James Tolkan | |
|---|---|
 Tolkan in 2025 | |
| Born | James Stewart Tolkan (1931-06-20)June 20, 1931 (age 94) |
| Education | University of Iowa Coe College Eastern Arizona College Actors Studio |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1960–2015 • 2021 • 2024[1] |
| Spouse | |
James Stewart Tolkan (born June 20, 1931) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as high school vice-principal in charge of discipline[2] Mr. Strickland inBack to the Future (1985) andBack to the Future Part II (1989), and as the character's ancestor, Marshal James Strickland, inBack to the Future Part III (1990). Other memorable film roles includeSerpico (1973),Love and Death (1975),Prince of the City (1981),Top Gun (1986),Masters of the Universe (1987),Dick Tracy (1990), andProblem Child 2 (1991).
Tolkan[3] was born inCalumet, Michigan, the son of Dale Nichols and Ralph M. Tolkan,[4] a cattle dealer.
Tolkan graduated fromAmphitheater High School inTucson, Arizona, in 1949, where he played on the football team.[5] He then attended theUniversity of Iowa,Coe College, theActors Studio andEastern Arizona College.[6] Tolkan served in theU.S. Navy onboard theUSS Sandoval, but he had an issue with his heart; within a year, he was discharged for medical reasons.[7]
Tolkan is perhaps best known for his role in the 1985 filmBack to the Future as the strict Hill Valley High School vice principal Gerald Strickland; the character refers toMarty McFly, his father, andBiff Tannen derisively as "slackers". He reprised the role in the 1989 sequelBack to the Future Part II, in which unnamed gang members make a drive-by assault on him in a dystopian 1985; he also refers to these criminals as "slackers" as he shoots back. In 1990, he played the part of Strickland's grandfather Chief Marshal James Strickland inBack to the Future Part III. Tolkan would again reprise his role as Strickland, and the character's ancestors and descendants, in the 1991animated series spin-off.
Other well-known roles include an FBI agent inWarGames and Stinger, the no-nonsense commanding officer ofUSS Enterprise's embarked F-14 squadron in the 1986 box-office hitTop Gun. He portrayed the role of cold and determined District Attorney Polito inSidney Lumet'sPrince of the City. He played the obsequious and evasive union treasurer Lou Brackman in 1986’sArmed and Dangerous. He appeared in the 1987 filmMasters of the Universe as Detective Lubic. He had a dual role in theWoody Allen comedyLove and Death, playing bothNapoleon and a look-alike.[8] He appeared as Big Boy Caprice's accountant "Numbers" in the 1990Warren Beatty filmDick Tracy. He appeared inSerpico (1973) in a small but notable role as a policeman who accuses Serpico of having a homosexual encounter with another policeman in a men's room.
Tolkan has made guest appearances on many TV shows, includingThe Hat Squad,Naked City,Remington Steele,Miami Vice andThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.[9] A member of the repertory cast ofA Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001–02), he played more than a dozen varied roles in the A&E TV series and also directed two episodes[8] ("Die Like a Dog" and "The Next Witness").
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | The Three Sisters | Unknown |
| 1969 | Stiletto | Edwards |
| 1971 | They Might Be Giants | Mr. Brown |
| 1973 | The Friends of Eddie Coyle | The Man's Contact Man |
| The Werewolf of Washington | Dark Glasses | |
| Serpico | Lieutenant Steiger (as James Tolkin) | |
| 1975 | Love and Death | Napoleon Bonaparte |
| Abduction | Off-Duty Cop | |
| 1976 | Independence | Tom Paine |
| 1979 | The Amityville Horror | The Coroner |
| 1981 | Wolfen | "Baldy", Medical Examiner |
| Prince of the City | District Attorney Polito | |
| 1982 | Hanky Panky | Conferee |
| Author! Author! | Lieutenant Glass | |
| 1983 | WarGames | FBI Agent George Wigan |
