Tolkan, the No-Nonsense Authority from Back to the Future and Top Gun, Dies at 94
James Tolkan, the character actor known for portraying stern authorities in Back to the Future and Top Gun, died at 94 in Saranac Lake, New York. His career spanned Broadway and film, with roles in Dick Tracy and three Sidney Lumet pictures (Serpico, Prince of the City, Family Business), plus appearances on stage in Glengarry Glen Ross. Born on June 20, 1931, Tolkan studied at the Actors Studio before rising to prominence as a mainstay of intense, intimidating characters.