James Tolkan Bio, Net Worth, Early And Personal Life

Popular Name:	James Tolkan
Real Name:	James Stewart Tolkan
Birth Date:	August,4th 1989
Birth Place:	Calumet, Michigan.
Age:	91 years old
Gender:	Male
Nationality/Citizenship:	American
Height:	6ft
Weight:	56 kg
Sexuality:	Straight
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse(s):	Parmelee Tolkan
Children:	N/A
Profession:	Actor
Years active:	1960–2021
Net Worth:	$5 Million
Last Updated:	2022

James Stewart Tolkan professionally known as James Tolkan is a 91-year-old American Hollywood Actor and director born on June 20th, 1931, in Calumet, Michigan.

In this article, as you read on, you’ll get to find out James Tolkan bio, also his early and personal life, Acting career, filmography, philanthropy, and awards as additional pieces of information.

Early And Personal Life

James Stewart Tolkan professionally known as James Tolkan is a 91-year-old American Hollywood Actor and director born on June 20th, 1931, in Calumet, Michigan.

James Tolkan’s father, Ralph M. Tolkan was a successful cattle dealer and his mother is Dale Nichols.

He stands 1.68 meters tall and weighs 75 kilograms.

James Tolkan Coe College, Eastern Arizona College, and the University of Iowa.

He previously served in the United States Navy for one year and was discharged from service for medical issues relating to the heart.

James Tolkan after he had been discharged left for New York.

His relocation was to pursue a career in acting, and he as well joined the Actors Studio.

During his stay at the Actors Studio, James Tolkan learned acting from both Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler.

James Tolkan also did an understudy under Robert Duvall in the production of ‘A view from the Bridge’ written by Arthur Miller.

About his relationship and love life, James Tolkan has been married to Parmelee Welles since 1971.

However, it hasn’t been confirmed if James Tolkan and Parmelee Welles have any children together even till now.

James Tolkan Acting Career

James Tolkan is best popular for his role in the 1985 film Back to the Future as the strict Hill Valley High School assistant principal, Gerald Strickland.

James Tolkan’s character in the film was in reference to Marty McFly, his father, and Biff Tannen expressed as “slackers”.

James Tolkan repeated the role in the 1989 sequel Back to the Future Part II.

In Back to the Future Part II, some unnamed gang members made a drive-by assault on James Tolkan in a dystopian 1985 and he referred to the criminals as “slackers” as he shoots back.

In 1990, James Tolkan took on the role of Mr. Strickland’s grandfather Chief Marshal James Strickland in Back to the Future Part III.

James Tolkan subsequently repeated his role as Strickland, and the character’s ancestors and descendants, in the 1991 animated series spin-off.

James Tolkan’s other notable roles included FBI agent in WarGames and Stinger, the no-nonsense commanding officer of USS Enterprise‘s embarked F-14 squadron in the 1986 box-office hit Top Gun.

James Tolkan took up the role of cold and determined District Attorney Polito in Sidney Lumet’s Prince of the City.

He also acted as the obsequious and evasive union treasurer Lou Brackman in 1986’s Armed and Dangerous.

James Tolkan also was featured in the 1987 film Masters of the Universe as Detective Lubic.

He had a doubled role in the Woody Allen comedy Love and Death, playing both Napoleon and a look-alike.

In 1973 James Tolkan was featured in Warren Beatty’s film Dick Tracy as Big Boy Caprice’s accountant.

James Tolkan was featured in Serpico in 1973 and had a small but notable role.

In the film Serpico, James Tolkan portrayed a policeman who loudly accused Officer Serpico of having a homosexual encounter with another policeman in a men’s room.

James Tolkan had also made guest appearances on numerous TV shows which include: Naked City, Remington Steele, Miami Vice, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

James Tolkan as a member of the repertory cast of A Nero Wolfe Mystery from 2001 to 2002 took up more than 12 different roles in the A&E TV series.

James Tolkan also directed two episodes “Die Like a Dog” and “The Next Witness”.

James Tolkan Filmography

The super-talented Hollywood actor, James Tolkan throughout his acting career had made numerous screen appearances as follows:

In 1960, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Naked City (TV series) portraying Evan Humboldt

In 1962, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Armstrong Circle Theatre(TV series) portraying Stefan Malwitz

In 1966, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

The Three Sisters

In 1969, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Y.P.D.

