{{Short description|American actor (born 1963 or 1964) }}
{{Infobox person | birth_name = Karl Laurence Backus | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|23|1987}}<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |date=1987-11-27 |title=Locals enjoy Shakespeare presentation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/mason-valley-news-locals-enjoy-shakespea/154149249/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=Mason Valley News |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> | alma_mater = {{hlist|Southern Oregon University|Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training|Portfolio Center}} | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|art director}} | years_active = 1981–present | known_for = Oregon Shakespeare Festival | credits = {{hlist|''Skin: The Movie''|''Thane of East County''|''Walking with the Enemy''}} }} '''Karl Laurence Backus''' is an American actor and art director who appeared in multiple productions of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in the 1980s and 90s, a San Diego production of ''Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde'' (2003), and the films ''Skin: The Movie'' (2018), ''Thane of East County'' (2015), and ''Walking with the Enemy'' (2013). Backus has multiple ensemble nominations at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
== Career == In 1983, Backus was a public service announcer for KBST.<ref name=":11" /> He worked as an art director for J. Walter Thompson<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2000-10-30 |title=On the move |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/move-30440/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216143626/https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/move-30440/ |archive-date=2018-12-16 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Adweek}}</ref> and in 2015, he was with the San Diego Film Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Accomando |first=Beth |author-link=Beth Accomando |date=2015-05-23 |title=San Diego's Film Community Optimistic After City Council Budget Meeting |url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/arts-culture/2015/05/22/film-community-optimistic-after-city-council-budge |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=KPBS Public Media |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-06-04 |title=San Diego Mayor's Office Outlines Plans To Attract Film, Television Production |url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2015/06/04/mayors-office-outline-plans-bring-film-television |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=KPBS Public Media |language=en}}</ref>
Backus is a member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=1997-03-12 |title=Oregon Shakespeare Festival Actors to visit Cloverdale High |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/cloverdale-reveille-oregon-shakespeare-f/131003164/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |work=Cloverdale Reveille |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Leary |first=Kathleen F. |url=https://archive.org/details/oregonshakespear0000lear/mode/2up?q=%22karl+backus%22 |title=Oregon Shakespeare Festival |date=2009 |publisher=Carleston, SC : Arcadia Pub. |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-7385-7086-0 |page=126}}</ref> He became a member around 1986<ref name=":2" /> and was part of seven teams sponsored by the Napa Valley Opera House<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Givens |first=Ann |date=1997-01-24 |title=The broad side of the Bard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-napa-valley-register-the-broad-side/131003730/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |work=Napa Valley Register |pages=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> assigned to visit over 170,000 students annually across eight states<ref>{{Cite news |date=1989-11-18 |title=Timberline Shakespeare |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-timberline-shakespeare/154149292/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=The Olympian |pages=17 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> in the Western United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1988-11-10 |title=Actors in Visalia |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hanford-sentinel-actors-in-visalia/154149320/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=The Hanford Sentinel |page=19 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Oscar |date=1996-12-02 |title=Shakespeare opens students' eyes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-shakespeare-opens-students/131003333/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |work=The Olympian |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Following a performance at Edward C. Reed High School, Backus and his coworker were robbed of their equipment and clothing after discovering their car was stolen.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1987-11-19 |title=New teaching tool gets Reno preview |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/reno-gazette-journal-new-teaching-tool-g/154149153/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |pages=51 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
=== Reception === Phyllis Wolfe at The Des Moines Register said his performance as Malcolm in ''Macbeth'' "hones his battle ax with a low, resounding ring downstage" and brought clarity to his lines.<ref name=":14">{{Cite news |last=Wolfe |first=Phyllis |date=1993-07-31 |title=Get thee thither to 'Macbeth' in the park |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-get-thee-thither/154149337/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=The Des Moines Register |page=27 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Ron Cowan at Statesman Journal said his performance in ''Moliere Plays Paris'' "is briefly but unforgettably seen as a king who offhandedly invents the musical comedy."<ref name=":15">{{Cite news |last=Cowan |first=Ron |date=1996-02-26 |title=An enjoyable course of fluffy farce |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-journal-an-enjoyable-course-of/154149217/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=Statesman Journal |pages=27–28 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Steven Winn at SFGate said Backus' scene in ''Arcadia'' was the best one, playing "a bored king who is both generous and high-handed."