Glenn Strange

Known for ActingBorn 1899-08-16Died 1973-09-20Weed, New Mexico, USA

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. CLRRead more

Movies & web series

Dracula in the Movies

The Adventures of the Spirit

Trail to Gunsight

Black Market Rustlers

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

Saddlemates

Pioneer Days

The Phantom Stage

Guilty Trails

Call of the Rockies

The Fugitive Sheriff

Renegades of the Rio Grande

Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld

Lone Star Law Men

The Cowboy from Sundown

Ghost Town Riders

California Frontier

The Sunday Round-Up

Land Beyond the Law

Roll, Thunder, Roll!

San Antonio Kid

Haunted Ranch

Raiders of the West

Westward Ho-Hum

Land of the Six Guns

Pals of the Silver Sage

Rhythm of the Rio Grande

Oklahoma Terror

Honor of the West

Black Bandit

Border Wolves

State Police

Blazing Sixes

Empty Holsters

Trailin' West

Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'

Texas Trouble Shooters

Marty

Spaceship to the Unknown

Death Valley Rangers

Stagecoach Buckaroo

Little Joe, the Wrangler

Covered Wagon Trails

Triple Justice

Wagons West

Red River

Rawhide

San Francisco Docks