Tom Noonan, actor from Heat and Manhunter, dies at 74

Tom Noonan dies at 74

Tom Noonan, the character actor known for his roles in Heat and Manhunter, has died. He was 74.

His death was confirmed by director Fred Dekker on Facebook. Noonan played Frankenstein's Monster in Dekker's 1987 film The Monster Squad.

"He was the proverbial gentleman and scholar, and the world has lost a great talent," Dekker wrote.

A career defined by intense character roles

Noonan's film career began in the 1980s after starting in off-Broadway theater. One of his first major roles was in Michael Cimino's 1980 film Heaven's Gate.

He became closely associated with director Michael Mann. Noonan first worked with Mann on the 1986 thriller Manhunter, playing the serial killer Francis Dolarhyde.

He later reunited with Mann for a small but memorable role as a neurotic fence in the 1995 crime epic Heat.

From Sundance winner to voice acting

Noonan was also an accomplished playwright and filmmaker. He wrote, directed, and starred in the 1994 film What Happened Was…, based on his own play.

The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Co-star Karen Sillas paid tribute, calling it "a privilege and crazy fun" to work with him.

His later career included distinctive voice work. He voiced all the supporting characters in Charlie Kaufman's 2015 stop-motion film Anomalisa.

A prolific filmography across genres

Noonan's tall frame and intense presence made him a fixture in genre films and thrillers for decades. His notable credits include:

• RoboCop 2 (1990) as the villainous Cain
• Last Action Hero (1993) as a film noir villain
• The House of the Devil (2009) as Mr. Ulman
• Synecdoche, New York (2008), another collaboration with Charlie Kaufman

His final film role was in Todd Haynes's 2017 drama Wonderstruck. On television, he appeared in series like The X-Files, Damages, and The Leftovers.

Remembered by collaborators

Michael Mann posted his condolences on social media, writing he was "terribly sad about Tom Noonan passing."

In a 1994 interview, Noonan reflected on the contrast between his personality and his often-menacing roles. "I've always been a very quiet person, and ironic, and subtle," he said. "A lot of the parts that I get to play are these loudmouth maniacs."

Beyond acting, Noonan also adapted another of his plays, Wifey, into the 1995 film The Wife.