Glenn Strange
Known for Acting · 217 credits
- Born
- 1899-08-16
- Died
- 1973-09-20
- Place of birth
- Weed, New Mexico, USA
- Also known as
- George Glenn Strange · Glen 'Peewee' Strange · Glen Strange · Peewee Strange
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
Known For
TV Shows (19)
The Rifleman
1958
as Stage Diver
Petticoat Junction
1963
as Hawley
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955
Rawhide
1959
as Bartender
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Cavendish / Butch Cavendish
Gunsmoke
1955
as Sam Noonan / Sam (uncredited) / Man
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as The Monster
Thriller
1960
as Indian (scenes deleted)
Sugarfoot
1957
as Red Wing
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
The Abbott and Costello Show
1952
as Tessie's Steady Boyfriend
The Adventures of Kit Carson
1951
26 Men
1957
Hopalong Cassidy
1952
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
1955
Buffalo Bill Jr.
1955
General Electric Theater
1953
as Red Herring
Frontier Doctor
1958
Judge Roy Bean
1955
Movies (198)
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
1957
as Pierce Henchman in Saloon (uncredited)
Red River
1948
as Naylor (uncredited)
Marty
1955
as Bit Role (uncredited)
The Desperadoes
1943
as Lem - Jack's Gang Member
Backlash
1956
as Milliken, Stage Driver (uncredited)
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
1991
as The Monster (archive footage)
Last Train from Gun Hill
1959
as Gun Hill Bouncer
Calamity Jane
1953
as Prospector (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
1948
as The Monster
The Spoilers
1942
as Deputy (uncredited)
House of Dracula
1945
as The Frankenstein Monster
Oklahoma Terror
1939
as Ross Haddon
Cattle Stampede
1943
as Boss Coulter
Flash Gordon
1936
as Gocko/Robot/Soldier
Sinbad the Sailor
1947
as Chief Galley Overseer (uncredited)
The Range Feud
1931
Westward Ho
1935
as Carter
Texas Carnival
1951
as Tex Hodgkins
Alias Jesse James
1959
as James Gang Member
Wild Horse
1931
as Cowboy Who Refuses to Ride
Escape from Fort Bravo
1953
as Sergeant Compton (uncredited) / Sgt. Compton (uncredited)
Lawless Range
1935
as Burn's Henchman
Double Crossbones
1951
as Capt. Ben Avery
Haunted Ranch
1943
as Rance Austin
California Mail
1936
as Henchman Bud
Dark Command
1940
as Tough Yankee #1
Overland Mail
1939
as Sheriff Dawson
The Sea of Grass
1947
as Bill Roach - Brewton Ranch Hand (uncredited)
Comanche Territory
1950
as Big Joe
The Red Badge of Courage
1951
as Colonel (uncredited)
Comin' Round the Mountain
1951
as Devil Dan Winfield
The Fastest Gun Alive
1956
as Sheriff in Silver Rapids (uncredited)
Arizona Legion
1939
as George Kirby
Action in the North Atlantic
1943
as Jake (uncredited)
Badlands of Dakota
1941
as Bob Russell
House of Frankenstein
1944
as Frankenstein Monster
State Police
1938
as Henchman
Devil's Canyon
1953
as Marshal (uncredited)
The Horror Show
1979
as (archive footage)
The Kansan
1943
as 2nd Gate Guard
Overland Stagecoach
1942
as Harlen Kent
Triple Justice
1940
as Frank Wiley
The Hurricane Express
1932
as Jim
Dude Cowboy
1941
as Henchman Krinkle
The Night Riders
1939
as Angry Riverboat Gambler
Beyond the Line of Duty
1942
as Cal (uncredited)
Saratoga Trunk
1945
as Cowboy (uncredited)
Alaska
1944
as Miner
The Lusty Men
1952
as Rig Ferris - Foreman (uncredited)
The Mummy's Tomb
1942
as Farmer Holding Horse (uncredited)
Avenging Waters
1936
as Henchman Jake
Mission to Moscow
1943
as Southerner in Montage (uncredited)
Four Faces West
1948
as Posse Deputy (uncredited)
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
1947
as Lefty
The Black Raven
1943
as Andy
Blazing Sixes
1937
as Peewee
The Lawless Breed
1952
as Ben Hanley
Cattle Queen of Montana
1954
as Indian Chief (uncredited)
Border Wolves
1938
as Deputy Joe O'Connell
Last Stagecoach West
1957
as Sheriff
The Star Packer
1934
as Loco Frank
San Francisco Docks
1940
as Mike
Sunset Trail
1939
as Bouncer
Wide Open Town
1941
as Henchman Ed Stark
Air Devils
1938
as Messenger
Callaway Went Thataway
1951
as Cowboy Actor on Saloon set (uncredited)
Adventure's End
1937
as Barzeck
Fugitive Valley
1941
as Gray
Roll, Thunder, Roll!
