Actor

Glenn Strange

Acting

Career Snapshot

Explained

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Acting credits

214

Prolific

Very extensive acting filmography.

TMDB popularity

1.4

Low visibility

TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.

Movies: 195Series: 19Crew credits: 1

TMDB ID: 30112

IMDb ID: nm0833363

Known for: Acting

Born: August 16, 1899

Died: September 20, 1973

Age: 74

Place of birth: Weed, New Mexico, USA

Gender: Male

Adult content flag: No

Career span: 1931 - 2006

Years active: 76

Average TMDB rating: 6.24

Wikidata: Q1368948

Also known as

George Glenn Strange • Glen 'Peewee' Strange • Glen Strange • Peewee Strange

Other jobs

Stunts (1)

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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 On September 20, 1973, at age 74, Strange died of lung cancer in Los Angeles, California. 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. Strange is interred at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery. CLR