Glenn Strange
Born August 16, 1899 (Age: 126)
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Weed, New Mexico, USA
Biography
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
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
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Filmography
The Many Faces of Dracula
2000
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as The Monster (archive footage)
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Age: 100
No Image
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
1991
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as The Monster (archive footage)
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Age: 91
The Adventures of the Spirit
1963
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as Frankenstein Monster
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Age: 63
Last Train from Gun Hill
1959
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as Gun Hill Bouncer
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Age: 59
Alias Jesse James
1959
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as James Gang Member
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Age: 59
Quantrill's Raiders
1958
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as Todd
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Age: 58
The Fastest Gun Alive
1956
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as Sheriff in Silver Rapids (uncredited)
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Age: 56
Backlash
1956
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as Milliken, Stage Driver (uncredited)
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Age: 56
The Vanishing American
1955
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as Beleanth
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Age: 56
The Road to Denver
1955
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as Big George
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Age: 55
Marty
1955
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as Bit Role (uncredited)
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Age: 55
Cattle Queen of Montana
1954
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as Indian Chief (uncredited)
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Age: 55
Escape from Fort Bravo
1953
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as Sergeant Compton (uncredited)
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Age: 54
Calamity Jane
1953
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as Prospector (uncredited)
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Age: 54
The Veils of Bagdad
1953
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as Mik-Kel
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Age: 54
Devil's Canyon
1953
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as Marshal (uncredited)
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Age: 53
The Great Sioux Uprising
1953
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as Stand Watie
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Age: 53
Born to the Saddle
1953
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as Tom Roper
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Age: 53
Comanche Territory
1950
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as Big Joe
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Age: 50
House of Dracula
1945
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as The Frankenstein Monster
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Age: 46
Saratoga Trunk
1945
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as Cowboy (uncredited)
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Age: 46
Bad Men of the Border
1945
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as Sheriff Peters
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Age: 45
Renegades of the Rio Grande
1945
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as Bart Drummond
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Age: 45
Little Joe, the Wrangler
1942
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as Banker Jeff Corey
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Age: 43
Beyond the Line of Duty
1942
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as Cal (uncredited)
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Age: 43
The Mummy's Tomb
1942
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as Farmer Holding Horse (uncredited)
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Age: 43
Overland Stagecoach
1942
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as Harlen Kent
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Age: 43
Bandit Ranger
1942
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as Frank Curtis
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Age: 43
Texas Trouble Shooters
1942
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as Roger Denby
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Age: 42
The Spoilers
1942
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as Deputy (uncredited)
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Age: 42
Come on Danger
1942
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as Henchman Sloan
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Age: 42
Down Texas Way
1942
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as Sheriff Trump
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Age: 42
Romance on the Range
1942
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as Lead Henchman Stokes
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Age: 42
The Mad Monster
1942
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as Petro
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Age: 42
Rolling Down the Great Divide
1942
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as Joe Duncan
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Age: 42
Boot Hill Bandits
1942
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as The Maverick
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Age: 42
Sunset on the Desert
1942
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as Deputy Louie Meade
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Age: 42
Billy the Kid Trapped
1942
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as Boss Stanton
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Age: 42
Raiders of the West
1942
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as Hank Reynolds
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Age: 42
Stagecoach Buckaroo
1942
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as Henchman Bill
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Age: 42
Western Mail
1942
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as Sheriff Big Bill Collins
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Age: 42
The Lone Rider and the Bandit
1942
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as Luke Miller
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Age: 42
Billy The Kid's Round-Up
1941
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as Vic Landreau
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Age: 42
Dude Cowboy
1941
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as Henchman Krinkle
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Age: 42
Lone Star Law Men
1941
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as Marshal Scott (as Glen Strange)
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Age: 42
Go West, Young Lady
1941
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as Townsman
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Age: 42
Arizona Cyclone
1941
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as Roy Jessup
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Age: 42
The Driftin' Kid
1941
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as Jeff Payson (as Glen Strange)
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Age: 42
The Bandit Trail
1941
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as Idaho
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Age: 42
Billy the Kid Wanted
1941
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as Matt Brawley
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Age: 42
Westward Ho-Hum
1941
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as
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Age: 42
Badlands of Dakota
1941
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as Bob Russell
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Age: 42
Wide Open Town
1941
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as Henchman Ed Stark
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Age: 41
Fugitive Valley
1941
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as Gray
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Age: 41
Riders of Death Valley
1941
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as Tex, a Benton Rider
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Age: 41
Saddlemates
1941
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as Little Bear
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Age: 41
The Kid's Last Ride
1941
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as Bart Gill / Ike Breeden
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Age: 41
Ride Him, Cowboy
1932
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as Hawk Henchman (uncredited)
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Age: 33
The Hurricane Express
1932
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as Jim
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Age: 32
Cavalier of the West
1931
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as Trooper
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Age: 32
The Range Feud
1931
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as
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Age: 32
Wild Horse
1931
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as Cowboy Who Refuses to Ride
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Age: 31