Glenn Strange was a famous American actor who appeared in hundreds of Western films and television shows. He is best known for his role as Sam Noonan, the bartender on Gunsmoke, and as Frankenstein’s monster in three Universal films during the 1940s. But how did he die and what was his cause of death?
Early Life and Career
Glenn Strange was born George Glenn Strange on August 16, 1899, in Weed, New Mexico Territory, of Irish and Cherokee ancestry. He spoke Cherokee until he was about 13 years old, but later lost it due to lack of practice. He grew up on a ranch and left school after eighth grade, as his father thought he had enough education to work with cattle. When he was 12, he began playing the fiddle at local dances.
In 1928, he began performing music on an El Paso radio station. Another early job was heavy-weight boxing, which caused some damage to his right ear. Strange competed in the Hoot Gibson rodeo, but was injured when a horse fell on him. After the injury, Gibson looked after him and Strange began playing outlaws in Gibson’s western films.
For much of Strange’s acting career, most of his roles were playing villains or supporting characters. He had roles in 300 films and 500 television episodes. In 1932, he had a minor role as part of the Wrecker’s gang in a serial starring John Wayne. He played numerous small parts in Paramount’s popular Hopalong Cassidy film series, usually cast as a member of an outlaw’s gang or a local sheriff.
In 1943, he played a badman in the Hopalong Cassidy movie False Colors. He played the killer Naylor Rand in the 1948 film Red River. Beginning in 1949, he portrayed Butch Cavendish, the villain responsible for killing all but one of the Texas Rangers in the long-running television series The Lone Ranger. Strange appeared twice as Jim Wade on Bill Williams’s syndicated Western series The Adventures of Kit Carson. He also appeared twice as Blake in the syndicated Western The Cisco Kid.
In 1952, he was cast in the role of Chief Black Cloud in the episode Indian War Party of the syndicated The Range Rider. In 1954, Strange played Sheriff Billy Rowland in Jim Davis’s syndicated Western series Stories of the Century. Strange appeared six times in 1956 in multiple roles on Edgar Buchanan’s syndicated Judge Roy Bean. That same year, Strange appeared in an uncredited role as the sheriff in Silver Rapids in the Western movie The Fastest Gun Alive starring Glenn Ford.
In 1958, he had a minor part in an episode of John Payne’s The Restless Gun, and had an important role in the 1958 episode Chain Gang of the Western series 26 Men, true stories about the Arizona Rangers.
Gunsmoke and Frankenstein
Strange’s most famous role was Sam Noonan, the bartender at the Long Branch Saloon on CBS’s Gunsmoke television series. He played this role from 1961 to 1973, appearing in more than 200 episodes. He became a familiar face to millions of viewers who enjoyed his friendly and loyal character.
Strange also played Frankenstein’s monster in three Universal films during the 1940s: House of Frankenstein (1944), House of Dracula (1945), and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). He inherited this role from Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney Jr., who had previously portrayed the monster. Strange was chosen for his imposing height and physique, as well as his resemblance to Karloff.
Strange wore heavy makeup and prosthetics to transform into the monster, which took hours to apply and remove. He also had to endure uncomfortable costumes and shoes that added several inches to his height. Despite these challenges, Strange enjoyed playing the monster and said it was “a lot of fun”.
Personal Life and Death
Strange was married four times and had two children from his first marriage to Stella McNulty: Harry Glenn Strange (1928-2012) and Janine Laraine Strange (1932-2005). His other wives were Minnie Thompson (1937-1944), former actress Dorothy Earle (1953-1969), and Ruth Ann Stewart (1971-1973).
Strange died of lung cancer on September 20, 1973, in Los Angeles, California, just after declining health had compelled him to leave his role on Gunsmoke. He was 74 years old. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered over an undisclosed location.
Strange was remembered by his co-stars and fans as a kind and gentle man who loved animals and music. He was also praised for his versatility and professionalism as an actor. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6821 Hollywood Boulevard.
Glenn Strange was a legend of the Western genre and a beloved icon of horror and comedy. His cause of death was a tragic loss for the entertainment industry and his loyal followers. He left behind a legacy of memorable performances and a lasting impression on generations of viewers.
