James Tolkan, ‘Back to the Future’ and ‘Top Gun’ actor, dead at 94

James Tolkan of “Back to nan Future” and “Top Gun” fame has died astatine nan property of 94.

According to nan Hollywood Reporter, nan actor’s family announced Tolkan’s decease through a spokesperson connected Friday.

Tolkan “passed distant peacefully successful Saranac Lake, NY” connected Thursday, writer-producer Bob Gale wrote connected nan franchise’s website.

He’s survived by his wife, Parmelee, whom he met connected nan 1971 off-Broadway group of “Pinkville” wherever James worked arsenic an character and Parmalee worked arsenic a prop girl. The brace later tied nan knot successful Lake Placid successful 1971.

Well-known for his memorable disdain for “slackers” arsenic vice main Mr. Strickland successful nan original “Back to nan Future,” he appeared successful nan domiciled 1 much clip successful 1989’s “Back to nan Future: Part II,” and arsenic Strickland’s grandfather in “Back to nan Future Part III” successful 1990.

In nan 1970s and 1980s, nan Michigan calved character was besides featured successful films including “Top Gun” (1986), “The Amityville Horror” (1979), “Serpico” (1973), “WarGames” (1983), “Masters of nan Universe” (1987), “True Blood” (1989) and “Opportunity Knocks” (1990), among galore others.

He past appeared successful nan documentary “Tom Wilson: Humbly Super Famous” successful 2024.

His TV credits included stints connected “The Wonder Years” successful 1990, nan 1960 TV bid “Naked City” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990), among galore others.

In a 2021 interview, nan character recalled being told he needed to caput to New York City if he was superior astir acting, while attending nan University of Iowa.

“In 1956, I sewage connected a Greyhound autobus retired of Iowa City, I had 75 dollars successful my pocket,” he recalled to “Reality of Wrestling” astatine nan time. “I didn’t cognize a psyche successful New York.”

Nonetheless, nan wished young Tolkan went to nan Big Apple “to beryllium an actor.” It was a bet that paid off.

“Oh my God, I didn’t cognize [what] I was getting into erstwhile I arrived successful New York,” he divulged, noting that he was “scared to death” and that he had to “find immoderate spot to live” and that his “money ran out.”

While Tolkan admitted that being a “bus boy connected Central Park South” was “challenging astatine first,” he besides called it “the top clip of [his] life.” “It was afloat of committedness and possibilities,” he said.

He added elsewhere successful nan interview, “In immoderate measurement aliases another, I’m a success.”

“I’ve knowledgeable truthful galore things affirmative and negative,” he said, noting that because of his early struggles getting connected his feet arsenic an actor, he was “enjoying nan bully life.”

“I consciousness beardown because I made it done [it] all.”