Biff Tannen facts for kids

Biff Howard Tannen is a fictional character from the popular movie series, Back to the Future. He is played by actor Thomas F. Wilson in all three films. Thomas F. Wilson also voiced Biff in the animated TV show based on the movies.

Biff is often the main bad guy, or antagonist, in the series. He is a tall, strong, and sometimes mean bully. Biff usually tries to get what he wants by pushing others around or by cheating. He and his family members often use common sayings, called idioms, in a funny way that doesn't quite make sense.

Who is Biff Tannen?

Biff Tannen is known for being a tough guy who causes trouble for the main characters, Marty McFly and Doc Brown. He often tries to stop them from achieving their goals. Biff's actions usually lead to big problems that Marty and Doc have to fix.

Biff's Personality

Biff is a classic bully. He likes to pick on people who are smaller or weaker than him. He often tries to take advantage of others. Despite his tough exterior, Biff can sometimes be a bit clumsy or not very smart, which often leads to funny situations. He is also very loyal to himself and what he wants.

Biff Through Time

Biff appears in different time periods throughout the Back to the Future movies. His personality stays mostly the same, but his life changes a lot depending on how history is changed.

Biff in 1955

In the first movie, Marty McFly travels back to 1955. Here, Biff is a high school student who bullies Marty's father, George McFly. Biff often forces George to do his homework for him. He also has a crush on Lorraine Baines, who is Marty's future mother. Biff drives a cool car and thinks he's the king of the school.

Biff in 2015

When Marty and Doc travel to the future in Back to the Future Part II, they see an older Biff. In this future, Biff is still a bully, but he works for Marty's future son. This shows that even in the future, Biff hasn't changed his ways much.

Biff in an Alternate 1985

A very important part of the second movie involves Biff getting a sports almanac. This book has all the sports scores from 1950 to 2000. Biff uses this book to bet on games and become incredibly rich. In this changed timeline, Biff becomes a powerful and greedy businessman. He even builds a huge casino and takes over Hill Valley. This shows how much damage one small change to history can cause.

Biff in 1885

In Back to the Future Part III, Marty and Doc go back to the Old West. Here, they meet Biff's great-grandfather, Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen. Buford is very similar to Biff – he's a mean outlaw who bullies people and tries to get his way with violence. This shows that the Tannen family has a long history of being tough and troublesome.

Why Biff is Important

Biff Tannen is a key character because he often creates the problems that Marty and Doc have to solve. His bullying and desire for power drive many of the movie's exciting moments. He helps to show the consequences of changing history and how even small actions can have big effects on the future.

Biff's character also adds a lot of humor to the films, especially with his funny ways of misusing words and his clumsy attempts to be tough. He is a memorable part of the Back to the Future story.