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Glenn Strange

Actor

Glenn Strange

Born August 16, 1899 in Weed, New Mexico, USADied September 20, 1973187 films

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.

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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

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The best way into Glenn Strange's work
Marty posterFirst watchMarty19557.5as (uncredited)Marty, a butcher who lives in the Bronx with his mother, is unmarried at 34. Good-natured but socially awkward, he faces constant badgering from family and friends to get married but has…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Red River poster7.3Red River1948Gunfight at the O.K. Corral poster7.0Gunfight at the O.K. Corral1957Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein poster7.1Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein1948Last Train from Gun Hill poster7.1Last Train from Gun Hill1959Calamity Jane poster7.0Calamity Jane1953House of Frankenstein poster6.1House of Frankenstein1944The Lusty Men poster6.7The Lusty Men1952Action in the North Atlantic poster7.1Action in the North Atlantic1943

Filmography

187 films as actor
  1. 1963The Adventures of the SpiritFrankenstein Monster
  2. 1959Last Train from Gun HillGun Hill Bouncer
  3. 1959Alias Jesse JamesJames Gang Member
  4. 1958Quantrill's RaidersTodd
  5. 1957Gunfire at Indian GapMatt
  6. 1957Last Stagecoach WestSheriff
  7. 1957Gunfight at the O.K. CorralPierce Henchman in Saloon (uncredited)
  8. 1957The Halliday BrandTownsman
  9. 1956The Fastest Gun AliveSheriff in Silver Rapids (uncredited)
  10. 1956BacklashMilliken, Stage Driver (uncredited)
  11. 1955The Vanishing AmericanBeleanth
  12. 1955The Road to DenverBig George
  13. 1955Marty(uncredited)
  14. 1954Cattle Queen of MontanaIndian Chief (uncredited)
  15. 1953Escape from Fort BravoSergeant Compton (uncredited)
  16. 1953Calamity JaneProspector (uncredited)
  17. 1953The Veils of BagdadMik-Kel
  18. 1953Devil's CanyonMarshal (uncredited)
  19. 1953The Great Sioux UprisingStand Watie
  20. 1953Born to the SaddleTom Roper
  21. 1952The Lawless BreedBen Hanley
  22. 1952The Lusty MenRig Ferris - Foreman (uncredited)
  23. 1952Wagons WestMarshal Jim
  24. 1952The Legend Of The Lone RangerButch Cavendish
  25. 1951Callaway Went ThatawayCowboy Actor on Saloon set (uncredited)
  26. 1951Texas CarnivalTex Hodgkins
  27. 1951The Red Badge of CourageColonel (uncredited)
  28. 1951Comin' Round the MountainDevil Dan Winfield
  29. 1951Double CrossbonesCapt. Ben Avery
  30. 1950Comanche TerritoryBig Joe
  31. 1949Master MindsAtlas the Monster
  32. 1949Roll, Thunder, Roll!Ace Hanlon
  33. 1949RimfireCurt Calvin
  34. 1948DisasterForeman Davis (uncredited)
  35. 1948Red RiverNaylor (uncredited)
  36. 1948Four Faces WestPosse Deputy (uncredited)
  37. 1948Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet FrankensteinThe Monster
  38. 1948The Gallant LegionRenegade
  39. 1947The Wistful Widow of Wagon GapLefty
  40. 1947Hollywood WonderlandSinging Cowboy (clip from "Ride, Cowboy, Ride", 1939) (uncredited)
  41. 1947The Sea of GrassBill Roach - Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
  42. 1947Sinbad the SailorChief Galley Overseer (uncredited)
