Glenn Strange

Acting

Born Aug 16, 1899

From Weed, New Mexico, USA

Died Sep 20, 1973

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. 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

Glenn Strange

Known For

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

Marty

Red River

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

Last Train from Gun Hill

The Fastest Gun Alive

Calamity Jane

Sinbad the Sailor

Backlash

Escape from Fort Bravo

Filmography — Acting

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

Marty

Red River

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

Last Train from Gun Hill

The Fastest Gun Alive

Calamity Jane

Sinbad the Sailor

Backlash

Escape from Fort Bravo

The Desperadoes

House of Dracula

Alias Jesse James

The Spoilers

Dark Command

Action in the North Atlantic

The Lusty Men

The Hurricane Express

House of Frankenstein

The Red Badge of Courage

The Horror Show

The Black Raven

The Star Packer

Flash Gordon

The Mummy's Tomb

Cattle Queen of Montana

Four Faces West

Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook

Rough Riders' Round-up

Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld

The Sea of Grass

Wyoming

Mission to Moscow

The Halliday Brand

Beyond the Line of Duty

The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap

Callaway Went Thataway

Devil's Canyon

Comanche Territory

Comin' Round the Mountain

The Gallant Legion

The Great Sioux Uprising

Sunset on the Desert

Range War

False Colors

Cattle Stampede

The Lawless Breed

Wagons West

The Kansan

Days of Jesse James

The New Frontier

Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'

Saratoga Trunk

The Range Feud

The Lone Ranger Rides Again

Spaceship to the Unknown

Dude Cowboy

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

Double Crossbones

Westward Ho

Sunset Trail

A Tenderfoot Goes West

The Road to Denver

The Night Riders

Teddy the Rough Rider

Wagon Train

Up Goes Maisie