[1] Tolan's early acting experience came on radio station WXYZ in Detroit, where he was heard on The Green Hornet and The Lone Ranger.

His film credits included Fort Worth (1951), The Savage (1952), Hiawatha (1952), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Hour of the Gun (1967), The Lost Man (1969), John and Mary (1969), The 300 Year Weekend (1971), Talk to Me (1984) and Presumed Innocent (1990).

He also made guest appearances on such television series as The Invaders, The F.B.I., Mannix, Kojak, Nichols, The Outer Limits, McMillan and Wife, and Law & Order.

Tolan appeared in the Bob Fosse film All That Jazz (1979) as lead character Joe Gideon's cardiologist, Dr. Ballinger.

[1]Tolan had two marriages, both of which ended in divorce; at the time of his death, he was partnered with Donna Peck, with whom he lived in Ancram, New York.