  43. 1946Up Goes MaisieCop (Uncredited)
  44. 1945House of DraculaThe Frankenstein Monster
  45. 1945Saratoga TrunkCowboy (uncredited)
  46. 1945Bad Men of the BorderSheriff Peters
  47. 1945Renegades of the Rio GrandeBart Drummond
  48. 1944House of FrankensteinFrankenstein Monster
  49. 1944Harmony TrailMarshal Taylor
  50. 1944AlaskaMiner
  51. 1944Trail to GunsightDuke Ellis, Gang Leader
  52. 1944San Antonio KidFrank 'Ace' Hanlon
  53. 1944Silver City KidHenchman Garvey
  54. 1944Forty ThievesIke Simmons
  55. 1944Sonora StagecoachPaul Kenton
  56. 1944The ContenderBiff Benham
  57. 1944Valley Of VengeanceBarker
  58. 1944The Monster MakerGiant
  59. 1944Knickerbocker HolidayBig Muscle
  60. 1943The Woman of the TownWalker
  61. 1943Death Valley RangersThe Marshall
  62. 1943False ColorsSonora
  63. 1943Bullets and SaddlesJack Hammond
  64. 1943The Return of the RangersFrank Martin
  65. 1943Arizona TrailHenchman Matt
  66. 1943The Kansan2nd Gate Guard
  67. 1943Black Market RustlersCorbin (as Glen Strange)
  68. 1943Cattle StampedeBoss Coulter
  69. 1943Action in the North AtlanticJake (uncredited)
  70. 1943The Black RavenAndy
  71. 1943The DesperadoesLem - Jack's Gang Member
  72. 1943Western CycloneDirk Randall
  73. 1943Mission to MoscowSoutherner in Montage (uncredited)
  74. 1943Wild Horse StampedeHenchman Tip
  75. 1943Haunted RanchRance Austin
  76. 1943The Kid Rides AgainTom Slade
  77. 1942Little Joe, the WranglerBanker Jeff Corey
  78. 1942The Mummy's TombFarmer Holding Horse (uncredited)
  79. 1942Overland StagecoachHarlen Kent
  80. 1942Bandit RangerFrank Curtis
  81. 1942Texas Trouble ShootersRoger Denby
  82. 1942The SpoilersDeputy (uncredited)
  83. 1942Come on DangerHenchman Sloan
  84. 1942Down Texas WaySheriff Trump
  85. 1942Romance on the RangeLead Henchman Stokes
  86. 1942The Mad MonsterPetro
  87. 1942Rolling Down the Great DivideJoe Duncan
  88. 1942Boot Hill BanditsThe Maverick
  89. 1942Sunset on the DesertDeputy Louie Meade
  90. 1942Billy the Kid TrappedBoss Stanton
  91. 1942Raiders of the WestHank Reynolds
  92. 1942Stagecoach BuckarooHenchman Bill
  93. 1942Western MailSheriff Big Bill Collins
  94. 1942The Lone Rider and the BanditLuke Miller
  95. 1941Dude CowboyHenchman Krinkle
  96. 1941Billy The Kid's Round-UpVic Landreau
  97. 1941Lone Star Law MenMarshal Scott (as Glen Strange)
  98. 1941Go West, Young LadyTownsman
  99. 1941Arizona CycloneRoy Jessup
  100. 1941The Driftin' KidJeff Payson (as Glen Strange)
  101. 1941The Bandit TrailIdaho
  102. 1941Billy the Kid WantedMatt Brawley
  103. 1941Westward Ho-Hum
  104. 1941Badlands of DakotaBob Russell
  105. 1941Wide Open TownHenchman Ed Stark
  106. 1941Fugitive ValleyGray
  107. 1941Riders of Death ValleyTex, a Benton Rider
  108. 1941SaddlematesLittle Bear
  109. 1941The Kid's Last RideBart Gill / Ike Breeden
  110. 1940San Francisco DocksMike
  111. 1940The Fargo KidSheriff Dave
  112. 1940Three Men from TexasStokes
  113. 1940Wagon TrainStagecoach driver
  114. 1940Triple JusticeFrank Wiley
  115. 1940WyomingBill Smalley - Henchman
  116. 1940The Cowboy from SundownBret Stockton
  117. 1940Stage to ChinoBill Hoagland
  118. 1940Land of the Six GunsManny
  119. 1940Pals of the Silver SageVic Insley
  120. 1940Dark CommandTough Yankee #1