James Tolkan
Sign in to saveJames Stewart Tolkan was an American character actor. He was best known for portraying the strict high school vice‑principal Mr. Strickland in Back to the Future (1985) and Back to the Future Part II (1989), and the character's ancestor, Marshal James Strickland, in Back to the Future Part III (1990). His other notable film credits included Serpico (1973), Love and Death (1975), Prince of the City (1981), Top Gun (1986), Masters of the Universe (1987), Viper (1988), Dick Tracy (1990), and Problem Child 2 (1991).
Film & TV
Calumet, Michigan, USA
Fiery, forceful and intimidating character actor James Tolkan carved out a nice little niche for himself in both movies and television alike as a formidable portrayer of fierce and flinty hard-boiled tough guy types. James Stewart Tolkan was born on June 20, 1931 in Calumet, Michigan. His father, Ralph M. Tolkan, was a cattle dealer. James attended the University of Iowa, Coe College and Eastern…
Known for
- Val — Self (archive)2021
- Bone Tomahawk — Pianist2015
- Back in Time — Self2015
- Phil Spector — Judge Fidler2013
- Tales from the Future — Self2010
- Looking Back to the Future — Self2009
- Leverage — Dean Chesny2008
- Heavens Fall — Thomas Knight, Sr.2006
- 7 Times Lucky — Dutch2004
- A Nero Wolfe Mystery — Special Agent In Charge Richard Wragg2001
via TMDB
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Given name
- James
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- United States
- Place of birth
- Calumet
- Place of death
- Saranac Lake
- Occupation
- television director
- Languages spoken
- English language
- Native language
- English language
- Image
- James Tolkan.jpg
Show 8 more facts
- date of birth
- 1931-06-20
- start of work period
- 1960-00-00
- writing language
- English language
- Commons category
- James Tolkan
- end of work period
- 2024-00-00
- date of death
- 2026-03-26
- notable role
- Napoleon
- name in native language
- James Tolkan
Sources (6)
via Wikidata · CC0