---
name: "Thomas F. Wilson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/thomas-f-wilson"
fi1m_id: "thomas-f-wilson"
imdb_id: "nm0001855"
tmdb_id: 1065
wikidata_id: "Q360663"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "15 April 1959"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-04T20:47:11.614010+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Thomas F. Wilson

## Identity

Thomas F. Wilson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/thomas-f-wilson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** thomas-f-wilson
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001855
- **TMDB ID:** 1065
- **Wikidata ID:** Q360663
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_F._Wilson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360663, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001855/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1065

Actor. Born 15 April 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 15 April 1959, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Active:** 1985–2011
- **Also known as:** Tom Wilson, Thomas Wilson
- **Frequently works with:** [Bob Gale](https://film.one/person/bob-gale.md), [Christopher Lloyd](https://film.one/person/christopher-lloyd.md), [Lea Thompson](https://film.one/person/lea-thompson.md), [Michael J. Fox](https://film.one/person/michael-j-fox.md), [Neil Canton](https://film.one/person/neil-canton.md), [Robert Zemeckis](https://film.one/person/robert-zemeckis.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 83 (2), 1990s 88 (1), 2000s 71 (1), 2010s 70 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 70 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Adventure 3, Drama 2, Science Fiction 2, Animation 1, Crime 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,240m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_F._Wilson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360663, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001855/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1065

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Back to the Future*](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future.md) (92)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Informant!*](https://film.one/film/the-informant.md) (71)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Thomas F. Wilson

> Thomas F. Wilson makes a bully funny without making him harmless. We rate him highly for Biff Tannen’s mixture of physical comedy and menace; the later work has too often asked him to be threatening again.

Biff Tannen enjoys frightening people, and Thomas F. Wilson makes that enjoyment unpleasantly clear. In Robert Zemeckis’s *Back to the Future* (1985), he uses his imposing presence and comic timing without letting the bully become harmless. We laughed at Biff and still wanted him kept well away from everyone else, because Wilson makes the intimidation count even when it is funny. The plotting is exact, but he gives it something blunt and recognisable to work with: someone who expects his size to settle the matter.

That was his breakthrough, and the sequels found further uses for the same combination. *Back to the Future Part II* (1989) gives him both Biff and Griff Tannen; *Back to the Future Part III* (1990) adds Buford ‘Mad Dog’ Tannen. Playing several members of the family let him keep applying the physical comedy to different characters, rather than merely repeat one part. The subsequent frequency of bully and heavy roles is a limitation worth acknowledging.

His later work includes Coach Ben Fredricks in *Freaks and Geeks* (1999), alongside extensive work in animation. There, too, menacing and villainous characters recur, with the voice doing a job that his physical presence can no longer do for him. We would welcome more opportunities to see him without that familiar assignment. The danger for an actor so closely associated with a bully is that we stop noticing the comic skill required to play one.

Steven Soderbergh’s corporate caper of 2009 gives him the supporting part of Mark Cheviron. We like that film, though our enthusiasm rests chiefly on Matt Damon’s distracted whistleblower, and it does not change where we would begin with Wilson. Nor should a supporting appearance have to prove that he has finally escaped Biff. Start with *Back to the Future*, and notice how much less funny it would be if its bully were merely a joke.

## Biography

Thomas F. Wilson is an American actor, stand-up comedian, musician and voice artist. He was born on 15 April 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He is best known for playing Biff Tannen, Griff Tannen and Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen in the *Back to the Future* film trilogy (1985–1990). He also played Coach Ben Fredricks in the series *Freaks and Geeks* (1999–2000) and has voiced characters in *SpongeBob SquarePants* and other animated series and films. His other film credits include *The Informant!* (2009) as Mark Cheviron and *The Heat* (2013).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, moviewiser.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Rio* (2011), Fi1m 70, as Trapped Bird / Screaming Hang Glider (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/rio.md)
- *The Informant!* (2009), Fi1m 71, as Mark Cheviron — [page](https://film.one/film/the-informant.md)
- *Freaks and Geeks* (1999), Fi1m 88, as Coach Ben Fredricks — [page](https://film.one/tv/freaks-and-geeks.md)
- *Back to the Future Part II* (1989), Fi1m 74, as Biff Tannen / Griff — [page](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future-part-ii.md)
- *Back to the Future* (1985), Fi1m 92, as Biff Tannen — [page](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future.md)

