The role of bully Biff Tannen in the classic movie Back to the Future made Thomas F. Wilson famous.
The actor has also voiced characters in the popular Nickelodeon series SpongeBob SquarePants and its spinoff, The Patrick Star Show, as well as episodes of Freaks and Geeks and the Ghost Whisperer.
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Background Information
On April 15, 1959, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Thomas F. Wilson was born. Thomas Wilson and Anna Kelly were his parents. The aspiring actor attended Radnor High School, where he was involved in drama and served as the debate team’s president. Wilson was also a part of the band, where he played tuba and served as the drum major.
At Arizona State University, Wilson continued his study by majoring in international politics. The aspiring actor also studied at New York City’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Two years after his debut on stage as a comedian, Wilson relocated to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Wilson shared a room with comedians Andrew Dice Clay and Yakov Smirnoff early in his career.
Acting Career
Wilson’s appearance in the second season of the action-crime thriller Knight Rider earned him his first acting credit.
The actor appeared in the episode “A Knight In Shining Armor” in a minor capacity. NBC broadcast the show, which starred David Hasselhoff, best known for his role in the Baywatch series.
Back to the Future
Wilson was cast as the bully Biff Tannen in the iconic movie Back to the Future in 1985. He would return to the part of Biff’s grandson Griff Tannen and great-grandfather Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen in Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III, respectively.
The actor provided the voiceovers for both the animated film and later iterations of the video game.
Wilson’s character, Biff, was adored by the audience, who felt that he wasn’t given enough credit for the part. Additionally, he is regarded as one of cinema history’s most iconic villains by fans of the movie series.
Blood In, Blood Out
Wilson first made an appearance in the Back to the Future movies, and in 1993’s cult masterpiece Blood In, Blood Out, he played Detective Rollie McCann.
Based on the real life of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the criminal drama film also stars Benjamin Bratt.
Freaks and Geeks
Wilson used his skills on television, making six appearances in teen comedy-drama series. The actor portrayed Coach Ben Fredricks in the brevity series from 1999 to 2000.
Freaks and Geeks only had one season with 18 episodes, despite getting favourable reviews and three Emmy nominations.
Ghost Whisperer
Wilson persisted in acting on the small screen, playing Tim Flaherty in six episodes of the Jennifer Love Hewitt-led supernatural drama Ghost Whisperer.
Mel inda Gordon (Hewitt), who had the capacity to see and speak with ghosts, was the main character on the show. Wilson had several appearances on Ghost Whisperer between 2006 and 2008 during its five seasons.
Zach Stone is Gonna be Famous
Wilson appeared in 12 episodes of the MTV teen comedy Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous in 2013 as Zach’s father Andrew “Drew” Stone.
A recent high school graduate who decides against attending college in favour of a life of celebrity was the star of the show. The series only had one season and premiered on Netflix in 2021, however Wilson played a recurring part.
The Informant!
In Steven Soderbergh’s 2009 biographical-crime comedy The Informant!, Wilson portrayed Mark Cheviron.
The movie, which also starred Joel McHale, Scott Bakula, and Matt Damon, was adapted from the nonfiction book of the same name, published in 2000.
The film earned $41.8 million worldwide and garnered favourable reviews, particularly for Damon’s performance.
Voice Acting
The actor has voiced characters on the popular children’s show SpongeBob SquarePants in addition to the animated version of Back to the Future.
Wilson has voiced a number of characters on the Nickelodeon series since it first debuted in 2001, including Flats the Flounder, Tattletale Strangler, Marty, Herb Starr, Regg, and other characters.
The actor most recently provided Cecil Star’s voice in the animated television series The Patrick Star Show. Patrick Star is the focus of the SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff, which debuted on Nickelodeon in 2021.
Wilson has additionally provided his voice for the following television programmes:
Tony Zucco and John Grayson from Batman the Animated Series (1992)
Matt Bluestone from Gargoyles (1995–1996; 14 episodes)
Todd “Maniac” Marshall, Wing Commander Academy (1996/13 episodes)
Banana, Body Builder: Pig Goat Banana Cricket (2015–2018/40 episodes)
Coach Lawrence from Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (2016–2018/21 episodes)
What is Thomas F. Wilson doing now?
Thomas is still quite active in Hollywood and continues to have recurring jobs in both acting and voice acting.
The humorous actor has also dabbled in the arts, exhibiting a variety of pieces in Laguna Beach, California, and has a Pop Fugue Collection, a modern satire on Pop identity.
Between acting roles, Wilson published The Masked Man: A Memoir and Fantasy of Hollywood. The late actor Clayton Moore, who played The Lone Ranger on television, is mentioned in the novel as having taken part in an adventure. The novel also incorporates Wilson’s own experiences with humour.
The Back to the Future actor was previously spotted on Cameo, where fans could send or receive birthday wishes from him. The actor also regularly shares images of his artwork on Instagram, where you may follow him.
The actor has attended a number of fan gatherings, including the MegaCon in Orlando, the Hollywood Show in Los Angeles, and Comic-Con.
Personal Life
Since their union on July 6, 1985, Wilson and Caroline Thomas have been parents to four kids.
Devout Catholic Wilson published the contemporary Christian CD In the Name of the Father in 2000.
Wilson also intervened on his own behalf in response to frequently asked queries by fans. The actor made business cards featuring his most often asked questions and a Back to the Future theme.
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