Tom Noonan, the actor renowned for his roles in Michael Mann's 'Manhunter' and 'RoboCop 2', has died at the age of 74. His death was confirmed by Fred Dekker, director of 'The Monster Squad', in which Noonan played Frankenstein's Monster.
Dekker wrote on Facebook: '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 ... he was the proverbial gentleman and scholar, and the world has lost a great talent.'
Noonan's career began in off-Broadway theatre, including the original production of Sam Shepard's 'Buried Child'. He transitioned to film in the 1980s with roles in 'Heaven's Gate', 'The Man with One Red Shoe', and 'F/X'. In 1986, he played serial killer Francis Dolarhyde in Mann's 'Manhunter'. Mann paid tribute on social media, saying: 'Terribly sad about Tom Noonan passing.'
Noonan's credits also included 'Last Action Hero', 'The Astronaut's Wife', 'The Pledge', 'The House of the Devil', and 'Eight Legged Freaks'. He voiced all supporting characters in Charlie Kaufman's 'Anomalisa' and appeared in 'Synecdoche, New York'. His final film role was in Todd Haynes' 'Wonderstruck'. On television, he appeared in 'The X Files', 'The Leftovers', 'Damages', and 'The Blacklist'.
Noonan was also an accomplished playwright and filmmaker, writing, directing, and starring in 'What Happened Was ...' based on his play. Karen Sillas, his co-star in that film, paid tribute: 'What a privilege and crazy fun it was working with this man and calling him my friend to the end.'
