Strange played Frankensteins monster in three Universal films in the 1940s, and also played a character named Sam Noonan on the series. George Cleveland was part of a generation of actors who got their start in vaudeville and lived long enough to make it to television. The Oscar-nominated actor was also nominated for an Emmy in the same category. If you were mentally cataloging a list of TV shows that might deal with the untimely loss of an actor with dignity and grace, you wouldn't necessarily putRiverdaleat the top. During that time, Strange was married twice. He'd been on over 200 episodes of Gunsmoke when he passed, and the character of Sam died with him. Strange also played a monster in the Bowery Boys horror-comedy Master Minds in 1949, mimicking the brain-transplanted Huntz Hall's frantic comedy movements, with Hall providing his own dubbed voice. By 1928, he was on radio in El Paso, Texas. She was serious, too. Cast members read about the cancellation in an Associated Press story. Even the series creator, Buck Taylor, named his third son after him. Glenn Strange was born in Weed, New Mexico, on August 16, 1899. During the sixth series' finale, the Doctor calls the nursing home where Lethbridge-Stewart had been living. During its run, Gunsmoke featured many bartenders, including James Arness. They were looking for a more sophisticated viewer and their lineup reflected it. Gunsmoke is a 1953 Western film directed by Nathan Juran and starring Audie Murphy, Susan Cabot, and Paul Kelly. Played by British actor Nicholas Courtney, the character of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart appeared in more than 100 episodes of the series, also showing up in its various spin-offs, radio dramas, and comic books. When he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1957, he'd been playing Gramps on TV's Lassie for over 100 episodes. The man climbs on Ruth and rides into Dodge City. He died of lung cancer in 1973. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. He played Sam the bartender on Gunsmoke, a western show that aired for eleven seasons on NBC. 1948). Gunsmoke Star Buck Taylor Is 81 Years Old and Looks as Handsome as Ever. Strange played the role of Sam Noonan from 1961 until shortly before his death in 1973. James Arnesss death was a tragedy for both the actor and the audience. He also starred in the 1981-82 series McClains Law, which starred Marshall Colt. Phil Hartman was an American treasure on the same scale as Yosemite, even if he was technicallyborn in Canada. If you grew up in the '70s, there's a decent argument to be made that the quality of your childhood was directly proportionate to your familiarity with Mister Hooper. The producers considered writing Hooper out, sending the character off to Florida to retire. The Thieves: Directed by Philip Leacock. Festus offers to give the man a ride, but he refuses, draws his gun, and shoots Festus. Sadly, in 2014, Herrmann had passed away at the age of 71 as a result of brain cancer. Is Sarah Strange related to Glenn Strange? Glenn Strange played Sam the Bartender on Gunsmoke. He had heart surgery in 1970, and was forced to leave the show for a short time. Required fields are marked *. He was After Gunsmoke ended in 1975, he appeared in a number of other projects. The writers on Mad Menoffed his character in Season 2, where they revealed that he had died in the real life American Flight 1 plane crash, a 1962 airline accident that took the lives of everyone on board. When the show returned from summer break, the entire premiere episode dealt with the fallout of his character's death in an automobile collision. After weeks of the station teasing the public about the sitter's identity, Strange removed his mask and revealed himself as Frankenstein's monster (actually, yet another mask.) What follows is a list of characters who were killed off after the actors playing them passed away. By nature a gentle, sym pathetic man, he usually played the bad guy or a monster in some 500 television shows. He then moved to Hollywood and starred in five Gunsmoke TV movies. Strange could barely walk straight after the day's shooting. In 1969, The New York Times mistakenly published Boris Karloff's obituary with Glenn Strange's picture as the Frankenstein monster. CBS/YouTube. Phil Hartman's tragic death was addressed by NewsRadio in a beautifully balanced manner. The Associated Press reported that Blake, who had lived in Phoenix, learned of the cancellation only after the shows 19th season. While this was probably Susi's most prolific role, she had a long, fascinating career as a television and movie actress, starting with a recurring role on Kolchak: The Night Stalker all the way back in 1974. google_ad_channel =""; They persevered, and the sad saga was broadcast. