Top Gun and Back To The Future actor James Tolkan dies aged 94

Actor James Tolkan, best known for playing authoritarian figures in the 1980s classics Back To The Future and Top Gun, has died aged 94.

Tolkan died on Thursday in Lake Placid, New York, where he lived, according to his booking agent.

A brief obituary published on the Back To The Future website said Tolkan died “peacefully”, but no cause of death was given.

In the time-travelling adventure Back To The Future, Tolkan portrayed the bow tie-wearing vice principal Gerald Strickland, who eyeballed pupils in the halls of the fictitious Hill Valley High School – in particular Marty McFly, played by Michael J Fox.

“You got a real attitude problem, McFly,” Tolkan’s character says in the 1985 film. “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, when Jardian asks Tom Cruise’s character, Capt Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, about his choice for future duty, Mitchell replies that he wants to be a Top Gun instructor.

“God help us,” Tolkan’s character replies, laughing.

Born in Calumet, Michigan, Tolkan served in the US navy during the Korean War and eventually made his way to New York, where he spent a quarter of a century acting in theatre roles. He was a member of the original ensemble cast of Glengarry Glen Ross.

Tolkan also appeared in the 1987 big screen version of Masters Of The Universe as another authoritarian figure, Detective Lubic, who helps He-Man take on the forces of Skeletor in modern-day California. He also had a role in the cinema version of Dick Tracy, starring Warren Beatty, in 1990.

Tolkan is survived by his wife of 54 years, Parmelee Welles.