Tom Noonan of Manhunter, RoboCop 2 Fame Dies at 74

Tom Noonan, best known for his roles in RoboCop 2, Manhunter, and Heat, has died at the age of 74 on Valentine’s Day, according to a social media post by director Fred Dekker. The actor often portrayed antagonistic roles during his career and brought memorable characters, including drug kingpin Cain, to the screen.

Fred Dekker confirms Tom Noonan’s passing in heartfelt Facebook post

Tom Noonan, whose body of work included films such as Manhunter, The Monster Squad, and Anomalisa, died on February 14, 2026, at the age of 74.

Fred Dekker, who directed him in The Monster Squad (1987), where Noonan played Frankenstein’s Monster, announced the news on his Facebook account after Karen Sillas initially shared it.

“It’s with great sadness that I share the passing of TOM NOONAN (April 12, 1951 – February 14, 2026),” Dekker announced, “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.”

“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,” he continued, explaining how he pitched the role to the actor. “In the end, he found the make-up arduous [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,” Dekker concluded in his post.

Apart from his acting career, Noonan also wrote and directed films. His directorial debut was What Happened Was… (1994). The film went on to win the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival.

Source: Comingsoon.net