## Complete filmography (103)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants* (2025), as Coach Tuna (voice)
- *SpongeBob and Patrick's Timeline Twist-Up* (2025), as Cecil / Various Incidental Characters (voice)
- *Humbly Super Famous* (2024), Writer, Director, Editor
- *The Tidal Zone: SpongeBob Universe Special* (2023), as Cecil Star
- *Spidey and His Amazing Friends* (2021), series, as William Baker / Sandman (voice)
- *The Patrick Star Show* (2021), series, as Cecil Star (voice)
- *Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years* (2021), series, as Cecil Star (voice)
- *The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants* (2018), series, as Major Messy / Camoflush (voice)
- *Mosaic* (2018), series, as Cliff Jones
- *Back to the Future: The Hill Valley Chronicles* (2018), series, as Biff Tannen
- *The Mayor* (2017), series, as Governor Fillucci
- *The Ranch* (2016), series, as Coach Fitzgerald
- *DC's Legends of Tomorrow* (2016), series, as Henry 'Hank' Heywood
- *Pig Goat Banana Cricket* (2015), series, as Banana (voice)
- *Dragons: Race to the Edge* (2015), series, as Bucket (voice)
- *The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water* (2015), as Angry Customer #1 (voice)
- *Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure* (2013), as Mr. Bigley / Ginormous (voice)
- *The Heat* (2013), as Captain Woods
- *Epic* (2013), as Finn (voice)
- *Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous* (2013), series, as Andrew 'Drew' Stone
- *Voice Over* (2012), as Crandall
- *DreamWorks Dragons* (2012), series, as Bucket (voice)
- *Franklin & Bash* (2011), series, as Spiritual Adviser
- *Workaholics* (2011), series, as Barnes
- *Rio* (2011), as Trapped Bird / Screaming Hang Glider (voice) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/rio.md)
- *Harry's Law* (2011), series, as Allan Meade
- *The Child Wanderers* (2010), as Kevin
- *House Broken* (2009), as Henry Decker
- *Tom Wilson: Bigger Than You* (2009), Writer
- *The Informant!* (2009), as Mark Cheviron — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-informant.md)
- *Batman: The Brave and the Bold* (2008), series, as Sportsmaster / Santa (voice), Catman / Mobster #2 (voice)
- *True Jackson, VP* (2008), series, as Ben Franklin
- *Back at the Barnyard* (2007), series, as Krebs (voice)
- *Zoom* (2006), as Dylan's Teacher
- *Psych* (2006), series, as Butch Zielinski
- *Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector* (2006), as Bart Tatlock
- *Big Love* (2006), series, as Ricky Jax — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/big-love.md)
- *Ghost Whisperer* (2005), series, as Tim Flaherty
- *Bones* (2005), series, as Chip Barnett — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/bones.md)
- *Zoey 101* (2005), series, as Coach Phelps
- *The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie* (2004), as Fish #3 / Tough Fish #1 (voice)
- *House* (2004), series, as Lou — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as Jeffrey Bass — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Rodney* (2004), series, as Bill
- *Splatypus* (2004), as Haphazard (voice)
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Arnold Brown
- *NCIS* (2003), series, as Angus Demint — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md)
- *Two and a Half Men* (2003), series, as Mike — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md)
- *Rock Me Baby* (2003), series, as Buffalo Buck
- *The Pitts* (2003), series, as Guard
- *Atlantis: Milo's Return* (2003), as Carnaby (voice)
- *Still Standing* (2002), series, as Coach Kirk Stone
- *Do Over* (2002), series, Actor
- *She Spies* (2002), series, as Roger 'Rush' Gibson
- *George Lopez* (2002), series, as Sonny
- *Reba* (2001), series, as Ted
- *The Zeta Project* (2001), series, Actor
- *Boston Public* (2000), series, as Paul Stanton
- *Ed* (2000), series, as Sean Nowell
- *Buzz Lightyear of Star Command* (2000), series, as Buster (voice)
- *Titus* (2000), series, as Joe
- *Freaks and Geeks* (1999), series, as Coach Ben Fredricks — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/freaks-and-geeks.md)
