Is it true that he died almost penniless?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Jim Backus
professor_of_gamez — 14 years ago(July 09, 2011 12:09 PM)
I have read (more than once, I think) that due to, among other things, lack of residuals from shows like Gilligan's Island, he was almost broke at the time of his death. Is it true?
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christopherbkk — 14 years ago(October 06, 2011 01:16 AM)
All I can give you is that I have seen an interview of him at home sometime in the last 10years of his life. His wife Hattie was in it too. The house was very, very nice. Clearly he had made good money in his career and at this time was living well.
Also, he was very close to Natalie Schafer who was a very wealthy woman. I cannot see Natalie allowing her good friend to be a poor sick old man. -
SimplemindedSociety — 12 years ago(January 20, 2014 01:34 PM)
'Just because they play a happily married couple on TV, doesn't mean they're obligated or responsible for their co-worker's welfare'
I know.
Viewers think co-workers on TV have this magical bond,unlike people in other professions. They may have disliked each other for all we know.(however, did York ask Liz for help?) -
Ed in MO — 10 years ago(September 02, 2015 08:26 AM)
By all accounts Natalie Shaffer and Jim Backus were good friends right up until his death.
Now there were TV couples who couldn't stand each other, like Fred and Ethel on I Love Lucy. But Thurston and Lovie were not among them.