. I believe I've seen photos of the Reagans at some of the Backus' big parties.

[ACLTony]

Backus was joking! He ripped up on everybody, including himself. He did such a good job of playing the elitist "Mr. Howell" as well as big shot executives in other roles that people thought that was his true personality. Yet, he was more like the clerk at the local grocery store. Decent man. God rest him.

[TimothyQStanton]

@tonysshadow Obviously not quite as stupid as you.

[theshadow1932]

@tonysshadow I'm with you, Tony. 'Must be something in the water out there in La La Land. Happy 100th, Ronaldus Maximus. I'm proud to have walked the earth during your time and I apologize on behalf all those who couldn't see your greatness. God pity them.

Norm

[hardlines4]

Pure genius!

[ajhnson]

What a class act. Times have really changed!

[raintalonwindclan]

He was on my fav show, GI. I miss him.

[wouldntyoulike2know]

I really like Jim. He is classy and humble, such a great guy.

[tedkay]

Mr Magoo! was a funny muther Fucker!! this small cartoon clip,is Classic MAGOO!!

I Love it!! I'm sitting here! saw that and i had to smile and laugh,an Old classement , a dam Fox!! HAHHAAAA!!!! blind as a BAT! heart of gold!!!!

[tedkay]

Bring back! Mr magoo!!

[wnettles]

Too bad that today's television producers, writers, and audience have the loss of this caliber of quality, ingenuity, and creative genius. I really miss this level of intelligence and entertainment in my living room. Thanks, Jim, for all of the wonderful characters that you have portrayed in your most illustrious career. It was a very good life, indeed!

[infodisinfo]

@wnettles very true! story lines of the past were so simple, even silly, yet, the caliber of the performers like Backus, Fred Gwyenn, Bob Crane, Don Knotts, and many others made those shows so great. today the trash on TV is pittiful, so PC, yet forever trying to condition us to think a certain way. once in a while when I view the old shows I will hear characters say thing we would never hear on TV today... these shows I watch on DVD or on line. TV is so bad now I gave up the service years ago.

[Scoodzie]

he has a very unique voice, i don't think anyone could perfect his voices

[Stitch3388]

So hard to understand Jim Backus. Speak up!

[TVSeriesFinalecom]

Well, he was suffering from Parkinson's and died not long after.

[frolicdetour]

The butler reminds me of Isaac from "Love Boat"

[Scoodzie]

im 14 years old and my dad recently bought the first season of gilligan's island which i'd never heard of, it is now one of my favourite shows, and thurston howell the 3rd is my favorite charachter, he will be greatly missed by me :( .

[bluepandababii]

I was 12 when a similar thing happened to me! We bought the second season at Walmart for a road trip and we fell in love with it! We soon bought the third and first seasons, and it's one of our favorite shows to watch!

[Scoodzie]

i know its a great show, i want to get the second and third season!

except they don't sell it in australia :(

but hopefully it will sell on ebay some day

[3rdstooge]

Enjoy the show. When you get to be 40, you'll still be enjoying it. It's a classic that lasts and lasts. Hope you are able to get the other seasons someday soon.

[Scoodzie]

i hope so. my dad said he will do anything to get it hehe.

[walleyrt69]

Some of the best TV you'll ever watch -compared to todays crap!Good for you.

[Scoodzie]

thanx mate, this is great comedy!

[143AC]

I was never offened by "Mr.Magoo"..being

near sighted myself..I loved the way the character

bungled thru Life..(Crying)Oh God How I Miss Jim!

[hubertgrove]

His Thurston Howell III was wonderful - but his Mr. Magoo was his true masterpiece.

[dabble778]

One of the greatest character actors. Wonderful voice. R.I.P. Thanks for putting this up :-)

[hardlines4]

The Best

[mdstudio]

What a wonderful performer -- he is missed.