James Tolkan, the character actor, expressed his disdain for the “slackers” in the film Back to the future trilogy and portrayed Tom Cruise’s no-nonsense commanding officer Top GunHe died. He was 94 years old.
A family spokesman announced that Tolkan died Thursday in Saranac Lake, New York.
Tolkien also played Napoleon and his double in a Woody Allen film Love and death (1975) and was the crooked accountant known as Numbers who works for Big Boy Caprice (Al Pacino) in Warren Beatty’s film. Dick Tracy (1990).
He appeared in three films directed by Sidney Lumet: as a policeman starring Pacino Serpico (1973), as a specific DA in Prince of the city (1981) and a judge in Family business (1989).
On Broadway, Tolkan played salesman Dave Moss in the original production of the David Mamet play from 1984 to 1985. Glengarry Glen Ross. (Ed Harris played this character in the 1992 film adaptation.)
Tolkan, whose specialty was playing with intense and frightening genres, was solid as Hill Valley High School principal Mr. Strickland in Back to the future (1985) and its 1989 sequel, then returned as Jed Strickland in Back to the future part three (1990). Pretty much wherever he went, fans asked him to berate them as “lazy” just for fun.
in Top Gun (1986), he was featured again in the role of Tom “Stinger” Guardian when Cruise attacked Pete “Maverick” Mitchell for his reckless behavior.
James Tolkan addresses Tom Cruise (right) and Anthony Edwards in “Top Gun.”
Paramount Pictures/PhotofestTolkan’s big-screen autobiography is also included Eddie Coyle’s friends (1973), The Amityville Horror (1979), Wolfin (1981), War games (1983), Masters of the universe (1987), True blood (1989) and Opportunity knocks (1990).
Born on June 20, 1931, in Calumet, Michigan, James Stuart Tolkan biked through Chicago after his parents’ divorce and ended up in Tucson, Arizona, where he graduated from Amphitheater High School in 1949. After a stint in the U.S. Navy, he attended Coe College and the University of Iowa, coming to New York with $75 in his pocket and studying with Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio, where Beatty was a classmate in 1956.
He first appeared on screen in 1960 in an episode of the ABC show Naked cityIn 1966, he interned for Robert Duvall before replacing him in the role of bad guy Harry Root in the original Broadway production of the play. Wait until darkStarring Lee Remick. (Alan Arkin was cast as Root in the 1967 film.)
Later, Tolkan played insurance investigator Norman Keyes in five episodes of the NBC series Remington steel And many more characters over 21 installments of A&E Nero Wolf Mystery (He also directed two episodes.)
He also guest-starred Miami Vice, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, The strange years, impact And many other offers.
Survivors include his wife, Parmelee, who worked at the American Place Theater as a costume and scenic painter. They met on the set of an Off-Broadway play in 1971 Pinkville When he was acting and she was a support girl, they were married that year in Lake Placid.
Donations in his memory may be made to your local animal shelter, animal rescue organization or Humane Society chapter.
