Tom Noonan, ‘Manhunter’ character actor who also wrote and directed films, dies at 74

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Tom Noonan, a familiar face in film and television often cast as a villain – notably in movies like “Manhunter” and “The Last Action Hero” – passed away on Valentine’s Day at the age of 74.

Fred Dekker, the director of “The Monster Squad,” confirmed the death and shared on Facebook that Tom’s memorable role as Frankenstein’s monster was a standout moment in his career.

I was really saddened to hear about the passing, and I tried reaching out to Karen Sillas – she was in “What Happened Was…” with Noonan and shared the news online – but haven’t heard back from her yet when I contacted her through The Times.

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Dennis Noonan worked in television and film for almost 40 years, and he’s best known for his part in the 1986 movie “Manhunter,” which was adapted from a novel by Thomas Harris.

In the film “Manhunter,” William Petersen (known for “CSI”) played an FBI agent, and Brian Cox (from “Succession”) portrayed Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Actor Michael Noonan played Francis Dolarhyde, the serial killer nicknamed the Tooth Fairy. His performance impressed director Fred Dekker so much that Dekker later cast Noonan in “Monster Squad.”

At 6’5″ or 6’6″, actor Noonan often played villains. He was known for roles like “The Stewmaker” in a 2013 episode of “The Blacklist,” where his character dissolved bodies in acid. He also played the Ripper in the 1993 comedy “The Last Action Hero,” a movie featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger as action hero Jack Slater, where the villain came to life as part of the film’s unique premise.

Born on April 12, 1951, in Greenwich, Connecticut, Michael Noonan was raised by his mother, Rita, a math teacher, and a large family after his father, John Ford Noonan Sr., passed away. He studied drama at Yale University and later co-founded New York’s Paradise Factory theater with Jack Kruger. They transformed the location of the former Paradise Ice Cream Factory – the birthplace of the ice cream cone – into a theater and rehearsal space, revitalizing a condemned building.

Obituaries

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Paradise Factory describes its approach as combining the precision of theater with the artistry of filmmaking, and then bringing that cinematic feel to live performances.

The New York actor shared with The Times in 2015 that he wished he’d achieved more success in his career. He joked that he suspects people mostly recognize him from seeing him in movies on TV late at night.

A New York Times writer described writer and director Dino-Ray Noonan, in a piece about him and his work with Charlie Kaufman on the stop-motion film “Anomalisa,” as sharing Kaufman’s pessimistic outlook, unique style, and dry, often funny, personality – even calling him charmingly grumpy at times.

In the movie “Anomalisa,” Tom Noonan truly lived up to his credit as “Everyone Else.” While Jennifer Jason Leigh and David Thewlis starred as the main characters, Noonan provided the voices for over 40 different supporting roles.

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He explained to The Times in 2015 that the complex studio recording process sometimes made it hard to believe the final product was even him. He said he could recognize his voice, but wasn’t always sure how it had been transformed.

Jerry O’Connell shared a throwback photo on Instagram Wednesday, recalling his first TV interview. He appeared on a local New York City show called MIDDAY with Tom Noonan, and remembered being incredibly nervous. He was so touched by Noonan’s kindness that he went to see him in every play he performed. Noonan even bought tickets for O’Connell and his brother to see Eddie Murphy’s RAW show, even though they were too young to buy them themselves. During the interview, O’Connell discussed the upcoming film Stand By Me, while Noonan talked about his movie, Manhunter. O’Connell ended the post by honoring Noonan, calling him a LEGEND and offering his condolences.

Actor Noonan had a memorable, though sometimes troubled, career. He was in the infamous 1980 film “Heaven’s Gate” and later brought a chilling presence to the 2009 horror film “The House of the Devil.” He also hosted a spooky late-night TV show in the 2005 vampire movie “The Roost,” and took on a very different role as a missionary traveling with a wagon train in the 2007 western “Seraphim Falls.”

In the 1990 film Robocop 2, John Allan Noonan played Cain, a charismatic but dangerous gang leader who deals drugs and uses terrorism. His character is notable for wearing a nose ring.

Movies

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The actor played Reverend Nathaniel Cole in 18 episodes of the AMC series “Hell on Wheels,” which spanned five seasons. He also appeared in single episodes of several other popular TV shows, including Fox’s “The X-Files,” HBO’s “The Leftovers,” CBS’ “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and the FX shows “Louie” and “Horace and Pete.”

Tom Noonan has directed several films, including the 1994 movie “What Happened Was…”, which began as a play. The film won the Grand Jury Prize for dramatic feature at the Sundance Film Festival. Noonan not only directed and wrote the screenplay—winning the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance—but also starred as the lead actor alongside Sillas.

The following year, Noonan’s film “The Wife” – a darkly comedic story he wrote, directed, and starred in – was also nominated for the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. The New York Times called it a sharply funny and critical look at modern marriage. Karen Young, who was Noonan’s wife from 1992 until 1999, also appeared in the film.

Noonan’s 2015 film, “The Shape of Something Squashed,” came about after a frustrating experience. His agent initially led him to believe he’d been cast in one of “The Hunger Games” movies, but when he received the script, he realized there was only one role suitable for an actor his age – President Snow – and that part had already been given to Donald Sutherland.

So, all that talk about a potential role for Kiefer Sutherland? Forget about it. It turns out he wasn’t actually up for anything official. He was simply helping Jennifer Lawrence and the rest of the “Hunger Games” crew run lines for a week while they prepped for filming. Basically, a really nice favor, not a casting announcement!

Once Noonan had shaken off a short period of feeling down, they wrote the screenplay for “The Shape of Something Squashed,” and then went on to direct and star in the movie.

He was predeceased by his brother, John Ford Noonan Jr., a playwright known for “A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking,” who passed away in 2018 at the age of 77.

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2026-02-19 00:32