Skip to content
Join free
Glenn Strange
Actor

Glenn Strange

16 Aug 1899Born
20 Sep 1973Died
74Age at death
214Credits

Biography

At various times in his life a rancher, deputy sheriff and rodeo performer, this huge, towering (6' 5") beast of a man was born George Glenn Strange in Weed, New Mexico, on August 16, 1899, but grew up a real-life cowboy in Cross Cut, Texas. Of Irish and Cherokee Indian descent, he taught himself (by ear) the fiddle and guitar at a young age and started performing at local functions as a teen.

Read the full biography

In the late 1920s, Glenn and his cousin, Taylor McPeters, better known later as the western character actor Cactus Mack, joined a radio singing group known as the "Arizona Wranglers" that toured throughout the country.

Gunsmoke

Strange first appeared on Gunsmoke in 1960 after James Arness asked him, "When are you going to do a Gunsmoke? I like to work with big guys." During Gunsmoke's sixth season, Strange played a Long Branch customer in "Old Faces" and a cowboy in "Melinda Miles".

Strange began playing Sam Noonan during the seventh season and continued in the role for 222 episodes. In 1972 Strange was diagnosed with lung cancer but worked as long as he was able. Five of his episodes were broadcast after his death. His last appearance was on the November 26, 1973, episode "The Hanging of Newly O'Brien".

Death

On September 20, 1973, at age 74, Strange died of lung cancer in Los Angeles, California. Singer Eddie Dean, with whom Strange had collaborated on various songs and opening themes for films, sang at Strange's funeral service as a final tribute. Strange is interred at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery. CLR

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 214 credits.

  1. 2000The Many Faces of DraculaFilm: The Monster (archive footage)
  2. 1992Dracula in the MoviesFilm: (archive footage)
  3. 1991Dracula: A Cinematic ScrapbookFilm: The Monster (archive footage)
  4. 1991Frankenstein: A Cinematic ScrapbookFilm: The Monster (archive footage)
  5. 1979The Horror ShowFilm: (archive footage)
  6. 1966Spaceship to the UnknownFilm: Robot / Ming soldier / Gocko (archive footage) (uncredited)
  7. 1963Petticoat JunctionSeries: Hawley (1 episode)
  8. 1963The Adventures of the SpiritFilm: Frankenstein Monster
  9. 1960ThrillerSeries: Indian (scenes deleted) (1 episode)
  10. 1959Last Train from Gun HillFilm: Gun Hill Bouncer
  11. 1959Alias Jesse JamesFilm: James Gang Member
  12. 1959RawhideSeries: Bartender (1 episode)
  13. 1958The RiflemanSeries: Stage Driver (6 episodes)
  14. 1958Frontier DoctorSeries (1 episode)
  15. 1958Quantrill's RaidersFilm: Todd
  16. 1957Gunfire at Indian GapFilm: Matt
  17. 195726 MenSeries (1 episode)
  18. 1957SugarfootSeries: Red Wing (1 episode)
  19. 1957Last Stagecoach WestFilm: Sheriff
  20. 1957Gunfight at the O.K. CorralFilm: Pierce Henchman in Saloon (uncredited)
  21. 1957The Halliday BrandFilm: Townsman
  22. 1956The Adventures of Jim BowieSeries (1 episode)
  23. 1956The Fastest Gun AliveFilm: Sheriff in Silver Rapids (uncredited)
  24. 1956BacklashFilm: Milliken, Stage Driver (uncredited)
  25. 1955The Vanishing AmericanFilm: Beleanth
  26. 1955Sergeant Preston of the YukonSeries (1 episode)
  27. 1955GunsmokeSeries: Sam Noonan, Sam (uncredited), Man (180 episodes)
  28. 1955The Life and Legend of Wyatt EarpSeries (3 episodes)
  29. 1955Judge Roy BeanSeries (39 episodes)
  30. 1955The Road to DenverFilm: Big George
  31. 1955MartyFilm: (uncredited)
  32. 1955Buffalo Bill Jr.Series (2 episodes)
  33. 1954Cattle Queen of MontanaFilm: Indian Chief (uncredited)
  34. 1953Escape from Fort BravoFilm: Sergeant Compton (uncredited), Sgt. Compton (uncredited)
  35. 1953Calamity JaneFilm: Prospector (uncredited)
  36. 1953The Veils of BagdadFilm: Mik-Kel
  37. 1953Devil's CanyonFilm: Marshal (uncredited)
  38. 1953The Great Sioux UprisingFilm: Stand Watie
  39. 1953Born to the SaddleFilm: Tom Roper
  40. 1953General Electric TheaterSeries: Red Herring (1 episode)
  41. 1952The Lawless BreedFilm: Ben Hanley
  42. 1952The Abbott and Costello ShowSeries: Tessie's Steady Boyfriend (1 episode)
  43. 1952The Lusty MenFilm: Rig Ferris - Foreman (uncredited)
  44. 1952Hopalong CassidySeries (1 episode)
  45. 1952Wagons WestFilm: Marshal Jim
  46. 1952The Legend Of The Lone RangerFilm: Butch Cavendish
  47. 1951Callaway Went ThatawayFilm: Cowboy Actor on Saloon set (uncredited)
  48. 1951Texas CarnivalFilm: Tex Hodgkins
  49. 1951The Red Badge of CourageFilm: Colonel (uncredited)
  50. 1951The Adventures of Kit CarsonSeries (2 episodes)
  51. 1951Comin' Round the MountainFilm: Devil Dan Winfield
  52. 1951Double CrossbonesFilm: Capt. Ben Avery
  53. 1950The Colgate Comedy HourSeries: The Monster (1 episode)
  54. 1950Comanche TerritoryFilm: Big Joe
  55. 1949Master MindsFilm: Atlas the Monster
  56. 1949The Lone RangerSeries: Cavendish, Butch Cavendish (1 episode)
  57. 1949Roll, Thunder, Roll!Film: Ace Hanlon
  58. 1949RimfireFilm: Curt Calvin
  59. 1948DisasterFilm: Foreman Davis (uncredited)
  60. 1948Red RiverFilm: Naylor (uncredited)
  61. 1948Four Faces WestFilm: Posse Deputy (uncredited)
  62. 1948Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet FrankensteinFilm: The Monster
  63. 1948The Gallant LegionFilm: Renegade
  64. 1947The Wistful Widow of Wagon GapFilm: Lefty
  65. 1947Hollywood WonderlandFilm: Singing Cowboy (clip from "Ride, Cowboy, Ride", 1939) (uncredited)
  66. 1947The Sea of GrassFilm: Bill Roach - Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
  67. 1947Sinbad the SailorFilm: Chief Galley Overseer (uncredited)
  68. 1946Up Goes MaisieFilm: Cop (Uncredited)
  69. 1945House of DraculaFilm: The Frankenstein Monster
  70. 1945Saratoga TrunkFilm: Cowboy (uncredited)
  71. 1945Bad Men of the BorderFilm: Sheriff Peters
  72. 1945Renegades of the Rio GrandeFilm: Bart Drummond
  73. 1944House of FrankensteinFilm: Frankenstein Monster
  74. 1944Harmony TrailFilm: Marshal Taylor
  75. 1944AlaskaFilm: Miner
  76. 1944Trail to GunsightFilm: Duke Ellis, Gang Leader
  77. 1944San Antonio KidFilm: Frank 'Ace' Hanlon
  78. 1944Silver City KidFilm: Henchman Garvey
  79. 1944Forty ThievesFilm: Ike Simmons
  80. 1944Sonora StagecoachFilm: Paul Kenton

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.