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 1961, he began the small, but regular, role as Sam Noonan the bartender in Miss Kittys Long Branch Saloon, Dodge City in the TV show, Gunsmoke. That same year, Strange appeared in an uncredited role as the sheriff in Silver Rapids in the Western movie The Fastest Gun Alive starring Glenn Ford. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It's been a staple of popular culture for the last few years: much beloved shows are brought back for a victory lap, catching their fans up on the lives of their favorite characters after a long hiatus. His role as Sam Noonan lasted until the shows cancellation in 1973. When the network called for Gunsmoke to shut down business in Dodge City, it was surprising news to its stars and fans alike. Within the show, it had already been revealed that his character was dying, potentially as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. He portrayed the role almost exclusively until his death in 1973. On the set of House of Dracula (1945), Lon Chaney, Jr., got him extremely inebriated. These raises werent the best part though. Horror star Boris Karloff had grown weary and fearful of his Frankenstein Creature typecast and abandoned the role. After working on the project, Strange was hired to appear in other horror films including the monster in Spy and Blood in the 1950s. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer, 20 Best free fitness apps for Android devices. 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. After Monteith's passing, Finn Hudson was memorialized in the Season 5 episode "The Quarterback," which paid tribute to the character without ever spelling out the circumstances surrounding his death. In the 1950s he played the outlaw Cavendish in the Lone Ranger TV series. The show wrote his character, Fred, out of the latter part of the third season, which was still in production at the time, explaining his absence by saying that he was on a business trip. Bates isnt the only one singing the Gunsmoke actors praises. [6] In addition, Strange was an eighth-generation great-grandson of John Rolfe and Pocahontas through his maternal grandfather. He even performed at cowboy dances. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It can be a source of catharsis for the audience and the crew, and provide a much needed chance to say goodbye to those people the viewers never met, but felt compelled to invite into their homes every week. James Nusser. Whatever show you saw at the end of its 20th season was it, friend. But time keeps moving forward, and inevitably, it catches up to all of us. cancer Frankenstein's monster in films and Sam Noonan, the big, leathery bartender in the tele vision series "Gunsmoke" for 11 years, died last night of cancer at a hospital here, He was 74 years old. In Gunsmoke: Harpes Blood (1961) it is revealed that Sams last name is Noonan. Gunsmoke even had Strange act as a fiddle player in one episode. Strange died of lung cancer in Los Angeles. Prior to landing the bartender role, the actor had portrayed various characters on "Gunsmoke" before then. He played Sam the Bartender in CBS' Gunsmoke. On the big screen, he had meaty roles in films that ran the gamut in quality, from Akeelah and the Bee to The Hills Have Eyes 2. Required fields are marked *. He also had pretty decent runs on General Hospital and L.A. Lawover the course of his career. Shot in nine days. He is best remembered for playing Frankenstein's monster in three Universal films during the 1940s and for his role as Sam Noonan, the bartender on CBS's Gunsmoke television series. Hathorn, Billy (2013). He first appeared on Gunsmoke in 1959 and assumed several roles on the long-running program before he was permanently cast as stolid bartender Sam Noonan, a role he played from 1961 until 1973. Noonans death sparked a massive fan-base. Glenn would play extra or bit roles for a number of years B Western and serials. In some scenes James Arness is a veteran actor who starred in several western-themed movies and television shows. He learned to play guitar and fiddle. He played With Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis, Buck Taylor. She left the show following the death of her co-star Sam the bartender in season eight. He had Irish and Cherokee descent through his father. By the time he was 12, he was performing at cowboy dances. And then, one day, he'll die. Played Assistant Bartender in "Gunsmoke" in 1955. While his role in