Tom Noonan, Star of 'Manhunter' and 'The Monster Squad,' Dead at 74

Tom Noonan, the towering actor who is best known for portraying Francis Dollarhyde in Manhunter and Frankenstein's Monster in The Monster Squad, has died at 74. The veteran character actor built a highly respected decades-long acting career that included starring in crime thrillers, cult horror films, and action movies.

'The Monster Squad' Director Fred Dekker Announces Tom Noonan Has Died at 74

On February 18, 2026, The Monster Squad director Fred Dekker announced on his Facebook page that Tom Noonan had passed away at the age of 74. "It's with great sadness that I share the passing of TOM NOONAN (April 12, 1951 - February 14, 2026)."

As a Daily Mail article details, Noonan's former What Happened Was… costar, Karen Sillas, confirmed that he died peacefully on Valentine's Day. She also expressed how she felt about her longstanding friendship with Noonan. "What a privilege and crazy fun it was working with this man and calling him my friend to the end… may his legacy continue to shine on."

An article from The Hollywood Reporter states that Noonan was married to the actor Karen Young from 1992 until 1999, and he is survived by his daughter, Wanda, and a son.

How Tom Noonan Became A Cult Classic Actor

Early on in Tom Noonan's career, he landed the role of Francis Dollarhyde in Manhunter, the first movie adaptation of Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lecter novels. A true cult classic film, many consider the 1986 Michael Mann movie to be a masterpiece, and Noonan's performance was key to its acclaim. A crime thriller film that embraces a neo-noir style and distinctly 1980s aesthetic, Manhunter manages to feel stylish, cerebral, and far more grounded than any of the other adaptations of Harris' stories. Noonan's immense size and committed acting allowed him to have a menacing presence in one scene, while his vulnerability and tenderness in others allowed viewers to pity him.

Noonan's other most celebrated role, in 1987's The Monster Squad, allowed him to fully lean into his sweet side as he arguably portrayed the most lovable version of Frankenstein's Monster. While the movie is often remembered for the "nards" line and supernatural action, the bond built between Noonan's monster and a little girl provided the movie with heart. A whole generation of people who grew up in the 1980s will never forget how heartbroken they felt when Phoebe Crenshaw had to say goodbye to Frankenstein's Monster.

While his roles in those two movies alone were enough to cement his status among fans of cult classics, his career went far further than that. Over the course of his time in Hollywood, he portrayed memorable roles in many other films. Some examples of that include Wolfen, Heaven's Gate, RoboCop 2, Last Action Hero, Heat, The House of the Devil, Anomalisa, and Synecdoche, New York.

Our thoughts are with Tom Noonan’s family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.