Glenn Strange
Known for: 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
Filmography
Series
The Rifleman
Stage Driver
1958
Series
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955
Series
Petticoat Junction
Hawley
1963
Series
Rawhide
Bartender
1959
Series
The Lone Ranger
Cavendish
1949
Series
The Lone Ranger
Butch Cavendish
1949
Series
The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Monster
1950
Series
Gunsmoke
Sam Noonan
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Sam (uncredited)
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Man
1955
Series
Thriller
Indian (scenes deleted)
1960
Series
Sugarfoot
Red Wing
1957
Series
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
Series
The Abbott and Costello Show
Tessie's Steady Boyfriend
1952
Series
The Adventures of Kit Carson
1951
Series
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
1955
Series
Hopalong Cassidy
1952
Series
26 Men
1957
Series
Buffalo Bill Jr.
1955
Series
Frontier Doctor
1958
Film
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Pierce Henchman in Saloon (uncredited)
1957
Series
Judge Roy Bean
1955
Film
Knickerbocker Holiday
Big Muscle
1944
Series
General Electric Theater
Red Herring
1953
Film
Last Train from Gun Hill
Gun Hill Bouncer
1959
Film
House of Frankenstein
Frankenstein Monster
1944
Film
Red River
Naylor (uncredited)
1948
Film
Escape from Fort Bravo
Sergeant Compton (uncredited)
1953
Film
Escape from Fort Bravo
Sgt. Compton (uncredited)
1953
Film
Calamity Jane
Prospector (uncredited)
1953
Film
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
The Monster
1948
Film
The Sea of Grass
Bill Roach - Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
1947
Film
Marty
(uncredited)
1955
Film
Alias Jesse James
James Gang Member
1959
Film
Guilty Trail
Sheriff
1938
Film
The Fastest Gun Alive
Sheriff in Silver Rapids (uncredited)
1956
Film
Sinbad the Sailor
Chief Galley Overseer (uncredited)
1947
Film
Cattle Queen of Montana
Indian Chief (uncredited)
1954
Film
Action in the North Atlantic
Jake (uncredited)
1943
Film
The Red Badge of Courage
Colonel (uncredited)
1951
Film
House of Dracula
The Frankenstein Monster
1945
Film
Alaska
Miner
1944
Film
Flash Gordon
Gocko/Robot/Soldier
1936
Film
The Lusty Men
Rig Ferris - Foreman (uncredited)
1952
Film
The Great Sioux Uprising
Stand Watie
1953
Film
The Spoilers
Deputy (uncredited)
1942
Film
The Mummy's Tomb
Farmer Holding Horse (uncredited)
1942
Film
Dracula in the Movies
(archive footage)
1992
Film
Dark Command
Tough Yankee #1
1940
Film
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
Lefty
1947
Film
Comin' Round the Mountain
Devil Dan Winfield
1951
Film
The Road to Denver
Big George
1955
Film
Rough Riders' Round-up
Boggs
1939
Film
Oklahoma Terror
Ross Haddon
1939
Film
The Desperadoes
Lem - Jack's Gang Member
1943
Film
Mission to Moscow
Southerner in Montage (uncredited)
1943
Film
Guns of the Pecos
Wedding Groom / Rustler
1936
Film
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
Self (archive footage)
1999
Film
The Lawless Breed
Ben Hanley
1952
Film
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
Self (archive footage)
1994
Film
Romance on the Range
Lead Henchman Stokes
1942
Film
The Veils of Bagdad
Mik-Kel
1953
Film
Comanche Territory
Big Joe
1950
Film
Days of Jesse James
Cole Younger
1939
Film
Riders of Death Valley
Tex, a Benton Rider
1941
Film
Devil's Canyon
Marshal (uncredited)
1953
Film
Backlash
Milliken, Stage Driver (uncredited)
1956
Film
Four Faces West
Posse Deputy (uncredited)
1948
Film
The Many Faces of Dracula
The Monster (archive footage)
2000
Film
Land Beyond the Law
Bandy Malarkey
1937
Film
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
Raider Thorne
1939
Film
Teddy the Rough Rider
Jim Rawlins
1940
Film
Moonlight on the Prairie
Stew-Bum
1935
Film
Billy The Kid's Round-Up
Vic Landreau
1941
Film
