Tom Noonan, &x27;Manhunter&x27; and &x27;Robocop 2&x27; actor, dies at 74 KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYThu, February 19, 2026 at 1:42 AM UTC 0 Tom Noonan, the character actor known for roles in "Heat," "Manhunter" and "The Monster Squad," has died, according to social media posts from his friends. He was 74, according to his IMDB page. Fred Dekker, Noonan's "Monster Squad" director, shared the news of Noonan's death in a Feb. 17 Facebook post. He wrote, "It's with great sadness that I share the passing of Tom Noonan (April 12, 1951 February 14, 2026).
Tom Noonan, 'Manhunter' and 'Robocop 2' actor, dies at 74
KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYThu, February 19, 2026 at 1:42 AM UTC
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Tom Noonan, the character actor known for roles in "Heat," "Manhunter" and "The Monster Squad," has died, according to social media posts from his friends. He was 74, according to his IMDB page.
Fred Dekker, Noonan's "Monster Squad" director, shared the news of Noonan's death in a Feb. 17 Facebook post. He wrote, "It's with great sadness that I share the passing of Tom Noonan (April 12, 1951 - February 14, 2026)."
Dekker went on to praise Noonan's "indelible performance" in his 1987 horror-comedy film, in which Noonan played Frankenstein's monster. The role became Noonan's after Dekker was "knocked out" by watching the actor play serial killer Francis Dolarhyde, aka "the Tooth Fairy," in Michael Mann's 1986 horror film "Manhunter."
"Manhunter" actor Tom Noonan has died at 74, his "Monster Squad" director Fred Dekker shared on Feb. 17.
"He found the make-up arduous and annoying (he was fond of tearing it off after we wrapped, and one night didn't even bother to take it off; just drove home in his Frankenstein appliance)," Dekker recalled in his post. "But all in all, he was the proverbial gentleman and scholar, and the world has lost a great talent. R.I.P. Tom. Thanks for the great work."
USA TODAY has reached out to Noonan's representatives for comment.
Mann, who directed Noonan in not only "Manhunter" but also "Heat" – the 1995 crime thriller starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer and Jon Voight that was snubbed by the Oscars – shared a tribute on Feb. 18 that opened up about their "magical" meeting.
"Terribly sad about Tom Noonan passing. In casting Manhunter I auditioned about 10-15 actors in New York when Tom walked in the door and said, 'I don't want to talk. I just want to read.' He read and it was magical," Mann wrote in a social media post.
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Tom Noonan in a scene from Michael Mann's 1986 horror film "Manhunter."
"I based Dollarhyde less on the novel's character and more on a convicted killer whom I met and with whom I corresponded who was doing life in Vacaville. I took Tom into that world and he made it his own," the post continued.
"It was an automatic to cast Tom in a wheelchair as Kelso in 'Heat.' He did so much more fine work, but it was as the battered child become a killer adult – both alive in the same bottle – that projected the range and deep soul of this so acute and committed artist. Rest in peace, Tom."
1 / 0Passages 2026 – Robert Duvall, James Van Der Beek, more stars we lost
Robert Duvall, the Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in Hollywood classics such as "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now," has died at 95.
Duvall died "peacefully" at home on Feb. 15 in Middleburg, Virginia, a representative for the actor confirmed. He was with his wife, Luciana Duvall.
During a seven-decade stage, TV and screen acting career, Duvall disappeared into a stunning range of strong-willed characters, leading to seven Oscar nominations and a best actor win for his role as a down-and-out country singer in 1983's "Tender Mercies."
Actor Jerry O'Connell also remembered Noonan as a "legend" in an Instagram post.
He wrote, "My first TV interview was with Tom Noonan for a local NYC show called MIDDAY(?). I was so nervous. Tom was so kind. I saw him in every (NYC) play he was in after. He bought my brother and I tickets to Eddie Murphy's RAW (we were too young to purchase)."
Tom Noonan was a familiar onscreen villain after playing the Tooth Fairy in 'Manhunter'
Noonan became accustomed to playing antagonists on camera after his breakout role in "Manhunter," which was based on Thomas Harris' "Red Dragon," the first of his Hannibal Lecter novels. Noonan also played the main villain, Cain, in the 1990s "Robocop 2" and the Ripper in 1993's "Last Action Hero."
Aside from his film roles ("Heaven's Gate," "Seraphim Falls" and "Synecdoche, New York" among them), Noonan also had TV appearances on the AMC series "Hell on Wheels," "The X-Files," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Louie," and "The Blacklist." Per IMDB, his final role was a voice acting role in the HBO animated comedy series "Animals."
Off-screen, Noonan was a playwright who adapted his stage production, "What Happened Was…," into a 1994 indie film costarring Karen Sillas that received acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival that year. This was followed by 1995's "The Wife," based on his play "Wifey."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Noonan dies – 'Manhunter' and 'Robocop 2' actor was 74
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: February 18, 2026 at 10:09PM on Source: PRIME TIME
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