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 disciplineCraig Shaw Gardner: Back to the Future Part II (novelization) (page 105) Mr. Strickland in Back to the Future (1985) and Back to the Future Part II (1989), and as the character's ancestor, Marshal James Strickland, in Back to the Future Part III (1990). Other memorable film roles include Love and Death (1975), Top Gun (1986), Masters of the Universe (1987), Dick Tracy (1990), and Problem Child 2 (1991).
Tolkan graduated from Amphitheater High School in Tucson, Arizona, in 1949, where he played on the football team. He then attended the University of Iowa, Coe College, the Actors Studio and Eastern Arizona College. Tolkan served in the U.S. Navy onboard the USS Sandoval, but he had an issue with his heart; within a year, he was discharged for medical reasons.
Other well-known roles include an FBI agent in WarGames and Stinger, the no-nonsense commanding officer of 's embarked F-14 squadron in the 1986 box-office hit Top Gun. He portrayed the role of cold and determined District Attorney Polito in Sidney Lumet's Prince of the City. He played the obsequious and evasive union treasurer Lou Brackman in 1986’s Armed and Dangerous. He appeared in the 1987 film Masters of the Universe as Detective Lubic. He had a dual role in the Woody Allen comedy Love and Death, playing both Napoleon and a look-alike. He appeared as Big Boy Caprice's accountant "Numbers" in the 1990 Warren Beatty film Dick Tracy. He appeared in Serpico (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, including The Hat Squad, Naked City, Remington Steele, Miami Vice and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. A member of the repertory cast of A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001–02), 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").
+ James Tolkan film credits | ||
Unknown | ||
Edwards | ||
Mr. Brown | ||
The Man's Contact Man | ||
Dark Glasses | ||
Lieutenant Steiger (as James Tolkin) | ||
Napoleon Bonaparte | ||
Off-Duty Cop | ||
Thomas Paine | ||
The Coroner | ||
"Baldy", Medical Examiner | ||
District Attorney Polito | ||
Conferee | ||
Lieutenant Glass | ||
FBI Agent George Wigan | ||
Voice of The Bishop | ||
Maynard | ||
Howard Simpson | ||
Hanley | ||
Principal Gerald Strickland | ||
Turner | ||
Harry | ||
Commander Tom "Stinger" Jardian | ||
Lou Brackman | ||
The Kennel Master | ||
Detective Hugh Lubic | ||
Mr. Bjornstead | ||
Colonel William Tansey | ||
Benny Pistone | ||
Detective Joe Hanley | ||
Captain Coolidge | ||
Principal Gerald Strickland | ||
Colonel Freeman | ||
Judge In 2nd Trial | ||
Sal Nichols | ||
U.S. Marshal James Strickland | ||
"Numbers" | ||
"Patch" | ||
Vince | ||
Mr. Thorn | ||
Agent Sterling | ||
Senior US Treasury Agent Jerry Levitt | ||
Dan "Iceberg" Eagan | ||
Quon | ||
Host | ||
"Dutch" | ||
Thomas Knight Sr. | ||
The Pianist | ||
2024 | Tom Wilson: Humbly Super Famous | Himself |
+ James Tolkan television credits | |||
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" |
1985 | Hill Street Blues | Coach Beasley | Episode: "Queen for a Day" |
1985–1986 | Mary | Lester Mintz | 13 episodes |
1985–1987 | Remington Steele | Norman Keyes | |
1987 | Miami Vice | Mason Mather | Episode: "Amen ... Send Money" |
1988 | Weekend War | Dr. Alex Thompson | TV movie |
1988 | Leap of Faith | Dr. Siegel | TV movie |
1989 | The Equalizer | Ruger | Episode: "The Visitation" |
1989 | The Case of the Hillside Stranglers | Lt. Ed Henderson | TV movie |
1990 | Sunset Beat | Ray Parker | Episode: "One Down, Four Up" |
1990 | 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" |
1992 | Sketch Artist | Lieutenant Tonelli | TV movie |
1992 | The Hat Squad | Mike Ragland | Episode: "The Widow Marker" |
1992 | 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 | Lieutenant Tonelli | TV movie | |
1996 | Nowhere Man | Commander Cyrus Quinn | Episode: "Heart of Darkness" |
1996 | Early Edition | Coach Phillips | Episode: "Hoops" |
1997 | Love in Ambush | Agent Price | TV movie |
1997 | The Pretender | FBI Special Agent Korkos | Episode: "Dragon House" |
2001–2002 | Nero Wolfe | ||
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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