Last Stagecoach West
Sheriff
1957
Film
Badlands of Dakota
Bob Russell
1941
Film
The Night Riders
Angry Riverboat Gambler
1939
Film
The Return of the Rangers
Frank Martin
1943
Film
Three Men from Texas
Stokes
1940
Film
The Man from Hell
Singer
1934
Film
The Kansan
2nd Gate Guard
1943
Film
Ride Him, Cowboy
Hawk Henchman (uncredited)
1932
Film
Double Crossbones
Capt. Ben Avery
1951
Film
The Sunday Round-Up
Master of Ceremonies
1936
Film
Western Mail
Sheriff Big Bill Collins
1942
Film
Gunfire at Indian Gap
Matt
1957
Film
The Halliday Brand
Townsman
1957
Film
The Spy Ring
The 'Champ' (uncredited)
1938
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
The Monster (archive footage)
1991
Film
Saratoga Trunk
Cowboy (uncredited)
1945
Film
Go West, Young Lady
Townsman
1941
Film
The Gallant Legion
Renegade
1948
Film
The Horror Show
(archive footage)
1979
Film
The Woman of the Town
Walker
1943
Film
Rhythm of the Rio Grande
Sheriff Hays (as Glen Strange)
1940
Film
Law of the Pampas
Slim Schultz
1939
Film
The Legend Of The Lone Ranger
Butch Cavendish
1952
Film
Bad Men of the Border
Sheriff Peters
1945
Film
The Adventures of the Spirit
Frankenstein Monster
1963
Film
The Cowboy from Sundown
Bret Stockton
1940
Film
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
The Monster (archive footage)
1991
Film
Stormy
Arizona Wranglers Band Member 'Peewee' Strange (uncredited)
1935
Film
Pioneer Days
Sheriff
1940
Film
Beyond the Line of Duty
Cal (uncredited)
1942
Film
The Painted Trail
Sheriff Ed
1938
Film
Spaceship to the Unknown
Robot / Ming soldier / Gocko (archive footage) (uncredited)
1966
Film
Sonora Stagecoach
Paul Kenton
1944
Film
Cavalier of the West
Trooper
1931
Film
Dude Cowboy
Henchman Krinkle
1941
Film
I Was a Teenage Movie Maker: Don Glut's Amateur Movies
Self
2006
Film
Raiders of the West
Hank Reynolds
1942
Film
Six Shootin' Sheriff
Kendal Henchman
1938
Film
The Lone Rider and the Bandit
Luke Miller
1942
Film
Pride of the West
Saunders
1938
Film
The Mexicali Kid
Foreman Jed
1938
Film
Billy the Kid Wanted
Matt Brawley
1941
Film
Sunset on the Desert
Deputy Louie Meade
1942
Film
Callaway Went Thataway
Cowboy Actor on Saloon set (uncredited)
1951
Film
Westward Ho
Carter
1935
Film
The Kid Rides Again
Tom Slade
1943
Film
The Devil's Saddle Legion
Pewee
1937
Film
Trailin' West
Henchman Tim / Trooper (uncredited)
1936
Film
Cyclone of the Saddle
Singer / Fiddler / Townsman
1935
Film
Rolling Down the Great Divide
Joe Duncan
1942
Film
The Mad Monster
Petro
1942
Film
Renegades of the Rio Grande
Bart Drummond
1945
Film
California Mail
Henchman Bud
1936
Film
The Law of 45's
Monte
1935
Film
Born to the Saddle
Tom Roper
1953
Film
Call of the Rockies
Henchman Kelso
1938
Film
The Kid's Last Ride
Bart Gill / Ike Breeden
1941
Film
The Vanishing American
Beleanth
1955
Film
The Star Packer
Loco Frank
1934
Film
Texas Carnival
Tex Hodgkins
1951
Film
Pals of the Silver Sage
Vic Insley
1940
Film
Lone Star Law Men
Marshal Scott (as Glen Strange)
1941
Film
The New Frontier
Norton
1935
Film
Land of the Six Guns
Manny
1940
Film
Death Valley Rangers
The Marshall
1943
Film
Little Joe, the Wrangler
Banker Jeff Corey
1942
Film
Billy the Kid Trapped
Boss Stanton
1942
Film
Rimfire
Curt Calvin
1949
Film
Honor of the West
Bat Morrison
1939
Film
The Range Feud
1931
Film
Quantrill's Raiders
Todd
1958
Film
Valley Of Vengeance
Barker
1944
Film
Bandit Ranger
Frank Curtis
1942
Film
San Francisco Docks
Mike
1940
Film
Wagon Train
Stagecoach driver
1940
Film
The Hurricane Express
Jim
1932
Film
Master Minds
Atlas the Monster
1949
Film
Western Cyclone
Dirk Randall
1943
Film
Triple Justice
Frank Wiley
1940
Film
Wyoming
Bill Smalley - Henchman
1940
Film
Adventure's End
Barzeck
1937
Film
Westward Ho-Hum
1941
Film
Arizona Legion
George Kirby
1939
Film
Arizona Trail
Henchman Matt
1943
Film
A Tenderfoot Goes West
Prankster Butch
1936
Film
Roll, Thunder, Roll!
