Biography
Though frequently billed far down on the cast list, Tolkan immediately captured audiences' attention through his fire-breathing delivery and demeanor; actors ranging from Al Pacino and Tom Cruise to Joe Mantegna and J.T. Walsh did their best to stand toe-to-toe with him in a scene and not get singed. The 1980s were Tolkan's most prolific period, with "Top Gun" and the first two "Future" films introducing him to the widest audience. In …
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Career Milestones
| Acted on stage with Al Pacino in "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel" and "Jungle in the Cities" | ||
| Began studying with Stella Adler and won a two-year scholarship | ||
| Cast as a regular on "The Hat Squad", an eccentric crime series from executive producer/creator Stephen J Cannell | ||
| Left Eastern Arizona College to serve in the US Navy | ||
| Moved to NYC with $75 in his pocket after after graduating from the University of Iowa | ||
| Moved with his mother to Tucson, Arizona | ||
| Played the recurring role of insurance investigator Norman Keyes, the nemesis of "Remington Steele", on the popular detective detective series | ||
| Provided narration for several installments of "America Undercover" documentary specials on HBO | ||
| Replaced Duvall in the Arthur Penn-directed Broadway production of "Wait Until Dark" when the actor broke his hip; continued in the role for two years | ||
| Worked as a cattle truck driver before deciding to continue his higher education | ||
| Worked with the Actors Studio for three years | ||
1931 | Born in near poverty in northern Michigan | |
1945 | Moved to Chicago with his family at age 14 (date approximate) | |
1946 | Was working as a railroad hand by age 15 (date approximate) | |
1965 | Replaced Robert Duvall in Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge" on the New York stage | |
1969 | Feature debut, "Stiletto", a gangster drama | |
1983 | Recreated his role from the Broadway production of "Wings" for PBS's "American Playhouse" presentation | |
1984 | Portrayed Dave Moss in the Broadway production of David Mamet's play, "Glengarry Glen Ross" | |
1985 | Debut as a TV series regular, "Mary", a failed sitcom vehicle for Mary Tyler Moore (eliminated after three months when the show's format and time slot changed) | |
1985 | First played the role of Mr. Strickland in Robert Zemeckis' "Back to the Future" | |
1986 | Widely seen as Stinger, a tough Naval commander who chastises Tom Cruise in "Top Gun" | |
1989 | Reprised the role of Strickland for Zemeckis's "Back to the Future II" | |
1990 | Cast as a regular on the short-lived (two episodes) series, "Sunset Beat", about a special team of cops who pose as bikers | |
1990 | Portrayed Marshal Strickland in "Back to the Future III" | |