James Tolkan
American actor (1931-2026) · United States · On the map · Actors · Died at 94
James 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).
James Tolkan is read about 722 times a day, in 32 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 120 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
ValFilm2013
Phil SpectorFilm, Judge Fidler2008
LeverageSeries, Dean Chesny1996
Early EditionSeries, Coach Philips
Robo WarriorsFilm, 1996Quon1995
Nowhere ManSeries, Cyrus Quinn1993
Boiling PointFilm, Levitt1992
The Hat SquadSeries, Mike Ragland
Bloodfist IV: Die TryingFilm, 1992Agent Sterling1990
Sunset BeatSeries, Ray Parker
Back to the Future Part IIIFilm, 1990Marshal Strickland1988
The Wonder YearsSeries, Coach Silva
Split DecisionsFilm, 1988Benny Pistone1987
Made in HeavenFilm, Mr. Bjornstead1985
MarySeries, Lester Mintz
Back to the FutureFilm, 1985Mr. Strickland1983
WarGamesFilm, Wigan1982
American PlayhouseSeries, Billy
Author! Author!Film, 1982Lt. Glass1981
Hill Street BluesSeries1979
The Amityville HorrorFilm, Coroner1975
Love and DeathFilm, Napoleon1971
They Might Be GiantsFilm, Mr. Brown1954
The Wonderful World of DisneySeries, The Kennel Master1931Born20 June 1931People around James
Close ties
Robert Zemeckis Directed Back to the Future (1985)
Sidney Lumet Directed Serpico and Family Business
Bob Gale Produced Back to the Future (1985)
Neil Canton Produced Back to the Future (1985)
Timothy Hutton Also in Iceman, Turk 182! and Made in Heaven
Alan Silvestri Wrote Back to the Future (1985)
Al Pacino Also in Dick Tracy, Author! Author! and Serpico
Michael J. Fox Also in Back to the Future (1985)
Christopher Lloyd Also in Back to the Future (1985)
Tommy Lister Jr. Also in Armed and Dangerous and Dutch
Crispin Glover Also in Back to the Future (1985)
Lea Thompson Also in Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Billy Dee Williams Also in Dutch and Trabbi Goes to Hollywood
Jeff Fahey Also in Split Decisions and Sketch Artist
Thomas F. Wilson Also in Back to the Future (1985)
Jon Turteltaub Directed Trabbi Goes to Hollywood (1991)
Maury Chaykin James directed Nero Wolfe
Jack Kehoe Also in Dick Tracy (1990)
Donald Symington Also in Independence, Wolfen and Hanky Panky
J. J. Cohen Also in Back to the Future (1985)
Alan King Also in Prince of the City and Author! Author!
Marc McClure Also in Back to the Future (1985)
Woody Allen Directed Love and Death (1975)
Dustin Hoffman Also in Dick Tracy and Family Business
Known for
View all 40 titles
Back to the Future 1985
Back to the Future Part II 1989
Back to the Future Part III 1990
Love and Death 1975
Serpico 1973
Filmography 40
93 credits on file
Television 19
Media & music
About this person
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).