<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Winn |first=Steven |date=1996-06-20 |title='Arcadia' – Encore In Ashland / Stoppard's work tops non-Shakespeare plays |url=https://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/arcadia-encore-in-ashland-stoppard-s-work-2978132.php |access-date=2024-07-31 |work=SFGATE |id={{ProQuest|303490247}}}}</ref> George Weinberg-Harter at Backstage Magazine said Backus' performance as Edward Carson in ''Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde'' was the "understated seriousness of a complete legal professional."<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Weinberg-Harter |first=George |date=2019-11-05 |title=Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/gross-indecency-three-trials-oscar-wilde-36416/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Backstage}}</ref>
== Personal life == Backus was born to Joyce and Laurence Backus of Central Point, Oregon.<ref name=":6" /> He started acting around the time he was 20<ref name=":13" /> and in 1987, graduated from Southern Oregon University with Bachelor of Fine Arts<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=1989 |title=Winter–Spring 1989 |url=https://www.osfashland.org/en/company/archives-search.aspx?artifact=92364195081 |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Oregon Shakespeare Festival |language=en}}</ref> in theatre arts. Backus earned a master's degree in 1992 at Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Backus graduated from the Portfolio Center in 1999 and married Summer King in 2000.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=1999-12-26 |title=King-Backus |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-king-backus/131003997/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |work=Tallahassee Democrat |page=54 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He studied with José Quintero, Oleg Tabakov<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Walking with the Enemy {{!}} Trailer & Official Movie Site |url=https://walkingwiththeenemy.com/cast/11/karl-backus |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206041540/https://walkingwiththeenemy.com/cast/11/karl-backus |archive-date=2013-12-06 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Walking with the Enemy}}</ref> and did high school theater with Shelley Malil in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroder |first=Susan |date=2010-09-08 |title=Actor's friends testify in his defense |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2010/09/08/actors-friends-testify-in-his-defense/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730204512/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2010/09/08/actors-friends-testify-in-his-defense/ |archive-date=2024-07-30 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Stage credits == {| class="wikitable" |+Theater performances !Year !Title !Role !Location !Notes |- | |''Cloud Nine'' |Betty / Gerry |American College Theatre Festival |Regional winner<ref name=":11" /> |- | |''Scapino!'' |Scapino | rowspan="8" |Southern Oregon State College, Ashland, Oregon | rowspan="4" |Mainstage<ref name=":11" /> |- | |''In a Northern Landscape'' |Samuel |- | |''Crimes of the Heart'' |Barnette |- | |''Rashomon'' |Woodcutter |- | |''Bar & Ger'' |Bar |Studio, by Geraldine Aron<ref name=":11" /> |- | |''Fire in the Dark'' |Van Gogh | rowspan="3" |Studio<ref name=":11" /> |- | |''A Life in the Theatre'' |John |- | |''Miss Julie'' |Jean |- | rowspan="4" |1987–1988 |''Macbeth'' | | rowspan="6" |Elizabethan Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival |<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite journal |date=1987 |title=Review of MACBETH |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26352373 |journal=Shakespeare Bulletin |volume=5/6 |issue=6/1 |pages=18–19 |jstor=26352373 |issn=0748-2558 }}</ref> |- |''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' | |<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |date=1987 |title=Review of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26352376 |journal=Shakespeare Bulletin |volume=5/6 |issue=6/1 |pages=20–21 |jstor=26352376 |issn=0748-2558 }}</ref> |- |''The Shoemaker's Holiday'' | |<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite journal |date=1987 |title=Review of 'The Shoemakers Holiday' |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26352378 |journal=Shakespeare Bulletin |volume=5/6 |issue=6/1 |page=21 |jstor=26352378 |issn=0748-2558 }}</ref><ref name=":7" /> |- |''Henry IV, Part One'' | |<ref name=":11" /> |- | rowspan="2" |1989 |''Cyrano de Bergerac'' |Apprentice Pickpocket / Boy / Cadet |Featuring Roy Abramsohn<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=1988-11-09 |title=Shakespeare on stage in Kingsburg |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-enterprise-shakespeare-on-stag/131003432/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |work=The Selma Enterprise |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |''Two Gentlemen of Verona'' | |<ref name=":2" /> |- |1993 |''Macbeth'' |Malcolm |Iowa Shakespeare Project, Greenwood Park, Iowa |<ref name=":14" /> |- | rowspan="5" |1996 | rowspan="2" |''Arcadia'' | rowspan="2" |King Louis XIV | rowspan="2" |Angus Bowmer Theatre, Ashland, Oregon |February<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hurwitt |first=Robert |date=1996-02-28 |title=Ashland plans on growing up Oregon Shakespeare Festival reaches for overdue big-time status |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/ashland-plans-on-growing-up-3150370.php |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=SFGATE |id={{ProQuest|270421710}}}}</ref> |- |June<ref name=":5" /> |- |''Moliere Plays Paris'' | | rowspan="4" |Elizabethan Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival |By ''Molière''<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/theatreworld19960000unse/mode/2up?q=%22backus%22 |title=Theatre world, 1996–1997 season |date=1999 |publisher=New York : Applause |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-55783-343-3 |pages=200–201}}</ref> |- |''Coriolanus'' | | rowspan="2" |<ref