Tom Noonan

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Summary

 Tom Noonan. A name synonymous with unforgettable characters, a towering presence in film and theatre. Born April 12, 1951, in Greenwich, Connecticut, Noonan's journey into performance was as unique as his roles. He found his footing not on a stage, but on a basketball court, where the thrill of performance, of captivating a crowd, ignited a spark that would define his career. "Playing basketball is how I learned to perform in a lot of ways," he once said. "It's how I got interested in performing." He wouldn't step onto an acting stage until the age of 27, but when he did, he made an indelible mark. From the gritty streets of theatre, Noonan transitioned to the silver screen in the 1980s. His imposing 6-foot-5 frame often lent itself to villains, a perfect fit for roles like Francis Dollarhyde in *Manhunter*, Cain in *RoboCop 2*, and the chilling Ripper in *Last Action Hero*. But Noonan wasn't just a master of menace. He brought depth and nuance to characters like Kelso in the iconic *Heat*, and later, the complex Sammy Barnathan in Charlie Kaufman's *Synecdoche, New York*. His talent extended beyond acting. Noonan was a gifted writer and director. His directorial debut, *What Happened Was...*, a film he also wrote, garnered critical acclaim, winning the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival. He continued to explore filmmaking, bringing his unique vision to films like *The Wife*. Noonan's presence graced the small screen as well. He delivered memorable performances in *The X-Files*, the critically lauded episode "Paper Hearts" written specifically for him, and continued to captivate audiences in *Hell on Wheels* as Reverend Nathaniel Cole. He lent his distinctive voice to every character but two in the critically acclaimed stop-motion film *Anomalisa*, a performance that earned him an award for Best Supporting Actor. Tom Noonan passed away on February 14, 2026, at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy of powerful performances and a testament to the enduring impact of a true artist.
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Full Wikipedia Article

 Tom Noonan (April 12, 1951 – February 14, 2026) was an American actor, director and screenwriter, best known for his roles as Francis Dollarhyde in Manhunter (1986), Frankenstein's Monster in The Monster Squad (1987), Cain in RoboCop 2 (1990), The Ripper in Last Action Hero (1993), Kelso in Heat (1995), Sammy Barnathan in Synecdoche, New York (2008), Mr. Ulman in The House of the Devil (2009), Reverend Nathaniel in Hell on Wheels (2011–2014), the Pallid Man in 12 Monkeys (2015–2018), and as the voice of everyone but Michael and Lisa in Anomalisa (2015). Noonan was also a writer and director of theatre and film. His debut feature film as a filmmaker What Happened Was... (1994), won the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival. == Early life == Tom Noonan was born on April 12, 1951 in Greenwich, Connecticut, the son of Rita (McGannon), a mathematics teacher, and John Noonan Sr., a jazz musician and doctor of dental surgery. He had an older brother, John Ford Noonan, an actor, playwright, and screenwriter, and two sisters, Barbara and Nancy. Noonan was a very talented basketball player, and said "playing basketball is how I learned to perform in a lot of ways. It's how I got interested in performing... I never acted as a kid. I never did school plays. I never acted until I was 27...you learn a lot when you're in front of people and you've got a crowd going and you're doing something that you love to do. A lot of the skills that you would need for acting come through that... It's like a life and death struggle in front of people that you hope to impress." == Career == Noonan started working in theatre (appearing in the original Off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard's play Buried Child), but in the 1980s he began working in film. At 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall, Noonan's imposing presence was probably responsible for his tendency to be cast as menacing villains, as in RoboCop 2, Last Action Hero, Manhunter, and The Pledge. His height was used for comic effect in "The Moving Finger," the series finale of the horror anthology Monsters (several episodes of which he also directed and wrote). In 1986, Noonan played Francis Dollarhyde, a serial killer who kills entire families, in Michael Mann's Manhunter, the first movie to feature Hannibal Lecter. Another supporting role, and another collaboration with Mann was in 1995, as Kelso in Heat. He also played the Frankenstein monster in The Monster Squad and drug kingpin Cain in RoboCop 2. During the 1990s, he wrote various plays, including two that he made into movies, What Happened Was... (1994) and The Wife (1995). In the 2000s, Noonan appeared in various other movies, including Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, as Sammy Barnathan in Synecdoche, New York. Noonan also made numerous appearances in television series, including The X-Files (in the much-praised 1996 episode "Paper Hearts" that was written specifically for him), Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Tales from the Darkside, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, (in which he starred alongside William Petersen, who played his nemesis, Will Graham, in Manhunter), and Detective Victor Huntley in Damages. He appeared on Blacklist as The Stew Maker, Louie as a doctor who takes the young Louie through the crucifixion in graphic anatomical detail. He also portrayed the Reverend Nathaniel Cole in the AMC original series Hell on Wheels. In 2015, Noonan voiced all of the supporting characters in Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman's stop-motion comedy-drama film Anomalisa, for which he won the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor. == Death == On February 14, 2026, Noonan died at the age of 74. His death was initially announced by actress Karen Sillas on her Instagram account, and later confirmed by Fred Dekker in a tribute on Facebook. == Filmography == === Film === === Television === == References == == External links == Official website Tom Noonan at IMDb Tom Noonan discography at Discogs GreenCine Daily Podcast with Tom Noonan for The House of the Devil Home Languages