Biff Tannen

Lore & Background

The franchise's most dramatic shift occurs in Back to the Future Part II when aged Biff steals Doc Brown's time machine in 2015. He travels to 1955 to give his teenage self a sports almanac chronicling victories from 1950 to 2000. On his 21st birthday in 1958, this younger Biff wagers on a horse race listed in the almanac and wins his first million dollars. This leads to vast wealth, political influence, and the legalization of gambling in Hill Valley by 1979. In this timeline, Biff murders George McFly in 1973 and uses his money and political influence to cover up any evidence. Biff forces Lorraine into marriage, but remains unable to win her affection genuinely. When Marty returns to 1955 and burns the almanac, the alternate timeline collapses. The elderly Biff, returning to 2015, clutches his chest and fades from existence as history reverts.

Reader's Guide

Biff Tannen is defined by his reliance on intimidation and cheating rather than genuine skill or courage. In 1955, he bullies George McFly into doing homework while hanging out with his gang (Match, Skinhead, and 3-D). He lives at 1809 Mason Street with his grandmother, Gertrude Tannen (voiced by Thomas F. Wilson), and drives a black 1946 Ford Deluxe convertible. A key turning point occurs when George finally stands up to him in 1955, shattering Biff's confidence. In the alternate timeline, his hubris is his downfall; he cannot maintain control without the stolen future knowledge. His character traits—misusing idioms, calling people "butthead," and disliking manure—remain consistent across timelines, highlighting that despite his rise to power, he never truly changes. The only way to defeat him is to remove the source of his unnatural advantage: the sports almanac.

Did You Know?

• In the alternate timeline, Biff says "Third time's the charm" after marrying Lorraine, implying he had two previous wives in that continuity.
• Biff's great-grandfather Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen shot Doc Brown in the back on September 7, 1885, over a matter of $80: the combined cost of a poorly-shod horse and a bottle of whiskey that broke when the horse threw him.

Character Origins and Portrayal

Biff Tannen was born in Hill Valley, California, in 1937, making him a contemporary of George McFly. He is the great-grandson of Old West outlaw Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen and the son of gangster Irving "Kid" Tannen. The character's name originates from studio executive Ned Tanen, who reacted aggressively to a script pitched by Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis; Tanen accused the two of attempting to produce an antisemitic work with their 1978 film, I Wanna Hold Your Hand. Thomas F. Wilson portrays Biff in all three films, the Universal Studios ride, and provides his voice for the animated series and the character's grandmother, Gertrude. Stage adaptations include Aidan Cutler in the West End production and Nathaniel Hackmann in the Broadway version. Drafts of the script originally included a middle initial "H" for Biff, but this was omitted in final revisions.

Personality and Behavioral Traits

Biff is characterized as a hulking, dim-witted bully who obtains his desires by forcing others to do his work or cheating. He and his family are noted for misusing idioms in ways that make them appear foolish rather than intimidating. His signature catchphrase is calling others "butthead." A prominent running gag involves his intense dislike for manure, resulting in him being shoved into it at multiple points across the films. Despite his aggressive nature toward peers like George McFly and his gang members (Match, Skinhead, and 3-D), Biff harbors a specific fear of Mr. Strickland, the strict principal at Hill Valley High School. His lifestyle is superficial; he lives with his grandmother at 1809 Mason Street and takes pride in owning a black 1946 Ford Deluxe convertible, which serves as a symbol of his status among his friends.

The Alternate Timeline and Rise to Power

The alternate timeline is triggered when Biff travels back to 1955 with the sports almanac. In 1958, he wins his first million dollars betting on a horse race listed in the book. This wealth allows him to become a corrupt gambling magnate, leading to the legalization of gambling in Hill Valley in 1979. He uses his political power to cover up the murder of George McFly in 1973. Consequently, Lorraine marries Biff, though she does so reluctantly and without love; he views her as a possession. This reality draws comparisons to Donald Trump, with writer Bob Gale later acknowledging the similarity in an interview, though Snopes notes no such influence was mentioned by Gale or director Robert Zemeckis for 30 years prior. In this timeline, Biff sends Marty to boarding school in Switzerland and treats Lorraine with verbal and physical abuse.

Family Legacy and Ancestral Villainy

The Tannen family is depicted as a continuous line of antagonists played by Thomas F. Wilson across different eras. Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen, Biff's great-grandfather, was a vicious outlaw in 1885 who shot Doc Brown over an $80 dispute involving a horse and whiskey before being defeated by Marty McFly in a duel. Irving "Kid" Tannen, Biff's father, is a Prohibition-era gangster from 1931 who orders the murder of Doc Brown (under the alias Carl Sagan) after a false arrest; he also causes the death of Arthur 'Artie' McFly. The video game reveals that Kid escaped prison for three hours in 1936, leading to Biff's conception. In the future, Biff has a grandson named Griff by 2015 and a son named Biff Jr (per the animated series) or a daughter named Tiff (alluded to in the 2011 video game).