Auditioning for "Biff" from Back to the Future | Impacting Culture Speaker Series (Selects)

Watch the full talk with Tom Wilson at: jpcatholic.edu...
John Paul the Great Catholic University is the Catholic University for Creative Arts and Business Innovation, located in Southern California.
In this clip from our Impacting Culture Speaker Series, actor Tom Wilson tells the story of his final audition for the role of Biff from Back to the Future and how he almost missed the opportunity of a lifetime. Watch the full lecture for free at JPCatholic Online: www.jpcatholic.edu/online
Learn more about JPCatholic's creative arts and business degrees at www.jpcatholic.edu
-------------
John Paul the Great Catholic University is the Catholic university for Creative Arts and Business Innovation, located in San Diego county. We combine hands-on instruction in media and business with an enriching Catholic liberal arts education. Experience small class sizes, mentorship from industry professionals, and a community of creative Catholics who believe in the power of beauty to transform culture.
Explore our programs in Film, Animation, Business, Digital Music, Acting, Illustration, Game Development, Creative Writing, Graphic Design, Screenwriting, Theology, and more.
Visit jpcatholic.edu/
Subscribe to the Channel: / jpcatholic
Instagram: / jpcatholic
Facebook: / jpcatholic

[@KJean-tv4dg]

This man OWNED the role of Biff like no one else ever could have. I grew up in the 80's and LOVED this movie. Biff was so much fun to "hate!" This movie never would have been the same without him!

[@sethmeyer2443]

Biff was the greatest Comedy villain of all time

[@joemckim1183]

@@sethmeyer2443 He was great in all of the versions of the character whether it was Biff, old man Biff, Griff or Mad Dog Tannen.

[@robertgoodwinr6523]

Agreed!! One of my top fav films of all time!! Never get sick of it. 53 years old and still love it like it just came out.

[@evanabbott2737]

“Why don’t you make like a tree…and get out of here…”😂👍

[@chefd786]

So true, such a classic, and he was Great !

[@GeneThundersnow]

The fact that he played like seven very different versions of Biff is incredible.

[@PRdeSO]

so true but 8 parts, 7 different versions Past Biff twice, Original '85 Biff, New '85 Biff, Future elderly Biff, Future grand son of Biff, '85 Evil Trump-ish Biff, and Mad Dog ancestor of Biff

[@GeneThundersnow]

@@PRdeSO you’re absolutely right!

[@uTubeNoITube]

@@PRdeSO Alright you just gave me an amazing idea someone (not me cuz I can't do that stuff) should make for a spoof trailer: *Biff to the Future*, with a montage of all the biffs through all 3 series and his most iconic/funny scenes, and at the end it just says "There will be Biffs." XD

[@Xylot]

@@uTubeNoITube It's all just different Biffs talking to one another through clips lol

[@uTubeNoITube]

@@Xylot Hahahah

[@zdvxr]

He aged way better than he did in the alternate 1985 in Back to the Future 2.

[@Shasha33400]

@Somebody WhoisSomewhere I think zdvxr talk about the Biff from 1985A.

[@zdvxr]

@Somebody WhoisSomewhere that is true

[@zdvxr]

@@Shasha33400 yeah

[@danfennewald9827]

Lol yes he did

[@thedude2684]

Lol

[@apb672]

It's so crazy that the actors who play villains IRL tend to be such sweet, human, awesomely approachable people.

[@rwwilson21]

It's crazy how the nicest ppl can play the meanest characters. Yet the meanest ppl can play the nicest characters.

[@Wicked_R]

It's called Acting..Good Acting.

[@todesque]

Agreed. I've always said that the people who know how to be nice, also know how to be NOT nice.

[@krls3215]

Gunnar Hansen, (Leatherface) a perfect example.

[@tomfritzsch1928]

Vincent D'Onofrio is another good example. Seems like a really likable funny guy in interviews.

[@honesteagle98]

Rumor has it he’s still putting the 2nd coat of wax on the car.

[@radioactive9861]

ZING!

