James Backus

James Gilmore Backus, born on February 25, 1913, an American actor, is best known for his portrayal of Thurston Howell III in the 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island, the father of James Dean's character in Rebel Without a Cause, and the voice of the cartoon character Mr. Magoo. His career spanned over five decades, with various roles that typically depicted an upper-class persona. Backus also starred in The Jim Backus Show and voiced Hubert Updike III on The Alan Young Show.

Backus gained popularity as the voice of Mr. Magoo, a nearsighted character he brought to life in various shows from 1964 to 1977. He is also known for his entertaining encounter with Marilyn Monroe during the filming of Don't Bother to Knock, where she asked him to perform Mr. Magoo in her dressing room. He had a notable radio presence in the postwar era, frequently appearing on The Jack Benny Program and starring in The Jim Backus Show on the ABC Radio Network.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was raised in Bratenahl as the only son of Russell Gould Backus and Daisy Taylor Backus. Backus graduated from University School in Shaker Heights and began his acting career in 1940, taking on the role of millionaire aviator Dexter Hayes in Society Girl on CBS. His on-screen presence was enhanced by his unique voice, leading to roles in films like A Dangerous Profession, Deadline – U.S.A., Pat and Mike, Rebel Without a Cause, and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

Backus portrayed Thurston Howell III across all three seasons of Gilligan's Island from 1964 to 1967, and in several reunion films later, although his last appearance in 1981 was limited due to Parkinson's disease. He also voiced the character in two animated adaptations of the series. He continued to revive Mr. Magoo's character in different shows throughout his career.

Aside from his signature roles, Backus guest-starred in The Brady Bunch, playing an old gold prospector, and appeared in the final season of Gunsmoke. With his wife, Henny Backus, he co-wrote several humorous books, including his autobiography ...Only When I Laugh and the memoir Backus Strikes Back. They also collaborated on the family film Mooch Goes to Hollywood.

Backus's creativity extended to music, producing novelty records in the late 1950s and a comedy album titled The Dirty Old Man in 1974. He contributed his voice as God in the 1971 rock opera Truth of Truths, and he appeared in several television commercials, lending his voice to promote General Electric and later becoming the spokesman for La-Z-Boy furniture.

In the late 1980s, he participated in a nostalgic advertisement for Orville Redenbacher's popcorn with his former co-star Natalie Schafer, marking their final television appearance together. Both actors made an appearance on The Late Show with Ross Shafer, reuniting with the cast of Gilligan's Island in 1988, despite being in frail health.

Backus passed away on July 3, 1989, in Los Angeles from pneumonia complications after living for years with Parkinson's disease, leaving behind a legacy in acting, voice work, and humor that remains influential in American entertainment.

George Axelrod

George Axelrod was born on June 9, and was a notable American screenwriter and producer, recognized for his impactful contributions to film and theater. His most famous work, the play The Seven Year Itch (1952), was adapted into a successful film starring Marilyn Monroe. Axelrod earned an Academy Award nomination for his adaptation of Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) and also adapted Richard Condon's The Manchurian Candidate.

Born in New York City to Beatrice Carpenter, a silent film actress, and Herman Axelrod, who was involved in real estate, Axelrod had a diverse heritage with a Russian Jewish father and a mother of Scottish and English descent. He fathered four children, including lawyer Peter Axelrod and actress Nina Axelrod, and was the grandfather of actor Taliesin Jaffe.

Axelrod began his career in summer stock theater as a stage manager and actor before serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. Upon returning, he wrote for various radio programs, including The Shadow and Midnight, transitioning into television with over 400 credited scripts. Notable comedians like Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin were among those for whom he wrote.

The Seven Year Itch debuted on Broadway on July 15, 1952, and its success led to the 1955 film adaptation directed by Billy Wilder, where the plot was altered to depict the husband’s fantasies instead of an actual affair. Axelrod's follow-up success was Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1955), a Faustian comedy that starred Jayne Mansfield, but he was disappointed by the film adaptation that deviated from his original story.

In the late 1950s to early 1960s, Axelrod continued to make a name for himself with the comic play Goodbye Charlie, starring Lauren Bacall, and its subsequent film version with Debbie Reynolds. During this period, Axelrod was among Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriters. His adaptation of The Manchurian Candidate (1962) is particularly lauded, and despite its initial removal from circulation post-JFK's assassination, it regained acclaim in 1988.

Axelrod’s other works include the original screenplay for How to Murder Your Wife (1965) and directorial efforts in Lord Love a Duck (1966) and The Secret Life of an American Wife (1968). After a hiatus, he contributed to a remake of The Lady Vanishes (1979) and later worked on scripts for The Holcroft Covenant (1985) and The Fourth Protocol (1987).

In addition to screenwriting, Axelrod published three novels: Blackmailer (1952), a darkly comedic mystery; Beggar's Choice (1947), a comedy about role reversal; and Where Am I Now When I Need Me? (1971), humorously exploring Hollywood life. George Axelrod passed away on June 21, 2003, at the age of 81, after a prolonged illness, leaving a significant legacy in American cinema and theater. His body was cremated following his death at home in Los Angeles.

Hyman Jack Averback

Hyman Jack Averback was born on October 21, 1920 and was a notable American actor, producer, and director in radio, television, and film. Born in Minneapolis and moving to California at nine, he graduated from Edward Clark Academy Theater in 1938 and began his career as an announcer at KMPC Beverly Hills before World War II. During the war, he entertained troops in the Pacific with his Armed Forces Radio Service program, creating the character Tokyo Mose.

