Tannen Gang

Lore & Background

The Tannen Gang's roots trace back to the 1880s, when Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen (portrayed by Thomas F. Wilson) was one of Hill Valley's outlaws. By 1955, the gang had transformed into a high school terror squad under Biff Tannen (also portrayed by Wilson), who harassed George McFly and operated out of Lou's Cafe. In 1985, Biff Tannen is a local bully who managed to alter history in the second film. The gang comes from a long line of bullies in Hill Valley, most of whom harassed members of the McFly family.

In Their Own Story

In 1955, Biff Tannen and his cronies—Match, Skinhead, and 3-D—regularly bullied George McFly at Hill Valley High School. They extorted money from students and hung out at Lou's Cafe. During the Enchantment Under the Sea dance, Biff attempted to rape Lorraine Baines, but George McFly stood up to him, knocking him unconscious. This event changed the timeline, making George popular and Biff a door-to-door car-waxing service operator.

Reader's Guide

The Tannen Gang serves as the trilogy's recurring antagonistic force, embodying the enduring nature of bullying across time. Their objective is to dominate Hill Valley through fear and intimidation, with the McFly family as their perennial target. In 1955, under Biff Tannen, they became a greaser crew preying on high school students. Despite shifts in era, their role remains constant: to test the resilience of the McFlys and threaten the stability of the timeline.

Did You Know?

• Biff Tannen and Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen are both portrayed by Thomas F. Wilson.
• In 1955, Biff Tannen attempted to rape Lorraine Baines at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance.
• George McFly knocked Biff Tannen unconscious during the 1955 dance, changing the timeline.
• Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen was one of Hill Valley's outlaws during the 1880s.
• The Tannen Gang comes from a long line of bullies who harassed members of the McFly family.