[@martinriggs8567]

I think he’s just finishing the second coat now. Can’t be too sure with this guy.

[@chrismale9976]

😂

[@nuthinnew]

It's just a rumour though, take it with a pinch of salt

[@ManPursueExcellence]

Now, don’t con me!

[@fourbyfourer]

I've had the pleasures of meeting Tom Wilson in person, and I have to honestly say he was one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life.

[@artifacthunter1472]

People who are nice to the world have no knowledge of God!

[@chrisb8193]

@@artifacthunter1472What are you on about?

[@escfxp]

@@artifacthunter1472 Which God are you referring to here?

[@enigmalfidelity]

​@@artifacthunter1472do you like guns? If so, don't speak about religion.

[@walteradams2439]

@@enigmalfidelity Luke- 22:36

[@Cenindo]

He is a delightful person in real life.

[@maisieh.8620]

True!!!

[@hdna12]

Yep I met him at a Convention 2 years ago He’s really a nice guy rather than the bad Biff he’s plays in Back To The Future, he’s an amazing actor!

[@guesswhomartin9249]

Yes,,, I've heard so many good things about Tom Wilson. I think he played a really good role as Biff. We love you Tom.

[@TELLViSiON]

Is there a video where he talks about peoples reaction when they encounter him in the streets after the release of the movie and think is a bad guy?

[@90sNickfan91]

Tom Wilson and I grew up in the same town of Radnor, PA.

[@bfettrules1239]

Biff had some great lines that only Tom could deliver- “That’s about as interesting as a screen door on a battleship.” “Make like a tree & get outta here.” “Butthead.” “McFly(fill in blank)!!” One of the best comedic villains in cinematic history.

[@ryandavids1129]

I have your car towed all the way to your house, and all you got for me is L I G H T B E E R?....... Classic.

[@bfettrules1239]

@@ryandavids1129 hell yeah. Biff was cinema gold.

[@misterquantum9840]

I used to be his neighbor in Reseda California. It was amusing to regularly see Biff mowing his lawn.

[@ariccardi21]

Wow! Cool!!!!!

[@The_RedVIII]

He honestly had one of the most difficult roles in the movie, because he played so many versions of himself. And he did so well that I often wasn't sure if it was actually him playing these other versions. For example, for the longest time I actually thought Griff was played by a different actor.

[@mae2759]

I never realized Mad Dog Tannen was him for a long time either.

[@skywalker6648]

Maybe, you both need glasses, lol. They didn't disguise him that much with make up.

[@stevenwilson6523]

@@mae2759 100% agreed! Other than the voice being a dead ringer he looked nothing like any of the other Biffs.

[@BAKER22-l4u]

WTF are u smoking?

[@darkhaterawe1943]

Thanks for playing one of the most memorable antagonist!! "I HATE MANURE!!!"😂😂😂 I still crack up at that line!! 33 years of marriage is some really inspiration!! God bless👍✌

[@slimc3769]

Thank you Tom for being a huge part in my childhood. You playing Biff was great! "Manure! I hate Manure!!"

[@high-defRJ]

Despite the character he played, Tom seems like a real cool, and lovable guy. And married for 33 years at the time of this speech? Amazing, Tom!!!

[@xevious2501]

this guy doesnt get NEARLY the amount of praise he deserves for his performance of Biff Tannen. His performance was FLAWLESS!!! Brilliant!! Comedic Timing Impeccable , i mean he was litterally lifted straight from the character well of the great Warnerbrothers classic characters. My god was his work fantastic. his voice, his body language, facial expressions. i can go on for years about the brilliance of his work and the rarity it is.

[@SebasECA]

He looks exactly like his future self in the movie 😮

[@DanielGonzalez-ge3ui]

Yes, he does. Incredible.

[@bravenewworldorder89]

I was thinking the exact same thing watching this.