- *SpongeBob SquarePants* (1999), series, as Flats the Flounder (voice), Marty / Herb Star (voice), Reg (voice), Tattletale Strangler (voice), Cecil (voice), Stinky (voice), Tony Fast Sr. (voice), Herb Star (voice)
- *Family Guy* (1999), series, as First Step (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *Girl* (1998), as The Ticket Seller
- *The Hughleys* (1998), series, as Stan
- *Zoomates* (1998), as Mark (voice)
- *Men in White* (1998), as Ed Klingbottom
- *The New Batman Adventures* (1997), series, as Howlin' Jake (voice)
- *101 Dalmatians Series* (1997), series, Actor
- *steve.oedekerk.com* (1997), Actor
- *Fired Up* (1997), series, as Steve Summer
- *That Darn Cat* (1997), as Melvin
- *Sabrina, the Teenage Witch* (1996), series, as Simon
- *Wing Commander Academy* (1996), series, as Todd 'Maniac' Marshall (voice)
- *Superman: The Animated Series* (1996), series, as Joey (voice)
- *Nash Bridges* (1996), series, as Jack Noon
- *Andersonville* (1996), series, as Thomas
- *Born to Be Wild* (1995), as Det. Lou Greenberg (as Tom Wilson)
- *Gargoyles* (1994), series, as Matt Bluestone, Matt Bluestone (voice), Lt. Matt Bluestone/Robber (voice), Matt Bluestone/Jogger/Quarryman (voice), Matt Bluestone/Gangbanger 3 (voice), Matt Bluestone/Thug 2 (voice), Matt Bluestone/Male Commuter 2 (voice)
- *Camp Nowhere* (1994), as Lt. Eliot Hendricks
- *Mr. Write* (1994), as Billy
- *Duckman* (1994), series, as Park Ranger Smith (voice)
- *Caroline at Midnight* (1994), as Officer Keaton
- *Rocko's Modern Life* (1993), series, Actor
- *Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman* (1993), series, as Carter Landry
- *Morning Man at 88.0* (1993), Actor
- *Bound by Honor* (1993), as Rollie McCann
- *Batman: The Animated Series* (1992), series, as Zucco (voice)
- *Back to the Future: The Ride* (1992), as Biff Tannen
- *High Strung* (1992), as Al
- *Back to the Future: Dickens of a Christmas* (1991), as Biff H. Tannen (voice)
- *Turner & Hooch* (1990), as Det. Scott Turner
- *Back to the Future Part III* (1990), as Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen / Biff Tannen
- *Back to the Future Part II* (1989), as Biff Tannen / Griff — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future-part-ii.md)
- *The Last Ride* (1989), as Buck Johnson III · Writer
- *Action Jackson* (1988), as Officer Kornblau
- *Let's Get Harry* (1986), as Pachowski
- *April Fool's Day* (1986), as Arch Cummings
- *Back to the Future* (1985), as Biff Tannen — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future.md)
- *Los Angeles Streetfighter* (1985), as Spike's Gang Member
- *Knight Rider* (1982), series, as Chip
- *The Facts of Life* (1979), series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![This file is a derivate work of the above named images to illustrate the cast of the 1989 film w:Back to the Future Part II.](https://film.one/media/person/9494/gallery-6cbce45c74e3.png) This file is a derivate work of the above named images to illustrate the cast of the 1989 film w:Back to the Future Part II. — Derivative work by Theknine2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Bttf2cast.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![This file is a derivate work of the above named images to illustrate the cast of the 1990 film w:Back to the Future Part III. (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/9494/gallery-e16a54f50477.png) This file is a derivate work of the above named images to illustrate the cast of the 1990 film w:Back to the Future Part III. (2021) — Derivative work by Theknine2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Bttf3cast.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Thomas F. Wilson](https://film.one/media/person/9494/gallery-c6ea36ff7850.jpg) Thomas F. Wilson — BoboMejor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Tom_Wilson_photo_by_Josh_Alder.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Thomas F. Wilson](https://film.one/media/person/9494/gallery-75a91555787f.jpg) Thomas F. Wilson — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/thomas-f-wilson