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Tom Noonan, ‘Manhunter’ and ‘Heat’ actor, dies at 74

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Published  February 18, 2026 1:42pm CST
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The Brief

    • Tom Noonan, the actor, writer and director known for roles in "Manhunter," "The Monster Squad" and "Heat," has died at 74.
    • Director Fred Dekker said Noonan died Feb. 14 and praised his performance as Frankenstein’s monster in the 1987 film "The Monster Squad." A cause of death was not immediately available.
    • Standing 6-foot-5, Noonan was often cast in villainous roles, with credits including "RoboCop 2," "Last Action Hero," "The Pledge," "Synecdoche, New York" and TV series such as "The X-Files" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

Tom Noonan, an actor, writer and director recognized for his performances in "Manhunter," "The Monster Squad" and "Heat," has reportedly died at 74. 

What we know:

Noonan died Saturday on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, according to Fred Dekker, director of the 1987 film "The Monster Squad," in which Noonan played Frankenstein’s monster. 

What we don't know:

A cause of death was not immediately available.

"It's with great sadness that I share the passing of TOM NOONAN (April 12, 1951 - February 14, 2026)," Dekker wrote on Facebook. 

"Tom's indelible performance as Frankenstein in THE MONSTER SQUAD is a highlight of my modest filmography, doubtless aided by the masterful make-up designed by Stan Winston, sculpted by Tom Woodruff Jr., and applied by Zoltan Elek."

"R.I.P. Tom. Thanks for the great work."

Dig deeper:

According to TMZ, Noonan began his film career in 1980 with a small role as Man in Park in the romantic comedy "Willie & Phil." Standing 6-foot-5, he was often cast in villainous roles because of his imposing presence.

His credits included Cain in "RoboCop 2," Ripper in "Last Action Hero," Francis Dollarhyde in "Manhunter" and Gary Jackson in "The Pledge," among other antagonists.

He also portrayed Kelso in "Heat," Mr. Ulman in "The House of the Devil," Ray Gullikson in "The Alphabet Killer" and Sammy Barnathan in "Synecdoche, New York."

On television, Noonan appeared in series including "The X-Files," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Tales From the Darkside" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

The Source: Information in this story came from a Facebook post by "The Monster Squad" director Fred Dekker announcing Tom Noonan’s death, as well as reporting by TMZ detailing Noonan’s career and filmography. This story was reported from Los Angeles. 

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