[@paneledmeteor33]

I was gonna say. He looks better than his future self. No thinning hair, looks good for his age

[@hippycow1006]

Except with hair and not sketchy😂

[@bigboi4488]

Not really. He’s more good looking than his future self in the movie

[@raymondpatrick2918]

He doesn't get the credit he deserves for the different Tannons he played so well. Perfect actually

[@MrDmfan]

I met him a few years back, what a golden hearted guy, love him

[@adamgheli]

This video just made my day. I've only seen this man "act" like a complete jerk, whenever I'd seen him. This real life clip shows how complete down to earth he really is. Made my day!

[@The_Bigot]

He was in Blood In Blood Out as well. He played Benjamin Bratt’s partner.

[@UncutMarkus]

​@@The_Bigot yes, I watched the film last week. The other police officer (Pacos Aguilars' Partner)

[@reactions5783]

He looks far younger in real life 2020, than his Biff character did in 1985. Great Scott!

[@jeffmartin9753]

I know this is heavy

[@idkman-c4y]

@@jeffmartin9753 There's that word again. Heavy. Is something wrong with the Earth's gravitational pull?

[@LFC-Star]

aside from the grey hair he looks like the alternate 1985 Biff.

[@Wanderersea]

The Biff character in 1985 was him under heavy make-up to look like an old man. Tom Wilson was only 27 when he made BTTF and he looked even younger than his age as well at that time. Hard to believe that Christopher lloyd was 47 but that was a reasonable age for him to be since he was playing a character that existed in the 1950's. So they had to make sure he still look young enough between 1950 and 1985 in contrast. They did some make up work on him for the 1985 version of himself. But yeah, I am with you. He looks far, far younger here than what they made him out to be as an old man in 1985. LOL.

[@kpbizzle_gaming]

I couldn’t see anyone else playing biff! #legend

[@daschwah]

That he’s a fairly normal-sized guy who isn’t naturally intimidating is such a testament to the job he did with that role. Biff comes off like he’s six-eight and 280 pounds of nerd-murdering muscle, while Tom is the father-in-law we ALL wish we had. That’s the definition of iconic.

[@aarongreenfield9038]

Well at 6' 2 And a somewhat athletic build, that is still pretty imposing for A high school bully. Especially When going nose to nose with a 5'4, 100 pounds wet Marty.

[@Me-wk7dz]

@@aarongreenfield9038 Yeah he was like 6'3 I think and fairly buff, he towered over Michael Fox

[@angrymobsters1599]

He looks like he shrank a bit since he's gotten older. When he was in back to the future or even wing commander he looked gigantic

[@clamshell6863]

@@angrymobsters1599 It is possible. Everybody shrinks when we get older.

[@thejamesbondshow9754]

It helped that Fox was a real short ass

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

I remember being a kid going to Universal Studios Florida and riding the BTTF ride and being amazed that my favorite version of Biff (1955) came back and was a huge part of the ride. He is a legend and such an awesome guy in real life.

[@snurfbee58]

I had a writing class at UCLA back in the 80's and Tom was one of my classmates. He was the nicest guy and was really funny. After class ended some of my classmates and I started a writer's group and I was tasked with inviting other classmates. I called Tom on a bi-weekly basis for a few months to invite him to the class. He was never able to come but he was always so kind on the phone and would chat for a few minutes before we ended the call. He was and is an awesome performer!

[@topgrowthexperts]

This man was perfect as Biff, seriously, no one could have played this part to perfection like Tom.

[@firstjayjay]

Man he is just such a character and you just have to love him for it. would be a once in a life time just to be in his presence and hear him tell a story

[@mistysouders7823]

That character sets the Tone for the entire movie then later on on the movies as Biff either gets older or becomes his great great grandfather. JUST AWSOME acting abilities.

[@e2ndcomingsoon655]

He played the role so fantastically good!! What a great actor!!

[@oldschoolgamer5113]

I can't see any other guy playing that roll. To this day I still quote those lines, one of my favorite movies. Thank you for that.

[@gamleskalle1]

Underrated actor. Should have been a bigger star. Biff means STEAK in my language.