Ace Hanlon
1949
Film
Wagons West
Marshal Jim
1952
Film
The Fugitive Sheriff
Trial Spectator (uncredited)
1936
Film
Blue Montana Skies
Bob Causer
1939
Film
The Monster Maker
Giant
1944
Film
Wild Horse Stampede
Henchman Tip
1943
Film
Sunset Trail
Bouncer
1939
Film
The Cherokee Strip
Harry, Fiddle Player and Band Leader
1937
Film
Lawless Range
Burn's Henchman
1935
Film
The Black Raven
Andy
1943
Film
The Fargo Kid
Sheriff Dave
1940
Film
Texas Trouble Shooters
Roger Denby
1942
Film
Stagecoach Buckaroo
Henchman Bill
1942
Film
San Antonio Kid
Frank 'Ace' Hanlon
1944
Film
State Police
Henchman
1938
Film
Stage to Chino
Bill Hoagland
1940
Film
Boot Hill Bandits
The Maverick
1942
Film
Come on Danger
Henchman Sloan
1942
Film
The Mysterious Rider
Henchman Cramer
1938
Film
Bullets and Saddles
Jack Hammond
1943
Film
Silver City Kid
Henchman Garvey
1944
Film
Down Texas Way
Sheriff Trump
1942
Film
Overland Mail
Sheriff Dawson
1939
Film
False Colors
Sonora
1943
Film
The Bandit Trail
Idaho
1941
Film
The Thrill Hunter
Studio Western Cowboy
1933
Film
Forty Thieves
Ike Simmons
1944
Film
Hollywood Wonderland
Singing Cowboy (clip from "Ride, Cowboy, Ride", 1939) (uncredited)
1947
Film
Haunted Ranch
Rance Austin
1943
Film
Wild Horse
Cowboy Who Refuses to Ride
1931
Film
Cattle Stampede
Boss Coulter
1943
Film
The Llano Kid
Henderson
1939
Film
Black Bandit
1938
Film
Wide Open Town
Henchman Ed Stark
1941
Film
Disaster
Foreman Davis (uncredited)
1948
Film
Air Devils
Messenger
1938
Film
Up Goes Maisie
Cop (Uncredited)
1946
Film
Empty Holsters
Tex Roberts
1937
Film
The Phantom Stage
Sheriff
1939
Film
In Old Mexico
Burke
1938
Film
Range War
Sheriff
1939
Film
The Fighting Gringo
Rance Potter
1939
Film
Arizona Days
Henchman Pete
1937
Film
Avenging Waters
Henchman Jake
1936
Film
Harmony Trail
Marshal Taylor
1944
Film
The Driftin' Kid
Jeff Payson (as Glen Strange)
1941
Ghost Town Riders
Tex - Henchman
1938
Film
Whirlwind Horseman
Henchman Bull
1938
Film
Saddlemates
Little Bear
1941
Film
Gun Packer
Sheriff
1938
Film
Fugitive Valley
Gray
1941
Film
Arizona Cyclone
Roy Jessup
1941
Film
Border Wolves
Deputy Joe O'Connell
1938
Film
Overland Stagecoach
Harlen Kent
1942
Film
Trail to Gunsight
Duke Ellis, Gang Leader
1944
Film
Blazing Sixes
Peewee
1937
Film
Black Market Rustlers
Corbin (as Glen Strange)
1943
Film
Across the Plains
Jeff Masters
1939
Film
California Frontier
Blackie
1938
Film
Covered Wagon Trails
Fletcher - Henchman
1940
Film
The Contender
Biff Benham
1944
Film
The Last Stand
1938