1949
as Ace Hanlon
Days of Jesse James
1939
as Cole Younger
Knickerbocker Holiday
1944
as Big Muscle
Pride of the West
1938
as Saunders
Little Joe, the Wrangler
1942
as Banker Jeff Corey
Sonora Stagecoach
1944
as Paul Kenton
The Mad Monster
1942
as Petro
Three Men from Texas
1940
as Stokes
The New Frontier
1935
as Norton
Valley Of Vengeance
1944
as Barker
Bullets and Saddles
1943
as Jack Hammond
Saddlemates
1941
as Little Bear
Dracula in the Movies
1992
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
1999
as Self (archive footage)
The Kid Rides Again
1943
as Tom Slade
Forty Thieves
1944
as Ike Simmons
The Man from Hell
1934
as Singer
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
1991
as The Monster (archive footage)
Cavalier of the West
1931
as Trooper
Death Valley Rangers
1943
as The Marshall
Riders of Death Valley
1941
as Tex, a Benton Rider
Hollywood Wonderland
1947
as Singing Cowboy (clip from "Ride, Cowboy, Ride", 1939) (uncredited)
Billy the Kid Trapped
1942
as Boss Stanton
The Veils of Bagdad
1953
as Mik-Kel
The Road to Denver
1955
as Big George
Quantrill's Raiders
1958
as Todd
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
1994
as Self (archive footage)
The Fargo Kid
1940
as Sheriff Dave
Range War
1939
as Sheriff
The Halliday Brand
1957
as Townsman
Raiders of the West
1942
as Hank Reynolds
The Lone Rider and the Bandit
1942
as Luke Miller
Gun Packer
1938
as Sheriff
False Colors
1943
as Sonora
Sunset on the Desert
1942
as Deputy Louie Meade
Land Beyond the Law
1937
as Bandy Malarkey
Across the Plains
1939
as Jeff Masters
The Great Sioux Uprising
1953
as Stand Watie
Whirlwind Horseman
1938
as Henchman Bull
Pioneer Days
1940
as Sheriff
The Contender
1944
as Biff Benham
The Mysterious Rider
1938
as Henchman Cramer
Land of the Six Guns
1940
as Manny
Western Mail
1942
as Sheriff Big Bill Collins
The Legend Of The Lone Ranger
1952
as Butch Cavendish
Trail to Gunsight
1944
as Duke Ellis, Gang Leader
The Devil's Saddle Legion
1937
as Pewee
Rimfire
1949
as Curt Calvin
Bad Men of the Border
1945
as Sheriff Peters
The Woman of the Town
1943
as Walker
The Monster Maker
1944
as Giant
The Gallant Legion
1948
as Renegade
About Glenn Strange
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 kn… With 217 credits spanning from 1931 to 2006, Glenn Strange has appeared in 198 films and 19 TV shows.
Fans searching for Glenn Strange movies, Glenn Strange filmography, or the latest projects starring Glenn Strange can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Glenn Strange Movies
- Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) — as Pierce Henchman in Saloon (uncredited)
- Red River (1948) — as Naylor (uncredited)
- Marty (1955) — as Bit Role (uncredited)
- The Desperadoes (1943) — as Lem - Jack's Gang Member
- Backlash (1956) — as Milliken, Stage Driver (uncredited)
Where to Watch Glenn Strange Films
Most Glenn Strange movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Glenn Strange, check our movies catalogue and browse page.