James Gilmore Backus was a renowned American actor with a career spanning over five decades in radio, television, film, and animation. He gained widespread fame as the voice of the nearsighted and iconic cartoon character Mr. Magoo, a role which earned him significant acclaim. On television, he is best remembered for his portrayal of the millionaire Thurston Howell III on the beloved 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island. Backus also had a notable film career, including his memorable role as James Dean's father in the classic film Rebel Without a Cause.