Western Union man

The Western Union man delivers an intertemporal letter to Marty McFly.

"I've got something for you... A letter."

—The Western Union man to Marty McFly

The Western Union man was an employee of Western Union in 1955.

Biography

On the evening of November 12, 1955, the man was assigned the task of delivering a curiously addressed envelope: it contained a letter that — even more curiously — was instructed to be delivered to a "Marty McFly", who was to be found two miles outside of Hill Valley, some seventy years after the sender had dropped it off. Evidently, the man didn't think that this "Marty" would show up, and had made a bet with his co-workers reflecting this view.

That evening, the man drove up to the front of the soon-to-be built Lyon Estates, stepped out of his car, and addressed Marty McFly by his correct name (and not as "Calvin Klein"). Marty was understandably perplexed. When handed the letter, Marty asked who the man was. The man simply replied "Western Union." Though initially a bit gruff with Marty, the delivery man's demeanor softened and became somewhat jovial, even going so far as to joke about the lost office bet. The man was visibly bemused by the letter's content and Marty's exuberant reaction, but he did offer Marty help, which was turned down.

Behind the scenes

• The Western Union man was portrayed by comedian Joe Flaherty, who previously worked with the film trilogy's director Robert Zemeckis and producers Bob Gale and Steven Spielberg on Used Cars (which had also featured Deborah Harmon, who had a cameo as a newscaster on Doc's television set in the first film's opening sequence). Flaherty reprised his role as the Western Union man in the Family Guy spoof of The Empire Strikes Back, "Something, Something, Something Dark Side".
• Other than Doc, the Western Union man was the only person in 1955 who referred to Marty as "Marty McFly".

Appearances

• Back to the Future Part II