Gunsmoke was likely his most memorable, Strange had a successful career acting in other. But in a maneuver now widely known as the "Reverse Fast 7," they acknowledged that their audience was mature enough to accept death and made a whole episode about his passing. As the bartender, Strange became a voice of reason and a calming element on the show. Glenn Strange was pretty prolific. Level-headed Sam walked into the bar first in Season 6 and was on the show until his death in 1973 at age 74. In addition to Burt Reynoldss portrayal of Sam the bartender, Glenn Strange also had a significant role on the series. Nevertheless, she is best known for her role as Kitty Russell. Strange was Butch Cavendish, the outlaw that bushwhacks the Texas Rangers in the opening three-parter of the LONE RANGER TV show. He also played The Monster in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). To make up for the lost role, an actor . acted as a heavy in over 230 films. Unfortunately, Colasantodied of a heart condition at age 61 before the show started filming its fourth season. Although she was the lead in Gunsmoke, Blake was not the shows first lead. Glenn Strange portrayed the bartender Sam Noonan, starting in 1961. [citation needed], On September 20, 1973, at age 74, Strange died of lung cancer in Los Angeles, California. A funeral was held, her urn was lost in airline luggage, and the gang had one more of her enormous meals thanks to a freezer full of leftovers. A lone lawman and a chaotic frontier, a stern yet gentle lawman, and moral judgments all of these elements of the Western genre are central to the shows appeal. How was Kitty written off Gunsmoke? They paid tribute to their lost colleague with a touching opening sequence shortly after her passing. Here are a few actors you may have missed. Strange was born in Weed, New Mexico Territory, 13 years prior to New Mexico gaining statehood. His character was killed offscreen, dying of a heart attack, and the show managed to keep a sense of humor about his losswithout being cruel. So how does a show about a guy who can travel anywhere in time deal with death? After the first season of Gunsmoke, the actor was nominated for an Academy Award for his role. After the show ended, Strange went on to pursue a career in photography, which he continued for many years. Strange was cast in five episodes of the ABC Western The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp and three segments of the syndicated Annie Oakley. The Real Reason Chester Was Written Off Gunsmoke. What happened to the first Sam on Gunsmoke? did amanda blake wear a wig on gunsmoke. In one episode, The Fourth Victim, Bates played a bartender who helps Sam get away from the gunfighters. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Reynolds starred in the series for three seasons, and after leaving the show, went on to a successful career as an actor in movies. In later years, his limp made him unable to take part in a long day of filming. He had an insatiable appetite for scenery and a hell of a goatee. as Sam the bartender. Played Fred - Townsman in "Gunsmoke" in 1955. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. As death sequences go, it was pretty funny, and a cool form of tribute to an old Catskills comedian. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. As a teenager, Burt Reynolds played the role of Sam the bartender on the hit show Gunsmoke. However, in 1971, he was forced to temporarily leave the show for just a handful of episodes because he had to undergo heart surgery after suffering a heart attack. One more interesting bit of trivia about Strange. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved Strange learned by ear how to play the fiddle and guitar. google_ad_width = 160; google_color_bg = "000000"; Gunsmoke never had a shot at doing a final farewell episode. He would show up in dozens of episodes, plotting to end the world with everything from nerve gas to killer inflatable chairs. He played Frankenstein in House of Frankenstein in 1944, House of Dracula in 1945, and, just for laughs, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein in 1948. On television, the lead role was played by James Arness, and Stone starred alongside other legends like Roy Rogers and Michael Douglas. This was, primarily, due to the fact that she had been living in Phoenix and was commuting to Los Angeles for filming. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The cast and crew put together a public service announcement on the subject of cardiac health. But how? There, he played Finn Hudson, the star athlete who joined the glee club and did a whole heap of singing. Your email address will not be published. His biographical information states that he was 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 220 pounds. