James Tolkan

James Tolkan

Born:June 20, 1931

Place of Birth:Calumet, Michigan, USA

Known For:Acting

Biography

James Tolkan, a versatile and commanding character actor, has made a lasting impact in the world of film and television with his portrayal of tough and authoritative characters. Born on June 20, 1931, in Calumet, Michigan, Tolkan's early life was shaped by his father, a cattle dealer, and his academic pursuits at various institutions before his service in the United States Navy. With a distinctive appearance characterized by his short stature, bald head, and intense gaze, Tolkan's on-screen presence exudes power and intensity.

After honing his craft under the guidance of acting legends Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler at the Actors Studio in New York, Tolkan embarked on a successful acting career in the late 1960s. He made notable appearances in films directed by Sidney Lumet, delivering memorable performances as a police lieutenant in "Serpico" (1973) and a district attorney in "Prince of the City" (1981). However, it was his role as the strict and overbearing high school principal, Gerard Strickland, in the "Back to the Future" trilogy that solidified his place in cinematic history.

Tolkan's range as an actor is evident in his diverse roles, from portraying the formidable army officer in "WarGames" (1983) to the sharp-witted assistant to Mayor Robert Culp in "Turk 182" (1985). He brought a sense of authority and gravitas to his characters, whether he was playing a detective in "Masters of the Universe" (1987) or a mob accountant in "Dick Tracy" (1990). His on-screen presence always commanded attention, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.

One of Tolkan's most iconic roles was that of Stinger in the action-packed film "Top Gun" (1986), where he portrayed a no-nonsense flight instructor who pushed Maverick and his fellow pilots to their limits. His portrayal of Stinger showcased his ability to bring depth and complexity to even the most rigid characters. Tolkan's career continued to flourish with roles in films such as "Boiling Point" (1993), where he played a bullish superior to Wesley Snipes, further demonstrating his versatility as an actor.

Throughout his career, Tolkan has consistently delivered standout performances that have left a mark on the entertainment industry. His ability to embody a wide range of characters, from tough law enforcement officials to cunning criminals, has solidified his reputation as a consummate character actor. With his commanding presence and undeniable talent, James Tolkan has earned his place as a respected and revered figure in Hollywood.

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James Tolkan
James Tolkan

Filmography

Acting

Top Gun

Top Gun

Stinger

1986

For Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his friend and co-pilot Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. But a tragedy, as well as personal demons, will threaten Pete's dreams of becoming an ace pilot.
Back to the Future

Back to the Future

Mr. Strickland

1985

Eighties teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, inadvertently disrupting his parents' first meeting and attracting his mother's romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by rekindling his parents' romance and - with the help of his eccentric inventor friend Doc Brown - return to 1985.
Bone Tomahawk

Bone Tomahawk

Pianist

2015

During a shootout in a saloon, Sheriff Hunt injures a suspicious stranger. The doctor's assistant, wife of the local foreman, tends to him in prison. That night, the town is attacked and they both disappear—only the arrow of a cannibal tribe is found. Hunt and a few of his men go in search of the prisoner and the foreman's wife.
Back to the Future Part II

Back to the Future Part II

Strickland

1989

Marty and Doc are at it again as the time-traveling duo head to 2015 to nip some McFly family woes in the bud. But things go awry thanks to bully Biff Tannen and a pesky sports almanac. In a last-ditch attempt to set things straight, Marty finds himself bound for 1955 and face to face with his teenage parents -- again.
Back to the Future Part III

Back to the Future Part III

Marshal Strickland

1990

The final installment finds Marty digging the trusty DeLorean out of a mineshaft and looking for Doc in the Wild West of 1885. But when their time machine breaks down, the travelers are stranded in a land of spurs. More problems arise when Doc falls for pretty schoolteacher Clara Clayton, and Marty tangles with Buford Tannen.
WarGames

WarGames

Wigan

1983

High school student David Lightman has a talent for hacking. But while trying to hack into a computer system to play unreleased video games, he unwittingly taps into the Department of Defense's war computer and initiates a confrontation of global proportions. Together with his friend and a wizardly computer genius, David must race against time to outwit his opponent and prevent a nuclear Armageddon.
Serpico

Serpico

Steiger

1973

New York cop Frank Serpico blows the whistle on the rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.
The Amityville Horror

The Amityville Horror

Coroner

1979

George Lutz, his wife Kathy, and their three children have just moved into a beautiful, and improbably cheap, Victorian mansion nestled in the sleepy coastal town of Amityville, Long Island. However, their dream home is concealing a horrific past and soon each member of the Lutz family is plagued with increasingly strange and violent visions and impulses.
Masters of the Universe

Masters of the Universe

Detective Lubic

1987

When the evil Skeletor finds a mysterious power called the Cosmic Key, he becomes nearly invincible, seizing Castle Grayskull and the surrounding city. The Sorceress is now Skeletor's prisoner and he begins to drain her life-force as he waits for the moon of Eternia to align with the Great Eye of the Universe which will bestow god-like power upon him. However, courageous warrior He-Man locates the locksmith inventor Gwildor, who created the Key and has another version of it. During a battle, one of the Keys is transported to Earth, where it is found by teenagers Julie and Kevin. Now, both He-Man and Skeletor's forces arrive on Earth searching for the potent weapon.
Problem Child 2

Problem Child 2

Mr. Thron

1991

Junior and his father, Ben, move from Cold River to Mortville. Junior becomes threatened by Ben's desire to date again and find a new mother for Junior, and sabotages each of his dates.
Val

Val

Self (archive footage)

2021

For over 40 years Val Kilmer, one of Hollywood’s most mercurial and/or misunderstood actors has been documenting his own life and craft through film and video. He has amassed thousands of hours of footage, from 16mm home movies made with his brothers, to time spent in iconic roles for blockbuster movies like Top Gun, The Doors, Tombstone, and Batman Forever. This raw, wildly original and unflinching documentary reveals a life lived to extremes and a heart-filled, sometimes hilarious look at what it means to be an artist and a complex man.
Dick Tracy

Dick Tracy

Numbers

1990

The comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob.
Family Business

Family Business

Judge

1989

Jessie is an aging career criminal who has been in more jails, fights, schemes, and lineups than just about anyone else. His son Vito, while currently on the straight and narrow, has had a fairly shady past and is indeed no stranger to illegal activity. They both have great hope for Adam, Vito's son and Jessie's grandson, who is bright, good-looking, and without a criminal past.
Love and Death

Love and Death

Napoleon

1975

In czarist Russia, a neurotic soldier and his distant cousin formulate a plot to assassinate Napoleon.
Armed and Dangerous

Armed and Dangerous

Lou Brackman

1986

After policeman Frank Dooley is framed for theft and loses his job on the force, he joins a security guard agency and teams up with inept former defense lawyer Norman Kane. When the two botch a job guarding a local warehouse, they begin to uncover corruption within the company and their union.
Sketch Artist

Sketch Artist

Tonelli

1992

A sketch artist for the police helps a witness recall who she saw leaving the scene of a murder, and discovers that the person is his wife. Not willing to believe she was responsible, he resketches the pictures so they don't look like her, and he begins his own investigation of the murder.

Production