James Gilmore Backus was born on 25 February 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio, and began his career as a singer in repertory and vaudeville troupes before transitioning to radio in New York, where he performed on numerous programs. His first recorded single, "Delicious!", was issued in 1958, followed by other releases such as "Cave Man". In 1957 he released the album Magoo In Hi‑Fi, and in 1971 he issued Truth of Truths. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s Backus lent his voice to the animated character Mr. Magoo in a series of short films and television specials, providing a distinctive vocal presence that appeared in projects such as Magoo Goes Skiing (1954) and Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962). He also voiced Smoky the Genie in the Bugs Bunny and Road Runner series during the 1960s and 1970s. He maintained a steady output of voice work and occasional singing recordings until his death on 3 July 1989 in Los Angeles, California, from pneumonia. His contributions to mid‑century animation and pop music remain catalogued in music and film databases, reflecting a career that bridged live performance and voice acting.