| Nightmares"The Bishop of Battle" | Voice of The Bishop | |
| 1984 | Iceman | Maynard |
| The River | Howard Simpson | |
| 1985 | Turk 182! | Hanley |
| Back to the Future | Principal Gerald Strickland | |
| Walls of Glass | Turner | |
| 1986 | Off Beat | Harry |
| Top Gun | Commander Tom "Stinger" Jardian | |
| Armed and Dangerous | Lou Brackman | |
| Little Spies | The Kennel Master | |
| 1987 | Masters of the Universe | Detective Hugh Lubic |
| Made in Heaven | Mr. Bjornstead | |
| 1988 | Viper | Colonel William Tansey |
| Split Decisions | Benny Pistone | |
| 1989 | True Blood | Detective Joe Hanley |
| Second Sight | Captain Coolidge | |
| Back to the Future Part II | Principal Gerald Strickland | |
| Ministry of Vengeance | Colonel Freeman | |
| Family Business | Judge In 2nd Trial | |
| 1990 | Opportunity Knocks | Sal Nichols |
| Back to the Future Part III | U.S. Marshal James Strickland | |
| Dick Tracy | "Numbers" | |
| 1991 | Hangfire | "Patch" |
| Trabbi Goes to Hollywood | Vince | |
| Problem Child 2 | Mr. Thorn | |
| 1992 | Bloodfist IV: Die Trying | Agent Sterling |
| 1993 | Boiling Point | Senior US Treasury Agent Jerry Levitt |
| 1996 | Underworld | Dan "Iceberg" Eagan |
| Robo Warriors | Quon | |
| 1999 | Wings: Thrill of Flight | Host |
| 2004 | Seven Times Lucky | "Dutch" |
| 2006 | Heavens Fall | Thomas Knight Sr. |
| 2015 | Bone Tomahawk | The Pianist |
| 2024 | Tom Wilson: Humbly Super Famous(Documentary)[10] | Himself |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Naked City | Evan Humboldt | Episode: "The Man Who Bit a Diamond in Half" |
| 1962 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Stefan Malwitz | Episode: "The Man Who Refused to Die" |
| 1969 | N.Y.P.D. | McCloud | Episode: "The Night Watch" |
| 1983 | American Playhouse | Billy | Episode: "Wings"[11] |
| 1985 | Hill Street Blues | Coach Beasley | Episode: "Queen for a Day" |
| 1985–1986 | Mary | Lester Mintz | 13 episodes |
| 1985–1987 | Remington Steele | Norman Keyes | 5 episodes "Diced Steele" "Forged Steele" "Bonds of Steele" "The Steele That Wouldn't Die" (2 parts) |
| 1987 | Miami Vice | Mason Mather | Episode: "Amen ... Send Money" |
| 1988 | Weekend War | Dr. Alex Thompson | TV movie |
| Leap of Faith | Dr. Siegel | TV movie | |
| 1989 | The Equalizer | Ruger | Episode: "The Visitation" |
| The Case of the Hillside Stranglers | Lt. Ed Henderson | TV movie | |
| 1990 | Sunset Beat | Ray Parker | Episode: "One Down, Four Up" |
| The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Dr. Oates / Dr. Bloat | Episode: "Day Damn One" | |
| 1991 | Tales from the Crypt | Sergeant McClaine | Episode: "The Trap" |
| 1992 | Tequila and Bonetti | Unknown | Episode: "Fetch This, Pal" |
| Sketch Artist | Lieutenant Tonelli | TV movie | |
| The Hat Squad | Mike Ragland | Episode: "The Widow Marker" | |
| Back to the Future | Civil Defense Warden | Episode: "Marty McFly PFC" | |
| 1993 | The Wonder Years | Coach Silva | Episode: "Hulk Arnold" |
| 1993–1994 | Cobra | Dallas Cassel | 22 episodes |
| 1994 | Beyond Betrayal | Joe Maloney | TV movie |
| 1995 | Sketch Artist II: Hands That See | Lieutenant Tonelli | TV movie |
| 1996 | Nowhere Man | Commander Cyrus Quinn | Episode: "Heart of Darkness" |
| Early Edition | Coach Phillips | Episode: "Hoops" | |
| 1997 | Love in Ambush | Agent Price | TV movie |
| The Pretender | FBI Special Agent Korkos | Episode: "Dragon House" | |
| 2001–2002 | Nero Wolfe | 14 roles Richard Wragg Mr. Hackett Bernard Quest W.J. Mr. Joseph Pitcairn Percy Ludlow Avery Ballou Loftus, Dog Expert Leo Bingham Adrian Dart Benedict Aiken Ben Jenson Richard Wragg Ed Graboff | |
| 2011 | Leverage | Dean Chesny | Episode: "The Cross My Heart Job" |
| 2013 | Phil Spector | Larry Fidler | TV movie |
| 2021 | Expedition: Back to the Future | Strickland / Guard | Season 1, episode 1 |
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| National | |
| Other | |