Mister Magoo is considered by many to be one of
the greatest cartoon characters of all time (or at least the most famous), ranking up there with
Bugs Bunny and
Mickey Mouse.
Voiced by Jim Backus (whom fans of Gilligan's Island may remember as Thurston Howell III, thanks to rootbeer277 for pointing this out), this crotchety, stubborn, and terribly nearsighted old man bungled and bumbled his way through one misadventure after another, often to the chagrin of his simple-minded nephew Waldo. Whether stumbling across the mother lode during the Gold Rush, confusing a dentist's office for the set of a TV amateur hour program, or just causing a traffic jam during his morning walk, Mr. Magoo has entertained people for years. This character is most noted for his TV interpretation of A Christmas Carol, staring Magoo himself as Ebenezer Scrooge. He has also starred in a series of syndicated UPA movie shorts, several TV programs, and countless retellings of such stories as Snow White and Treasure Island.