His athletic, hulking frame earned him the role of a notorious bully in one of the 1980s’ most iconic franchises.
Over the trilogy, he reprised the part in multiple forms, portraying different members of the same family across past and future timelines.
After the movie’s success, he branched into other media, lending his voice to a mobster in the world of the DC Universe’s most famous vigilante and reuniting with his co-star for a hit sci-fi combat simulation video game series.
His build aided his return to live-action, where he played a gym teacher in a comedy-drama at the dawn of the new millennium – a show that was short-lived on air but later became a cult classic.
Since then, this actor has transitioned to stand-up comedy, hosted podcasts with fellow comedians and actors and has painted works for Disney theme parks.
Can you guess who?
His athletic, hulking frame earned him the role of a notorious bully in one of the 1980s’ most iconic franchises
Over the trilogy, he reprised the part in multiple forms, portraying different members of the same family across past and future timelines
His athletic build aided his return to live-action, where he played a gym teacher in a comedy-drama at the dawn of the new millennium – a show that was short-lived on air but later became a cult classic
It’s Thomas F. Wilson – Biff from the Back to the Future films.
Wilson was spotted starting his day by completing household chores before meeting a friend out for lunch.
As the 66-year-old actor strolled down the street, he wore a casual outfit – navy blue T-shirt, dark gray, paint-spattered cargo shorts, blue Hoka sneakers and a black crossbody bag with brown leather detailing.
His hair is now long and white – a striking departure from the clean-cut style of his jock alter ego, Biff Tannen, the role that first launched him into Hollywood.
He and his friend chatted and shared a few laughs before parting ways. The pal also kept it casual in tan cargo shorts, a yellow button-up, and brown sandals.
Wilson is best known for portraying Biff, the relentless bully who constantly tried to sabotage Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly – only to end up, more often than not, face-first in a pile of manure for his troubles.
He met a friend out for lunch, wearing a casual outfit consisting of a navy blue T-shirt, paint-spattered dark gray cargo shorts, blue Hoka sneakers and a black crossbody bag
Now sporting long white hair, he’s a stark contrast from the clean-cut jock Biff Tannen – the role that rocketed him to Hollywood fame in Back to the Future
The blockbuster trilogy kicked off in 1985 with a smash-hit debut, then took audiences on a time-hopping ride that wrapped in 1990.
Nearly 40 years after the beloved franchise first hit theaters, it’s enjoyed a pop culture resurgence and a loyal fanbase – sparking video game releases throughout the 2010s and multiple cast reunions at Comic-Con, the annual fan convention.
In 2024, Wilson – who in the Back to the Future sequels played both Biff’s grandson and his great-grandfather – stood alongside his co-star Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, as he received a standing ovation.
The cast remains very close and shows that off on social media to eager fans, such as when his other co-star, Lea Thompson, who played Marty’s mom in the first two films, posted a video to Instagram of her interacting with her fellow cast members.
At one point, a clip showed her snuggling up to Wilson, calling him ‘my favorite, favorite guy ever.’ Which he replied: ‘I love this lady. It’s so great to see you. You’re so fabulous.’
She retorted, quoting Wilson’s character’s go-to insult from the films, ‘I’m a butthead, right?’
He played Biff Tannen, the notorious high school bully whose schemes constantly tormented Marty McFly, often landing him in humiliating predicaments
Biff didn’t just bully Marty, he took it out on his mother played by Lea Thompson too in Back to the Future Part II
Wilson now paints pop art and has had several works commissioned for Disney theme parks
He then called back to his character by gently knocking his fist on Thompson’s head and said, ‘Hello, anybody home?’
Following the success of Back to the Future, Wilson branched into video games and animation.
In 1992, he voiced mobster Tony Zucco in Batman: The Animated Series and reunited with co-star Christopher Lloyd, who had played Doc Brown, in the 1994 film Camp Nowhere.
He later joined forces with Michael J. Fox once again, this time in the Wing Commander video game series, portraying hotshot pilot Major Todd ‘Maniac’ Marshall in its live-action sequences.
Another prominent role was as Coach Ben Fredricks in director Judd Apatow’s short-lived 1999 NBC Freaks and Geeks, which starred heavy hitters such as James Franco, Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and Martin Starr.
Although the series was canceled after just one season, it went on to become a cult classic, earning spots on numerous ‘greatest TV shows of all time’ lists, including Time, Rolling Stone and Variety.
The Back to the Future cast remains close, often sharing reunion moments on social media – like this photo showing Christopher Lloyd, Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson and Wilson
Another notable role was as Coach Ben Fredricks in Judd Apatow’s short-lived 1999 NBC series Freaks and Geeks, which featured rising stars like James Franco, Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and Martin Starr (left)
Wilson has been married to his wife Caroline Thomas (left of Wilson) since 1985, and the couple shares three daughters and a son, who came out with their spouses to support when the actor flexed his painting skills at a 2017 art exhibition
Since then, Wilson has done voice work for multiple menacing characters in Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants, played Coach Phelps in Jamie Lynn Spears’s Zoey 101 and branched out to stand-up comedy.
The actor also created a podcast called Big Pop Fun that ran from 2011 to 2014 and created a YouTube channel where he posts vlogs and his stand-up comedy specials.
Wilson is an artist and has produced collections of his paintings and posted his photography on his social media page.
He’s been married to his wife Caroline Thomas since 1985, and the couple shares three daughters and one son.