Averback's career took off after he announced for the Jack Paar radio show in 1947, subsequently working with Bob Hope on NBC and several other radio shows, including The Sealtest Village Store and Let's Talk Hollywood. He was also an actor on the Jack Benny radio show starting in 1948 and starred in Secret Mission in 1952, with multiple roles in Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar in 1955.

In television, Averback performed comedy on shows like The Saturday Night Revue and I Love Lucy, and was a recurring cast member in the sitcom Our Miss Brooks. He transitioned into directing in the late 1950s, helming episodes for several popular series such as The Real McCoys and The Dick Powell Show. He directed shows including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., McCloud, and M*A*S*H, and produced Mrs. G. Goes to College and co-produced the sitcom F Troop.

His voice was featured in M*A*S*H, with a recording from a Bob Hope show used in the series. Averback co-narrated The Story of Life, an educational film released in 1948, and had film roles including Willard Alexander in The Benny Goodman Story. He directed films such as Chamber of Horrors and I Love You, Alice B. Toklas. Averback died on October 14, 1997, at age 76 and was buried in Westwood Memorial Park.

Gene Autry

Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), known as the Singing Cowboy, was a multifaceted American actor, musician, singer, composer, rodeo performer, and baseball team owner. Born near Tioga, Texas, and growing up in Ravia, Oklahoma, he worked on his family's ranch and later became a telegrapher for the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway after leaving home in 1925. Autry honed his singing and guitar skills during his midnight shifts, leading to a significant turning point when humorist Will Rogers encouraged him to pursue a professional singing career.

Following this encouragement, Autry traveled to New York in 1928 to audition for the Victor Talking Machine Company. Though initially turned down due to business reasons rather than talent, he left with a letter of introduction and advice to gain more experience. He began performing as "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy" on a Tulsa radio station, leading to a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1929. He worked on the WLS-AM radio show National Barn Dance for four years, making significant connections in the industry, including with singer-songwriter Smiley Burnette.

Autry's early recordings spanned various genres, including labor songs and "hillbilly" style tracks. His first hit emerged in 1932 with "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine," co-written with Jimmy Long. As his film career grew, so did his record sales, culminating in more than 640 recordings, over 300 of which he wrote or co-wrote. His unofficial theme song became "Back in the Saddle Again," and his records have sold over 100 million copies, marking him as a prominent figure in American music history with numerous gold and platinum records.

Gene Autry is particularly associated with Christmas music, with perennial favorites such as "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Frosty the Snowman," and his biggest hit, "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." He wrote "Here Comes Santa Claus" following his role as Grand Marshal of the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade, drawing inspiration from the crowd's excitement. He recorded the song in 1947, solidifying its classic status.

In the late 1950s, Autry expanded his influence in the music industry by founding Challenge Records, where he recorded other artists. The label achieved success with "Tequila" by The Champs, which ignited the rock and roll instrumental craze. He later sold the label, but it remained known for its distinctive maroon (later green) label featuring "GA" in a shield. Autry’s diverse contributions to entertainment have left a lasting legacy in American culture.

Autry and Burnette were discovered by Nat Levine in 1934, making their debut in "In Old Santa Fe" as a singing cowboy quartet. Autry starred in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire" in 1935 and, with the absorption of Mascot by Republic Pictures, he made 44 films by 1940, primarily low-budget Westerns featuring his horse Champion and sidekick Burnette. Autry's films garnered immense success, prompting other studios to produce their own singing cowboy movies. By 1940, he was Republic’s top star with increasingly elaborate and expensive films.

In the Motion Picture Herald's Money-Making Western Stars poll, Autry ranked each year from 1936 to 1954, holding first place from 1937 to 1942 and second place afterward. He also appeared in the Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll of all films from 1940 to 1942. Autry launched his Gene Autry Flying "A" Ranch Rodeo show in 1940.

During World War II, Autry served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, broadcasting a radio show and facing competition from the promotion of Roy Rogers as "King of the Cowboys" during his absence. Republic reissued Autry’s films to maintain his public presence. After the war, the courts ruled in favor of Republic, leading to his return and the completion of his contract, where he was branded as the "King of the Singing Cowboys."

In 1947, Autry transitioned to Columbia Pictures, where he established his own production unit. His longtime sidekick Burnette was busy with other projects, so Autry partnered with Pat Buttram, who co-starred in over 40 films and 100 episodes of Autry’s television show. Autry created Flying A Productions in 1951 to have more control over his projects. Columbia distributed Autry's films through 1953 and later reissued them.

From 1940 to 1956, Autry hosted "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch" on CBS Radio, alongside radio and television series featuring Champion. He developed the Cowboy Code, emphasizing ethics and patriotism, which appealed to youth organizations. The Cowboy Code included principles such as honesty, respect for others, and a duty to help those in distress.

Starting in 1950, Autry produced and starred in his television show on CBS. He was actively involved during World War II, becoming a tech sergeant and later a flight officer, participating in dangerous operations over the Himalayas.

Autry retired from show business in 1964 after a prolific career, including nearly 100 films and over 600 records. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Post-retirement, he invested in real estate and media ventures, including ownership of a TV station in Phoenix that produced local children's programming.

Following the financial troubles of Republic Pictures, Autry acquired the rights to his films, enabling him to control their distribution for home release. Gene Autry passed away on October 2, 1998, from lymphoma at his home in Studio City, California. He was interred at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery, with an epitaph honoring him as "America's Favorite Cowboy" and recognizing his multifaceted contributions as a philanthropist, veteran, and media entrepreneur.