“My show comes with a guarantee.

If you don’t have a great time,

it’s a you problem.

I guarantee it!”  -Tom Wilson

Although best known for his work as George McFly’s tormentor, Biff Tannen, in the beloved “Back to the Future” franchise, actor Tom Wilson’s portfolio boasts a plethora of diverse roles, including Coach Ben Fredricks on “Freaks and Geeks,” and Tom “Maniac” Marshall on Wing Commander Academy – among many others.

Today, in addition to his film and television work, Wilson is pursuing another passion – stand-up comedy, and will be performing at Bellevue’s the Parlor Live Comedy Club from Sept 2-4. The Scene recently caught up with Wilson and grilled him on his career’s highlights, sources of inspiration, and what he loves about Seattle.

Check out what he had to say:

Scene: Do people constantly recognize you as Biff over anyone else you have played? What kind of comments have you received about your work in that role?

Wilson: I’m recognized most frequently from Back To The Future, but there are so many different niches of fans out there. Lots of people recognize me from “Freaks and Geeks,” many from my work in the computer game “Wing Commander,” quirky groups know me from “Ghost Whisperer,” or “Ed,” and even a bunch from watching my YouTube videos that have millions of hits.

Scene: How did you like your role on Freaks and Geeks? Were you disappointed it wasn’t continued? 

Wilson: Freaks and Geeks was a real highlight for me. I had a blast doing it with a very creative cast and production team, and it was very disappointing to have it end so soon. Judd Apatow called me at the end to say, “Well, you’re a regular on the show now, you’re going to marry Bill’s mom, and be in every episode, and we’re thinking about having you direct an episode. Oh …and we’re cancelled. Sorry.” But the show has garnered an incredible following from the DVD set, which is the best DVD set of a project that I’ve ever seen. I still watch those episodes and marvel at how good the show was.

Scene: If you could have Doc’s Delorean from Back to the Future, what time period would you go back to and why?

Wilson: I enjoy living right here, right now.

Scene: Who is your comedic inspiration and why?

Wilson: Steve Martin actually used me in his act during a show in 1978. He had me stand up, he belittled me in front of thousands, and had me do a card trick in which I ended up looking like a fool. I thought it was the coolest thing that ever happened to me, and felt that if I was hit by a truck later that night, it would have all been worth it. When I became a professional comedian years later, Richard Pryor was an example of the combination of intimacy, personal anecdotes, and flights of imaginative dynamite that I still try to emulate. I mean emulate it as a big white guy who doesn’t use those exact words or anything.

Scene: What would you say has been the highlight(s) of your career? Any goals you would like to reach in the future?

Wilson: My career has had an incredible number of highlights, but as a live performer, the excitement is always about the next show, it really is. That’s why performers do it. We really don’t know for sure what’s going to happen tomorrow night, but if the past is any indication, it’s going to be a lot of fun. Come and see. My show comes with a guarantee. If you don’t have a great time, it’s a you problem. I guarantee it!

Scene: What do you feel are the advantages and disadvantages of performing stand up comedy over television and movie acting? 

Wilson: It’s become a cliché among live performers, but it’s absolutely true – there is nothing like performing live for people. The “roar of the crowd.” That’s what got me into it, acting in shows in school, performing with improv groups and doing standup in clubs and theatres all over the place. It’s immediate, it’s vibrant and alive. Hey, it’s flat out fun. And they serve better drinks than they have on movie sets. Movie sets are full of fat guys with tool belts setting up lights, and by the time they get to my turn, lots of people are yelling at each other and one of the stars has gone into rehab. 

Scene: Have you been to the Seattle area (e.g. Bellevue) before? What are your favorite things to do locally?

Wilson: I’ve been to Seattle many times, and even stayed for a couple of months filming the classic piece of historic cinema “Born To Be Wild,” about a gorilla who speaks with his hands and the boy who loves him. I’m not kidding. Seattle is truly one of my favorite cities in the world, and I find the people very friendly and welcoming, as long as while I tell them I’m from Los Angeles I wave my plane ticket home above my head like a pennant. I know it’ll get eyeball rolls from natives, but come on, the way those guys throw the salmon to each other is really cool, you have to admit. And Snoqualmie is just plain fun to say.

Scene: What motivates you in life? Family? Fans? A particular source of inspiration?

Wilson: I’ve been married for 25 years – that’s marriage in show business, 87 years for normal people, and I have four children. My family inspires me all the time, but I really am always inspired by a living, breathing, laughing audience who fill the room with energy and fun. I really can’t believe that I get to do this for a living. I host a party every night. And I don’t even have to go to Costco to buy those little turkey wrap thingies. 

Tickets are available at the box office and online at www.parlorlive.com.

Sept 2-4 Headliner: Tom Wilson

• Thursday, Sept 2 -7:30pm ($20/$25)

• Friday, Sept 3 -7:30 and 10 pm ($20/$25/$30)

• Saturday, Sept 4 -7:30 and 10 pm ($20/$25/$30)