Alice Backes, a multifaceted individual, embarked on a prolonged and illustrious career, accumulating an impressive 140 roles across films, television, and radio. Her repertoire included iconic productions such as 'I Want to Live', 'The Glory Guys', 'The Cat from Outer Space', 'Bachelor Father', 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', 'Lux Video Theatre', 'This Is Your FBI', 'Dangerous Assignment', 'Suspense', and 'The Whistler', to name a few.
In addition to her acting accomplishments, Alice was a gifted violinist and demonstrated her versatility by joining the Women's Branch of the Naval Reserve during World War II. Furthermore, she devoted her adult life to various charitable endeavors, including after her retirement from acting.
Born in 1923, Alice Backes graduated from high school before attending the University of Utah. Following the war, she relocated to Hollywood, where she quickly secured small parts in films, television series, and radio programs. For nearly five decades, she worked steadily, specializing in character roles and leveraging her relatable physical appearance to convincingly portray everyday life characters, such as nurses, doctors, dentists, librarians, waitresses, judges, and farmer's wives.
One notable exception was her portrayal of Hedda Hopper in 'Gable and Lombard', where she embodied a historical figure. Alice Backes' career finally came to a close in 1997, when she appeared in a 'Columbo' episode, a fitting swan song. She passed away ten years later, leaving behind a legacy of her remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry.
