Veteran character actor Glenn Strange made a big mark on the popular Western series Gunsmoke, and his sudden departure left a hole that was never truly filled. Starting its unprecedented TV run in 1955, Gunsmoke follows Marshall Matt Dillon (James Arness) as he tries to maintain law and order in the Wild West town of Dodge City, Kansas. Pushing the boundaries of what was possible on TV at the time, Gunsmoke capitalized on the popularity of Westerns while also adding prestige to the growing TV medium. The series ran for 20 seasons and featured an ensemble cast, including many future stars.
Glenn Strange joined the long-running TV show a few years in and would take over the bartender character Sam Noonan until 1973. Though he was only a supporting role, Strange’s unique performance was often the highlight of the Gunsmoke episodes in which he featured, and he found his way into the hearts of millions of viewers as he exchanged witty banter with Kitty (Amanda Blake) and Marshall Dillon. Though the show went on for a little while after he left, Gunsmoke was never quite the same without Glenn Strange.
Glenn Strange Left Gunsmoke Because Of His Declining Health
Strange Passed Away From Lung Cancer In 1973
After over 200 episodes of the show, Glenn Strange stepped away from Gunsmoke in 1972 because of his lung cancer diagnosis. The sizable character actor was most remembered for playing villainous roles, but his turn as Sam Noonan on the classic Western TV show was a pleasant change of pace for the somewhat typecast performer.
Strange’s diagnosis didn’t deter him from acting as much as he could, and even after he died on September 20, 1973, fans were treated to five additional episodes with the lovable bartender that had been filmed before he retired. Ultimately, Gunsmoke season 19, episode 11, “The Hanging of Newly O’Brien” was Strange’s last appearance, more than a year after his passing.
Glenn Strange Was Best Known For His Role As Frankenstein’s Monster
Strange Played The Iconic Movie Monster In Three Movies
Though Glenn Strange was endeared to millions when he played Sam Noonan on Gunsmoke, it was his turn as Frankenstein’s monster for Universal Studios that truly made him a star. Boris Karloff originated the role in 1931’s Frankenstein, but after three movies in heavy makeup, he stepped away to pursue other roles. Lon Chaney Jr. assumed the role for one film before it was passed on to Bela Lugosi who had originally turned down the role. Glenn Strange was then tapped to play the monster in 1944’s House of Frankenstein, and he would return to the role two more times.
Throughout 1945’s House of Dracula and 1948’s Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Strange would leave his own unique mark on the role including his signature mole and low eyebrows. Ironically, though Strange was perhaps the least famous of the actors to play the part in the original Universal Monsters cycle, it was his likeness that appeared on most Universal Monsters merchandising for decades.
Strange was so synonymous with the role before Gunsmoke that, according to Gregory William Mank’s book Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff: The Expanded Story of a Haunting Collaboration, Karloff’s obituary in The New York Times mistakenly ran with a picture of Strange in the monster role.