In 1971, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

They Might Be Giants portrays Brown

In 1973, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

The Friends of Eddie Coyle portrays The Man’s Contact Man
The Werewolf of Washington as Dark Glasses
Serpico portrays Lieutenant Steiger

In 1975, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Love and Death as Napoleon Bonaparte
Abduction as Off-Duty Cop

In 1976, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Independence as Tom Paine
Amityville Horror portrays The Coroner

In 1981, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Wolfen as Medical Examiner
Prince of the City as District Attorney Polito

In 1982, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Hanky Pankyas Conferee
Author! Author! as Lieutenant Glass

In 1983, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

American Playhouse (TV series) portraying Billy
WarGames as FBI Agent George Wigan
Nightmares as Voice of The Bishop

In 1984, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Iceman as Maynard
The River as Howard Simpson

In 1985, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Turk 182! as Hanley
Hill Street Blues as Coach Beasley
Back to the Future as Principal Gerald Strickland
Walls of Glass as Turner

In 1985, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Mary (TV series) portraying Lester Mintz

In 1985, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Remington Steele(TV series) as Norman Keyes

In 1986, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Off Beat portrays Harry
Top Gun as Commander Tom “Stinger” Jardin
Armed and Dangerous as Lou Brackman
Little Spies as The Kennel Master

In 1987, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Masters of the Universeportraying Detective Hugh Lubic
Made in Heaven as Mr. Bjornstead
Miami Vice as Mason Mather

In 1988, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Weekend War (TV) as Dr. Alex Thompson
Viper as Colonel William Tansey
Leap of Faith(TV) as Dr. Siegel
Split Decisions portrays Benny Pistone

In 1989, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

The Equalizer(TV series) as Ruger
True Blood as Detective Joe Hanley
Second Sight as Captain Coolidge
Back to the Future Part IIportraying Principal Gerald Strickland
Ministry of Vengeance as Colonel Freeman
Family Businessportraying Judge In 2nd Trial

In 1990, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Opportunity Knocks as Sal Nichols
Sunset Beat(TV series) as Ray Parker
Back to the Future Part IIIas S. Marshal James Strickland
Dick Tracy
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Dr. Oates / Dr. Bloat

In 1991, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Hangfire
Trabbi Goes to Hollywood as Vince
Tales from the Crypt (TV series) portrays Sergeant McClaine
Problem Child 2 as Mr. Thorn

In 1992, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Tequila and Bonetti(TV series)
Sketch Artist(TV) as Lieutenant Tonelli
The Hat Squad(TV series) as Mike Ragland
Back to the Future(TV series) as Civil Defense Warden
Bloodfist IV: Die Trying as Agent Starling

In 1993, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

The Wonder Years (TV series) as Coach Silva
Boiling Pointportraying Senior US Treasury Agent Jerry Levitt

In 1993, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Cobra(TV series) as Dallas Cassel

In 1994, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Beyond Betrayal(TV) portraying Joe Maloney

In 1995, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Sketch Artist II: Hands That See(TV) portraying Lieutenant Tonelli

In 1996, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Top Gun: Fire at Will (video game) as Commander Hondo
Nowhere Man(TV series) as Commander Cyrus Quinn
Underworld as Dan “Iceberg” Eagan
Robo Warriors as Quon
Early Edition(TV series) as Coach Phillips

In 1997, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Love in Ambush(TV) portraying Agent Price
The Pretender(TV series) as FBI Special Agent Korkos

In 1998, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Top Gun: Hornet’s Nest(video game) as Commander Hondo

In 1999, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Wings: Thrill of Flight as Host

In 2001, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

A Nero Wolfe Mystery(TV series) as Richard Wragg

In 2004, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Seven Times Lucky

In 2006, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Heavens Fall portrays Thomas Knight Sr.

In 2011, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Leverage(TV series) as Dean Chesny

In 2013, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Phil Spector as Larry Fidler

In 2015, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Bone Tomahawk as The Pianist

In 2021, James Tolkan appeared in the following:

Expedition: Back to the Future portrays Strickland / Guard

James Tolkan Philanthropy

The American star actor, James Tolkan has affected so many lives positively through philanthropy.

One of his most notable philanthropic activities is his donation of multiple theatre and movie scripts and memorabilia to the University of North Alabama to be included in the school’s achieve collection.

James Tolkan Awards

The Hollywood veteran actor, James Tolkan throughout his career had bagged numerous awards whose notable ones are as follows:

Wim Zonneveld

Princess of Asturias Awards

Prince of Asturias Awards

Clio Awards

Opera House Of The Year Nobel Prize

Inside Soap Awards

James Tolkan Net Worth

An acting career in Hollywood really has really been the backbone of James Tolkan net worth, though it hasn’t been disclosed how much he receives for each appearance.

Without displacement of figures, James Tolkan net worth is estimated at five million US Dollars ($5 million).