Tolkan, who appeared in “Top Gun” and “Back to the Future,” died on Thursday in Lake Placid, New York, where he lived, according to his booking agent, John Alcantar.
In “Back to the Future,” Tolkan portrayed Gerald Strickland, the bow tie-wearing vice principal who patrols the halls for trouble at the fictitious Hill Valley High School, particularly watching over Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox. In the 1985 film, Tolkan’s character tells McFly, “You got a real attitude problem, McFly,” adding, “You’re a slacker. You remind me of your father when he went here. He was a slacker, too.”
Tolkan also appeared in “Top Gun” as commanding officer Tom “Stinger” Jardian. Near the end of the film, Jardian asks Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise, about his choice for future duty, and Mitchell replies that he wants to be a Top Gun instructor. Tolkan’s character responds, “God help us,” laughing.
A brief obituary published on the “Back to the Future” website said Tolkan died “peacefully,” but it did not give a cause of death. Tolkan was born in Calumet, Michigan, and graduated from high school in Arizona, according to the Associated Press report.
After graduating, Tolkan served in the Navy during the Korean War and later moved to New York, where he spent a quarter century acting in theater roles. He was a member of the original ensemble cast of “Glengarry Glen Ross.”
Tolkan is survived by his wife of 54 years, Parmelee Welles, who said in a statement that Tolkan also was an avid art collector and adored animals.