American actor James Tolkan, known for his roles in “Back to the Future” and “Top Gun,” has died at 94

American actor James Tolkan, known in particular for his role as “Mr. Strickland” in Back to the Future, has died at the age of 94, indicate several American media and the official Back to the Future website. He also played Commander “Stinger” in Top Gun.

“Actor James Tolkan, son of Ralph Tolkan and Margery Sibola, passed away peacefully in Saranac Lake, New York, on March 26, 2026,” said the Back to the Future press release published this Friday, without specifying the cause of his death.

James Tolkan was born in 1931 in Michigan. According to the obituary made by the official Back to the Future website, he “loved animals”. He “would appreciate donations being made in his memory to your local animal shelter or animal rescue organization,” it says.

A specialist in “intimidating characters”

The Hollywood Reporter describes him as a “specialist in intense and intimidating character roles”, notably as “Mr. Strickland”, the principal of Hill Valley High School. In Back to the Future III, he played the grandfather of “Mr. Strickland”, recalls the Hollywood Reporter.

During his career he appeared in numerous films such as “Love and Death” by Woody Allen in 1975, where he played Napoleon, and “Prince of the City” (1981) by Sidney Lumet.

According to the obituary on the official Back to the Future website, he “is survived by his wife of 54 years, Parmelee, and three nieces residing in Des Moines, Iowa.” He had met Parmelee “on the set of the off-Broadway play Pinkville in 1971, when he was acting in it and she was a prop master.”