James Tolkan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Tolkan
Born	James S. Tolkan June 20, 1931 (1931-06-20) (age 76) Calumet, Michigan, U.S.

James S. Tolkan (born June 20, 1931) is an American character actor, often cast as a strict, overbearing, bald-headed authority figure. He is one of the only few actors who have sported a shaved head in all films they star in, as well as normally sporting it outside the industry.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Personal life 1.2 Career 2 Filmography 2.1 Actor 2.2 Director 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Personal life

He was born in Calumet, Michigan, the son of Ralph M. Tolkan,^[1] a cattle dealer, and attended the University of Iowa, Coe College, the Actors Studio and Eastern Arizona College.^[2] Tolkan currently lives in Lake Placid, New York.

[edit] Career

Tolkan is best known for his role in the 1985 film Back to the Future as the strict, disciplinarian Hill Valley High School principal Gerald Strickland. He referred to Marty McFly and his father derisively as "slackers". He reprised the role in the 1989 sequel Back to the Future Part II and, in 1990, he played the part of Mr. Strickland's grandfather in Back to the Future Part III. Other well-known roles include a government agent in WarGames and Stinger, the no-nonsense officer in the 1986 box-office hit Top Gun. He also appeared in the 1987 film Masters of the Universe as a police officer. He played a dual role in the Woody Allen comedy Love and Death, playing both Napoléon and a Napoléon look-alike. He also appeared as Big Boy Caprice's accountant "Numbers" in the 1990 Warren Beatty film Dick Tracy.

Tolkan has also made guest appearances on many TV shows, including Naked City, Remington Steele, Miami Vice and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. A member of the repertory cast of A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001-2002), he played more than a dozen varied roles in the A&E TV series and also directed two episodes ("Die Like a Dog" and "The Next Witness").

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Actor

They Might Be Giants (1971) as Mr. Brown The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) as The Man's contact man Serpico (1973) as Lt. Steiger Love and Death (1975) as Napoleon Bonaparte Independence (1976) as Tom Paine The Amityville Horror (1979) as Coroner Wolfen (1981) as Baldy Prince of the City (1981) as District Attorney Polito Hanky Panky (1982) as Conferee Author! Author! (1982) as Lt. Glass WarGames (1983) as FBI Agent Nigan Nightmares (1983) (Voice of the Bishop, segment "Bishop of Battle") Iceman (1984) as Maynard The River (1984) as Howard Simpson Back to the Future (1985) as Mr. Strickland Top Gun (1986) as Cmdr. Tom 'Stinger' Jordan Armed and Dangerous (1986) as Lou Brackman Little Spies (1986) as The Kennel Master Remington Steele (1985–1987) as Norman Keyes

Masters of the Universe (1987) as Detective Lubic Made in Heaven (1987) as Mr. Bjornstead Back to the Future Part II (1989) as Mr. Strickland Family Business (1989) as Judge in 2nd Trial Back to the Future Part III (1990) as Chief Marshal James Strickland Dick Tracy (1990) as Numbers Hangfire (1991) as Patch Problem Child 2 (1991) as Mr. Thorn Bloodfist IV: Die Trying (1992) as Agent Sterling Boiling Point (1993) as Levitt Cobra (1993–1994) as Dallas Cassel Robo Warriors (1996) as Quon Nowhere Man (1995) as Commander Cyrus Quinn (episode "Heart of Darkness") Underworld (1996) as Dan "Iceberg" Eagan A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001-2002) (21 episodes, various roles) Seven Times Lucky (2004) as Dutch Heavens Fall (2005) as Thomas Knight Sr.

[edit] Director

• A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001–2002)

"The Next Witness" (2002)

"Die Like a Dog" (2002)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• James Tolkan at the Internet Movie Database
• James Tolkan at TV.com
• James Tolkan at the Internet Broadway Database