Glenn Strange profile
Actor profile

Glenn Strange

16th August 1899 Weed, New Mexico, USA Acting

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

198 Movies 19 TV Shows 217 Credits
Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Backlash poster
Backlash 14th March 1956 as Milliken, Stage Driver (uncredited)
Marty poster
Marty 11th April 1955 as Bit Role (uncredited)
The Lusty Men poster
The Lusty Men 24th October 1952 as Rig Ferris - Foreman (uncredited)
Rimfire poster
Rimfire 25th March 1949 as Curt Calvin
Disaster poster
Disaster 3rd December 1948 as Foreman Davis (uncredited)
Red River poster
Red River 17th September 1948 as Naylor (uncredited)
Hollywood Wonderland poster
Hollywood Wonderland 9th August 1947 as Singing Cowboy (clip from "Ride, Cowboy, Ride", 1939) (uncredited)
Alaska poster
Alaska 18th November 1944 as Miner
Wyoming poster
Wyoming 13th September 1940 as Bill Smalley - Henchman
Trailin' West poster
Trailin' West 4th September 1936 as Henchman Tim / Trooper (uncredited)
Stormy poster
Stormy 21st October 1935 as Arizona Wranglers Band Member 'Peewee' Strange (uncredited)
Wild Horse poster
Wild Horse 2nd August 1931 as Cowboy Who Refuses to Ride
Thriller poster
Thriller 13th September 1960 as Indian (scenes deleted)