Actor James Tolkan died at the age of 94 last Thursday, 26th, in Saranac Lake, in the State of New York, in the United States. The information was confirmed by the family. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Known for playing the strict director Strickland in Back to the Future (1985), Tolkan built a career that spanned theater, cinema and television. Another prominent role was that of Commander “Stinger”, superior to Tom Cruise’s character in Top Gun (1986).
Born in 1931, in the state of Michigan, the actor served in the United States Navy during the Korean War before starting his acting training in New York, with names like Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg. He also worked in theater for about 25 years and was in the original cast of the play Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway.
In cinema, he participated in productions such as War Games (1983), as well as Love and Death (1975), by Woody Allenin which he played Napoleon and his double. His last appearance on screen was in Rastros de Maldade, released in 2015.
On television, He accumulated regular roles in series such as Mary (1985-1986), Os Punishers (1992-1993) and Cobra (1993-1994)in addition to participation in productions such as Miami Vice, Um Maluco no Pedaço and Arquivo X.
Tolkan is survived by his wife, Parmelee, to whom he was married for 54 years, as well as three nieces. The family has asked that donations in his memory go to shelters and animal rescue organizations.
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