[@dnakatomiuk]

He's so humble Rumour has is he's owns a horse manure farm

[@TerriPike]

I love his song “Stop asking’ me the questions” hilarious!

[@garymatson2964]

Flawless decision to case him as Biff. My favourite character in BTTF.

[@firstnamelastname6171]

He's looking more like "Old Biff" everyday. It's surreal.

[@dingreyes3559]

I love this guy! Nobody else could be Biff.

[@derekdiedricksen9170]

THE best character in that movie....and the rest of em are pretty amazing too.

[@salvadoriilegaspi7649]

Back to the future is a legend

[@mildred714]

nah. it’s a trilogy.

[@salvadoriilegaspi7649]

@@mildred714 lol

[@RS35cyl]

I met him when he came to my small town of Ventura. A very nice guy!👍🏻

[@TheSinlessAssassin]

1:40 I love how a lot of people's face expressions change so subtly here. Shows how engaged they are!

[@teslasuperdestinations]

Thomas WIlson was FANTASTIC in the series Legends of Tomorrow, teared up when he played the dad of a time hopping hero.

[@90sNickfan91]

Tom Wilson and I grew up in the same town of Radnor, PA.

[@bennyconk]

Tom is reason why Biff is one of the most loved antagonists of all time

[@ZipSlipHollingbrook]

What's amazing is that they went to the future and got this guy to play 'Casino Biff.' It must've saved some money.

[@kevinhaywood1268]

I got to meet this man when he and some others did an USO tour aboard my ship back in 1998. I was able to show him how to steer the ship and let him have a turn at it. He was so humble and very interested in what it took to helm an aircraft carrier. Total class act.

[@stefank7144]

This is one of the greatest trilogies of all times, i love those movies, and his character biff was great, he was made for that role, all those different versions in different times he did great... made him world famous and he always will be remembered by that character

[@levithecreation424]

Bttf cast can never be replaced

[@RRSYSinfo]

I’m a little gutted. I was hoping to see ACTUAL footage of said takes *_Paul, Liverpool UK_*

[@govinda102000]

He did everything perfectly in the film.

[@maxbrazil3712]

"Hello? McFly?" This what a part of my generation's vocabulary.

[@joen8529]

Love Tom Wilson. He is the man.

[@thebondmanjames5219]

Tom played the character to a t, an actors actor!!!! They could not have cast anyone better!!!!!

[@edurockforever]

2:45 I think he was expecting some applauds 😅

[@Tonicwine999]

That guy hasn't aged. Amazing

[@jemert96]

Wow, Biff's intense personality wasn't acted, it's really his!

[@bigbaba1111]

Perfect actor for this particular role

[@dandylionriver]

“Hey! You get your damn hands off her!” 👊💥

[@JNo-sk5mz]

He's really looking like alternate timeline 1985 Biff now 😅 God bless him, He was one of the best parts of the trilogy. Can't think of a trilogy where I liked literally all the characters

[@simonschaffrath3040]

I just love Tom Wilson!

[@jh8338]

As much as the trilogy was about Marty and Doc, it could also be viewed as how a crazy old man and some punk kid kept messing with Biffs life.

[@raylight3961]

Interesting concept. Well worth your very good comment.

[@raiden031]

And some nerd kept trying to steal his girl

[@MarySmith-lv3mo]

There is a Website that is actually on BIFF'S side called Biff's Perspective where they point out that Marty is making BIFF'S life a living hell.

[@erichhonecker8548]

You absolutely deserve an Oscar for your role as Biff. It was the best!

[@gabrielguerrero3404]

Make like a tree and get outta here

[@TyMarshall007]

* Slaps the back of the head* It's leave you idiot make like a tree and leave you sound like a damn fool when you say it wrong

[@jt-ff3yx]

Who you calling "Butthead," butthead?

[@jimmynonvak6006]

*Make like a tree and leave. You idiot, how could you fuck this up? God, that pissed me off when you couldn't quote it right.

[@crashpal]

Carlton Banks: "I never say that it's make like a banana and split"

[@ChefDansHookah]

Those were both lines from the movie.

