Stinger is the one who sends Maverick and Goose to Top Gun. Tolkan is also well remembered for being director Geral Strickland in the Back to the Future saga. Love and Death from 1975 and Dick Tracy from 1990 are some of his other most memorable roles.

In his 90s, James continues to work, and in 2021, he was part of a special program dedicated to Back to the Future.