‘Manhunter’ and ‘Heat’ Star Dead at 74 — Hollywood Mourns Iconic Actor
Tom Noonan, the versatile actor, writer, and director, has died at the age of 74. The news was shared by Fred Dekker, director of the 1987 cult classic The Monster Squad, in which Noonan famously played Frankenstein’s monster. He passed away on Saturday, Valentine’s Day.
Dekker paid tribute to Noonan on Facebook, writing, “It’s with great sadness that I share the passing of Tom Noonan … Tom’s indelible performance as Frankenstein in The Monster Squad is a highlight of my modest filmography, doubtless aided by the masterful make-up designed by Stan Winston, sculpted by Tom Woodruff Jr., and applied by Zoltan Elek.”
The director also recalled working with Noonan on The Monster Squad, saying, “In the end, he found the make-up ardous and annoying (he was fond of tearing it off after we wrapped, and one night didn’t even bother to take it off; just drove home in his Frankenstein appliance). But all in all, he was the proverbial gentleman and scholar, and the world has lost a great talent… R.I.P. Tom. Thanks for the great work.”
Born in Connecticut, Noonan began his career in theater, appearing in the original off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard’s Buried Child. He quickly moved into film and became known for his chilling portrayals of villains. His most notable role was serial killer Francis Dollarhyde in Michael Mann’s 1986 thriller Manhunter, the first film to introduce Hannibal Lecter to audiences.
Noonan continued to make an impact with roles in RoboCop 2 (1990) as the drug kingpin Cain, Last Action Hero (1993) as the Ripper, and Heat (1995), where he played Kelso opposite Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.
In addition to acting, Noonan was an accomplished writer and director. His plays What Happened Was… (1994) and The Wife (1995) were adapted into films, and he received critical praise for roles in Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, New York and Sean Penn’s The Pledge (2001). He also lent his voice to all supporting characters in the 2015 stop-motion film Anomalisa, directed by Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman.
Noonan’s television work included appearances on The X-Files, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU, CSI, Damages, and AMC’s Hell on Wheels.
As a filmmaker, he found success early on with his debut feature Willie & Phil (1980), which earned Sundance’s Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and a Screenwriting Award.
His older brother, John Ford Noonan, a successful playwright and Emmy-winning television writer, died in 2018. Tom Noonan is survived by his son.
Noonan’s career was defined by his ability to move seamlessly between stage, screen, and voice work. His presence on film and television left a lasting impression on audiences and colleagues alike.
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