name=":12" /> |- | rowspan="2" |''Romeo and Juliet'' | |- |1997 |Gregory |<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Armstrong |first=Alan |date=1997 |title=Review of 'Romeo and Juliet' |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26353079 |journal=Shakespeare Bulletin |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=33–34 |jstor=26353079 |issn=0748-2558 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=1997 |title=Romeo and Juliet |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2871361 |journal=Shakespeare Quarterly |volume=48 |issue=5 |pages=732–743 |jstor=2871361 |issn=0037-3222 }}</ref><ref name=":12" /> |- |2003 |''Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde'' |Attorney Edward Carson |San Diego, California |<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Welsh |first=Anne Marie |date=2003-01-20 |title=A righteous 'Gross Indecency' |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/272062586/2237CD0E0934425CPQ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=San Diego Union Tribune |language=en |id={{ProQuest|272062586}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Jacques |first=Ken |url=https://archive.org/details/playsthingphotog0000jacq/mode/2up?q=%22karl+backus%22 |title=The play's the thing : a photographic odyssey through theatre in San Diego |date=2005 |publisher=San Diego: Sunbelt Publications |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-932653-71-0 |page=104}}</ref> |- |2004 |''Thief River'' |Middle-aged Ray |Diversionary Theatre, San Diego, California |By Lee Blessing<ref>{{Cite web |last=de Poyen |first=Jennifer |date=2004-08-30 |title=Diversionary has an intricate study of passion and denial |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/272381824/2237CD0E0934425CPQ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=San Diego Union Tribune |language=en |id={{ProQuest|272381824}}}}</ref> |} {| class="wikitable" |+School visitation performances !Year !Title !Location !Notes |- | rowspan="4" |1987 |''Romeo and Juliet'' | rowspan="4" |Yerington High School | rowspan="4" |<ref>{{Cite news |date=1987-11-27 |title=Shakespearean actors at local schools |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/mason-valley-news-shakespearean-actors-a/154149446/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=Mason Valley News |pages=17 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1987-11-13 |title=Oregon Shakespearean Festival actors to present school & public programs here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/mason-valley-news-oregon-shakespearean-f/154149520/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=Mason Valley News |pages=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |''The Taming of the Shrew'' |- |'''Tis Pity She's a Whore'' |- |''Shoemaker's Holiday'' |- | rowspan="4" |1988 |''The Tempest'' | rowspan="4" |Little Theater, Kingsburg High School | rowspan="4" |<ref name=":2" /> |- |''Much Ado About Nothing'' |- |''The Catcher in the Rye'' |- |''Dandelion Wine'' |- | rowspan="3" |1996 |''Henry V'' | rowspan="3" |Tumwater Middle School, Portland, Oregon |<ref name=":1" /> |- |''Two Soldiers'' |By William Faulkner<ref name=":1" /> |- |''The Butter Battle Book'' |<ref name=":1" /> |- |1997 |''Shh...Listen To Me'' |Cloverdale High School, Cloverdale, California |Featuring segments from ''Two Gentlemen of Verona'', ''In Flanders Fields'', and ''Dancing at Lughnasa''<ref name=":0" /> |}
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1993 |''Hidden Fears'' |Man at the Y | |- |2006 |''What's the Vig?'' |Kenneth Hart |<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Karl Backus {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/karl_backus |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en}}</ref> |- |2011 |''Misdirection'' |Simsung |Also executive producer<ref name=":8" /> |- |2013 |''Walking with the Enemy'' |Colonel Klein |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=2014-04-26 |title=Film Review: 'Walking With the Enemy' |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-walking-with-the-enemy-1201164485/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> |- |2015 |''Thane of East County'' |Duke |<ref name=":8" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2016 |''A Life Lived'' |Jefferson |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-14 |title=Actress Denise Richards Takes On Rare Dramatic Role in Award Winning Independent Film, A Life Lived |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1928293514/Record/2237CD0E0934425CPQ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=M2 PressWIRE |language=en |id={{ProQuest|1928293514}}}}</ref> |- |''Undocumented'' |Reporter |Short film |- |2018 |''Skin: The Movie'' |Lance | |- |2019 |''GPS'' |Malcomb |Short film |- |2024 |''Sincerely Saul'' |Officer Porter |<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=McAndrews |first=Mary Beth |date=2025-09-09 |title=EXCLUSIVE 'Sincerely Saul' Trailer Reveals The Hells of Suburban Purgatory |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/542496/exclusive-sincerely-saul-trailer-reveals-the-hells-of-suburban-purgatory/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250909211704/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/542496/exclusive-sincerely-saul-trailer-reveals-the-hells-of-suburban-purgatory/ |archive-date=2025-09-09 |access-date=2025-09-09 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US}}</ref> |}
== Accolades == {| class="wikitable" !Event !Year !Film !Award !Result |- |Blast Off Film Festival |2019 | rowspan="2" |''Skin: The Movie'' |Best Acting Ensemble |{{nom}} |- | rowspan="2" |Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema |2020 |Best Ensemble |{{nom}} |- |2021 |''GPS'' |Best Ensemble Cast |{{nom}} |}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=0045739}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Backus, Karl}} Category:1960s births Category:Living people Category:American male stage actors Category:American male film actors Category:Male actors from Oregon Category:American art directors Category:Southern Oregon University alumni Category:Florida State University alumni Category:Male actors from San Diego Category:American male Shakespearean actors