Tom Noonan, Star of ‘The Monster Squad’ and ‘Manhunter’, Has Passed Away

Matt Konopka |

Feb 18, 2026

Tom Noonan in THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL (2009), directed by Ti West. Credit: MPI Media Group / Album

We at Dread are devastated to learn that legendary actor Tom Noonan passed away on Valentine’s Day at the age of 74, per a report from THR.

Tall in stature and with a looming presence over every scene, Noonan was a beloved genre actor. His most memorable performances include the loveable Frankenstein’s Monster in The Monster Squad…the terrifying Francis Dollarhyde in Manhunter…and the ominous Mr. Ulman in House of the Devil. He also appeared in Late Phases, Wolfen, The Alphabet Killer, The Roost, Eight Legged Freaks and The Astronaut’s Wife. Television guest spots included shows such as “The X-Files” and “Monsters”.

Outside of horror, Tom Noonan appeared in RoboCop 2, The Last Action Hero, F/X, Heat, and so many more.

Said The Monster Squad director Fred Dekker in a post on Facebook, “It’s with great sadness that I share the passing of Tom Noonan … Tom’s indelible performance as Frankenstein in The Monster Squad is a highlight of my modest filmography, doubtless aided by the masterful make-up designed by Stan Winston, sculpted by Tom Woodruff Jr., and applied by Zoltan Elek.”

Dekker continued, “Having been knocked out by his performance as Francis Dollarhyde in Michael Mann‘s Manhunter, I desperately wanted Tom to read the script and consider the part, but I knew that nabbing him was probably a long shot. Nonetheless, he agreed to meet me at his Hollywood apartment to discuss the role. In the end, he found the make-up ardous [sic] 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). 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.”

On a personal level, I grew up a monster kid. Noonan’s performance as Frankenstein’s Monster in The Monster Squad remains one of my favorite portrayals of the creature. As a young fan, I wanted to be his best friend. The actor brought a heart and soul to that character that was anything but “bogus”. I’m tempted to revisit the film now, but pretty sure that ending will destroy me in a whole new way.