Glenn Strange
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
Filmography
I Was a Teenage Movie Maker: Don Glut's Amateur Movies
as Self
I Was a Teenage Movie Maker: Don Glut's Amateur Movies
as Self
The Many Faces of Dracula
as The Monster (archive footage)
The Many Faces of Dracula
as The Monster (archive footage)
Dracula in the Movies
as (archive footage)
Dracula in the Movies
as (archive footage)
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
as The Monster (archive footage)
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
as The Monster (archive footage)
The Horror Show
as (archive footage)
The Horror Show
as (archive footage)
The Adventures of the Spirit
as Frankenstein Monster
The Adventures of the Spirit
as Frankenstein Monster
Last Stagecoach West
as Sheriff
Last Stagecoach West
as Sheriff
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
as Pierce Henchman in Saloon (uncredited)
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
as Pierce Henchman in Saloon (uncredited)
The Halliday Brand
as Townsman
The Halliday Brand
as Townsman
Backlash
as Milliken, Stage Driver (uncredited)
Backlash
as Milliken, Stage Driver (uncredited)
The Vanishing American
as Beleanth
The Vanishing American
as Beleanth
Escape from Fort Bravo
as Sgt. Compton (uncredited)
Escape from Fort Bravo
as Sgt. Compton (uncredited)
Devil's Canyon
as Marshal (uncredited)
Devil's Canyon
as Marshal (uncredited)
The Lawless Breed
as Ben Hanley
The Lawless Breed
as Ben Hanley
Wagons West
as Marshal Jim
Wagons West
as Marshal Jim
Callaway Went Thataway
as Cowboy Actor on Saloon set (uncredited)
Callaway Went Thataway
as Cowboy Actor on Saloon set (uncredited)
Texas Carnival
as Tex Hodgkins
Texas Carnival
as Tex Hodgkins
The Red Badge of Courage
as Colonel (uncredited)
The Red Badge of Courage
as Colonel (uncredited)
Double Crossbones
as Capt. Ben Avery
Double Crossbones
as Capt. Ben Avery
Comanche Territory
as Big Joe
Comanche Territory
as Big Joe
Disaster
as Foreman Davis (uncredited)
Disaster
as Foreman Davis (uncredited)
Red River
as Naylor (uncredited)
Red River
as Naylor (uncredited)
Four Faces West
as Posse Deputy (uncredited)
Four Faces West
as Posse Deputy (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
as The Monster
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
as The Monster
The Gallant Legion
as Renegade
The Gallant Legion
as Renegade
The Sea of Grass
as Bill Roach - Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
The Sea of Grass
as Bill Roach - Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
Up Goes Maisie
as Cop (Uncredited)
Up Goes Maisie
as Cop (Uncredited)
House of Frankenstein
as Frankenstein Monster
House of Frankenstein
as Frankenstein Monster
Silver City Kid
as Henchman Garvey
Silver City Kid
as Henchman Garvey
Sonora Stagecoach
as Paul Kenton
Sonora Stagecoach
as Paul Kenton
The Monster Maker
as Giant
The Monster Maker
as Giant
Death Valley Rangers
as The Marshall
Death Valley Rangers
as The Marshall
False Colors
as Sonora
False Colors
as Sonora
The Kansan
as 2nd Gate Guard
The Kansan
as 2nd Gate Guard
Action in the North Atlantic
as Jake (uncredited)
Action in the North Atlantic
as Jake (uncredited)
The Black Raven
as Andy
The Black Raven
as Andy
The Desperadoes
as Lem - Jack's Gang Member
The Desperadoes
as Lem - Jack's Gang Member
Wild Horse Stampede
as Henchman Tip
Wild Horse Stampede
as Henchman Tip
The Mummy's Tomb
as Farmer Holding Horse (uncredited)
The Mummy's Tomb
as Farmer Holding Horse (uncredited)
The Spoilers
as Deputy (uncredited)
The Spoilers
as Deputy (uncredited)
Sunset on the Desert
as Deputy Louie Meade
Sunset on the Desert
as Deputy Louie Meade
Dude Cowboy
as Henchman Krinkle
Dude Cowboy
as Henchman Krinkle
The Bandit Trail
as Idaho
The Bandit Trail
as Idaho
Badlands of Dakota
as Bob Russell
Badlands of Dakota
as Bob Russell
Wide Open Town
as Henchman Ed Stark
Wide Open Town
as Henchman Ed Stark
Wyoming
as Bill Smalley - Henchman
Wyoming
as Bill Smalley - Henchman
Rough Riders' Round-up
as Boggs
Rough Riders' Round-up
as Boggs
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
as Raider Thorne
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
as Raider Thorne
Sunset Trail
as Bouncer
Sunset Trail
as Bouncer
Arizona Legion
as George Kirby
Arizona Legion
as George Kirby
Ghost Town Riders
as Tex - Henchman
Ghost Town Riders
as Tex - Henchman
Gun Packer
as Sheriff
Gun Packer
as Sheriff
Guilty Trails
as Sheriff
Guilty Trails
as Sheriff
Air Devils
as Messenger
Air Devils
as Messenger
Whirlwind Horseman
as Henchman Bull
Whirlwind Horseman
as Henchman Bull
The Cherokee Strip
as Harry, Fiddle Player and Band Leader
The Cherokee Strip
as Harry, Fiddle Player and Band Leader
Arizona Days
as Henchman Pete
Arizona Days
as Henchman Pete
Westward Ho
as Carter
Westward Ho
as Carter
Cyclone of the Saddle
as Singer / Fiddler / Townsman
Cyclone of the Saddle
as Singer / Fiddler / Townsman
The Man from Hell
as Singer
The Man from Hell
as Singer