James Tolkan, Iconic Authority Figure, Passes Away

0:00On March 28th, actor James Tolkien, famous for those no-nonsense authority roles in 80s blockbusters by Back to the Future and Top Gun, has passed away at 94 years old. He died on Thursday in Lake Placid, New York, his long-time home, as confirmed by his booking agent. A quick obituary on the Back to the Future site noted he went peacefully with no cause of death released. Fans remember him best as the strict Vice Principal Strickland, but trolling the halls of Hill Valley High and calling out slackers like Marty McFly. That tough guy vibe carried over to his commanding officer's finger in Top Gun, leaving a mark on generations of moviegoers. Earlier in life, Tolkien was born in Calumet, Michigan, served in the Navy during the Korean War, and built a solid theater career in New York over. 25 years, he was part of the original Glingarry Glen Ross Ensemble and later hit films like Masters of the Universe in Dick Tracy. Tolkien leased behind his wife of 54 years, Parmaly Wells, closing the book on a career full of memorable tough acts.