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon, was also impressed with the young actor. After returning to the show, Mack and Waterston were cast in other TV shows. Arness was born James Aurness in Minneapolis on May 26, 1923. One died during the run of the show, in 1973, at the age of 74Glenn Strange, a real New Mexico cowboy who played Sam the bartender. In 1943, he played a badman in the Hopalong Cassidy movie False Colors. Not bad for a character whose face we never saw. Festus finally became deputy marshal because Dillon's deputy of nine seasons, Chester, left the show. She was ready to give CBS President William Paley. google_color_url = "999999"; If youre wondering, theres more than one answer! It belonged to Colasanto and used to hang in his dressing room. George Glenn Strange (August 16, 1899 September 20, 1973) was an American actor who mostly appeared in Western films and was billed as Glenn Strange. It was explained that Coach had died, but not a lot of details were given. What are you going to do? After Gunsmoke wrapped up, Dillon gifted Bates his signature .45 sidearm. One of his first roles was uncredited as a soldier, in tin armor, as part of "Ming's Army", in the science fiction classic serial "Flash Gordon"(1936/I). Although the original radio series ended in 1972, the television series continued to run until 1990. Will Lee, the actor who played Mister Hooper, died of a heart attack in 1982. The shows star cast included actors like William Conrad, Howard McNear, and Milburn Stone. This is a odd coincidence as his father was a bartender in real-life back in Cross Cut. Ferrer had been playing Assistant Director Owen Granger on NCIS: Los Angeles for five years when he passed away due to throat cancer in 2017. Among other TV roles, he capped off his career with a steady (12 years) role as Sam the bartender on the classic Gunsmoke (1955) series from 1962 until shortly before his death from lung cancer in 1973. raised in Texas. Glenn Strange died of cancer in 1973. Strange was born in Weed, New Mexico Territory,[1] 13 years prior to New Mexico gaining statehood. It doesn't just happen to our grandfathers, it happens to the grandfathers of iconic television characters, too. Curtis hometown drunk, Festus, was named after him. He was a former alcoholic, and he had a lust for alcohol. He was an Irishman and Cherokee and was a close relative of Rex Allen. Sams last episode was The Hanging of Newly OBrien, which is a remake of the original novel by Thomas Hardy. In 1961, he began the small, but regular, role as Sam Noonan the bartender in Miss Kittys Long Branch Saloon, Dodge City in the TV show, Gunsmoke. He was given a final goodbye two seasons later, and his character's daughter, Kate, later became a recurring character. Then, in 1998, Hartman was shot to death by his wife, who then killed herself. Sams last name was Noonan. For six seasons, Spencer played Leo McGarry, chief of staff and later counselor to the president for the Bartlett administration. The original series of Gunsmoke aired from September 1955 until the spring of 1975. 200 of them were B westerns. A native New Yorker andex-peanut vendor at Yankee Stadium, he turned to stand-up comedy and later to character acting, despite having no professional theatrical training. He was Sam the bartender at the Long Branch saloon on GUNSMOKE from 1962 until shortly before his death from lung cancer in 1973. [7] 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. Then, the next year, Edna's death was referenced in the Season 25 episode "The Man Who Grew Too Much.". His widow, Nin, and a daugh ter, Janine, survive. During the first season of Mad Men, Pete Campbell was hounded by the disapproval of his father. He suffered from depression and bipolar disorder, and in 2013, after he failed to show up on set, police were sent on a wellness check. To show his gratitude, he insisted his double got a pay raise every single year they worked together. Glenn Strange stood six feet five inches tall and weighed 220 pounds at his peak. In short, he was good at being bad. Beginning in 1949, he portrayed Butch Cavendish, the villain responsible for killing all of the Texas Rangers except one in the long-running television series The Lone Ranger. In the scene in which the monster is discovered in a cave, Strange lay immersed for hours in "faked quicksand" (actually cold mud) waiting for the cameras to roll. In 1973 Dean would sing at Glenns funeral service.