Glenn Strange | WatchedThis

Glenn Strange

Glenn Strange

Acting

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

Filmography Movies

Acting

Poster for Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
MOVIE

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

7.1(0.3K)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
The Monster
Poster for Cattle Queen of Montana
MOVIE

Cattle Queen of Montana

5.8(0.0K)
Cattle Queen of Montana
Indian Chief (uncredited)
Poster for Knickerbocker Holiday
MOVIE

Knickerbocker Holiday

5.8(0.0K)
Knickerbocker Holiday
Big Muscle
Poster for Disaster
MOVIE

Disaster

6.0(0.0K)
Disaster
Foreman Davis (uncredited)
Poster for House of Dracula
MOVIE

House of Dracula

5.5(0.1K)
House of Dracula
The Frankenstein Monster
Poster for Arizona Days
MOVIE

Arizona Days

5.0(0.0K)
Arizona Days
Henchman Pete
Poster for I Was a Teenage Movie Maker: Don Glut's Amateur Movies
MOVIE

I Was a Teenage Movie Maker: Don Glut's Amateur Movies

I Was a Teenage Movie Maker: Don Glut's Amateur Movies
Self
Poster for Stormy
MOVIE

Stormy

7.0(0.0K)
Stormy
Arizona Wranglers Band Member 'Peewee' Strange (uncredited)
Poster for Adventure's End
MOVIE

Adventure's End

5.5(0.0K)
Adventure's End
Barzeck
Poster for Comin' Round the Mountain
MOVIE

Comin' Round the Mountain

6.0(0.0K)
Comin' Round the Mountain
Devil Dan Winfield

Production

Poster for Ride Him, Cowboy
MOVIE

Ride Him, Cowboy

4.9(0.0K)
Ride Him, Cowboy
Stunts

Gallery

Glenn Strange portrait
Glenn Strange portrait
Glenn Strange portrait
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