[@MegaChris456]

He would still be the perfect actor for an older Biff, the charisma, everything. He's still got it.

[@Lonejustice1]

I saw him at Universal Studios with his kids. I was starring at him and thinking, "is that Biff?" We waved and with a smile said "hi."

[@JacX1]

I just wanna say one thing. God bless America.

[@johnjung8394]

One of the best villain actor of all time!

[@michaelparylak5649]

He seems like a guy you want to hang out with 😂

[@RandomDuude]

I LOVE how 2020 Tom Wilson looks younger than 1985 Biff Tannen

[@deanhayek8302]

What a gem...the BEST antagonist and NICEST guy ever. God bless you Tom Wilson!

[@verbcity86]

this man is an excellent actor. I love the crew of back to the future.

[@OCDean73]

2:45 he was definitely pausing for applause that never came there haha 3:07 who let Ray Romano into the studio?? 😏

[@WalkingRoscoe]

I'm glad this clip isn't that long because..."I sleep in in Saturdays".

[@brianconnelly1238]

Nobody else could have played Biff but this guy... NOBODY ELSE

[@rodrigost.3324]

BTTF WILL BE FOREVER A LEGENDARY MOVIE !!!! A CLASSIC !!!

[@jeans1515]

Met him at a convention a few years back. He is an absolute class act, he was so good with the fans. A highlight of that weekend for me.

[@mikeallan1995]

Biff was absolutely brilliant fun👍🥰 one of my favourite characters of all time superb acting🤓

[@dmitripopov8570]

Kids loved him! Great storyteller!

[@lulurosenkrantz3720]

Loved him as Buford Tannen .

[@jesseflake4322]

He plays the father of Nate Haywood in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (a time travel show). A few references to Back to the Future sprinkled in the show!

[@lscales6131]

I met this guy at a convention and he was the highlight of my time there. He was the nicest guy.

[@ChicagoRetroGamer]

OH man, this is awesome to see. Biff was the ultimate baddie in one of the most epic 80's movies ever.

[@rdds4108]

Without him BTTF would not have been the same!! He was amazing!

[@erictrump6453]

Yea tom is that good we all fans love you tom.

[@streetfightingman4240]

He's absolutely brilliant. I could listen to him all day (and I'd be laughing)

[@FitzArias]

Wow, one of the most liked - least liked bullies in any movie. Thomas Wilson and Biff are together here. Tom has aged very well and he hasn't lost that Biff Tannen spark one bit.

[@godblessCL]

Biff along with michael are the heart of this movie.

[@stephiegetsit]

We got our pictures taken with the cast in Toronto. Tom was the absolute best of them, warm kind, genuinely happy to be there.

[@nicholasdavies6264]

“Biff” was just superb . He was a major character and everyone wanted to see Biff! 👍

[@دوازدهسیوچهار]

No one else could do Biff better than him😆 love his character!

[@SchardtCinematic]

I liked him in Wing Commamder 3 acting with Mark Hammill as well. Very good actor.

[@dynamicvoltage9765]

Tom Wilson is an awesome guy

[@rodbirch5876]

This is awesome. What a cool cat. And an iconic Biff, 'could never be another.

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

This guy is such a MANIAC!

[@ivervj2923]

Much of the success of the saga is due to this man and his masterful performance as the antagonist.

[@Samanta-van-laar]

I loved biff as much as marty and the doc and the men who play his dad in the first movie i liked him allot

[@allanyu945]

I can’t unsee Tom shouting “Wilsonnn !!!”

[@pwhit59]

Just watching him talk I had flashbacks of the movie and he just talks and acts the same today.

[@juliusevola7727]

I love him !! 💖💖💖

[@vwwilson8625]

good on you biff it good to see you in the future now

[@07foxmulder]

Biff is one of the greatest villains of all time. Wilson owned that role.

[@sha11235]

The way he is telling the story is so entertaining.

[@villll]

I love this guy, admitting the ego at the end was great