12 Facts About James Tolkan

James Stewart Tolkan was born on June 20,1931 and is an American actor.

James Tolkan is best known for his roles as high school vice-principal in charge of discipline Mr Strickland in Back to the Future and Back to the Future Part II, and as his ancestor, Marshal James Strickland, in Back to the Future Part III.

James Tolkan then attended the University of Iowa, Coe College, the Actors Studio and Eastern Arizona College.

James Tolkan served in the US Navy onboard the USS Sandoval, but he had an issue with his heart; within a year, he was discharged for medical reasons.

James Tolkan is perhaps best known for his role in the 1985 film Back to the Future as the strict Hill Valley High School vice principal Gerald Strickland; the character refers to Marty McFly, his father, and Biff Tannen derisively as "slackers".

James Tolkan reprised the role in the 1989 sequel Back to the Future Part II, in which unnamed gang members make a drive-by assault on him in a dystopian 1985; he refers to these criminals as "slackers" as he shoots back.

James Tolkan portrayed the role of cold and determined District Attorney Polito in Sidney Lumet's Prince of the City.

James Tolkan played the obsequious and evasive union treasurer Lou Brackman in 1986's Armed and Dangerous.

James Tolkan appeared in the 1987 film Masters of the Universe as Detective Lubic.

James Tolkan had a dual role in the Woody Allen comedy Love and Death, playing both Napoleon and a look-alike.

James Tolkan appeared in Serpico 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.

James 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.