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
Acted in 214
2000s
- 2000
The Many Faces of Dracula
The Monster (archive footage)
1990s
- 1992
Dracula in the Movies
(archive footage)
- 1991
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
The Monster (archive footage)
1970s
- 1979
The Horror Show
(archive footage)
1960s
- 1966
Spaceship to the Unknown
Robot / Ming soldier / Gocko (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1963
The Adventures of the Spirit
Frankenstein Monster
- 1960
1950s
- 1959
- 1958
Frontier Doctor
TV
Quantrill's Raiders
Todd
- 1957
Gunfire at Indian Gap
Matt
Last Stagecoach West
Sheriff
The Halliday Brand
Townsman
- 1956
The Fastest Gun Alive
Sheriff in Silver Rapids (uncredited)
Backlash
Milliken, Stage Driver (uncredited)
- 1955
The Vanishing American
Beleanth
Judge Roy Bean
TV
The Road to Denver
Big George
Buffalo Bill Jr.
TV
- 1954
- 1953
The Veils of Bagdad
Mik-Kel
The Great Sioux Uprising
Stand Watie
General Electric Theater
Red Herring · 1 episode
- 1952
The Lawless Breed
Ben Hanley
The Lusty Men
Rig Ferris - Foreman (uncredited)
The Legend Of The Lone Ranger
Butch Cavendish
- 1951
Callaway Went Thataway
Cowboy Actor on Saloon set (uncredited)
Texas Carnival
Tex Hodgkins
The Red Badge of Courage
Colonel (uncredited)
Comin' Round the Mountain
Devil Dan Winfield
Double Crossbones
Capt. Ben Avery
- 1950
Comanche Territory
Big Joe
1940s
- 1949
Master Minds
Atlas the Monster
Roll, Thunder, Roll!
Ace Hanlon
Rimfire
Curt Calvin
- 1948
Disaster
Foreman Davis (uncredited)
The Gallant Legion
Renegade
- 1947
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
Lefty
Hollywood Wonderland
Singing Cowboy (clip from "Ride, Cowboy, Ride", 1939) (uncredited)
Sinbad the Sailor
Chief Galley Overseer (uncredited)
- 1946
Up Goes Maisie
Cop (Uncredited)
- 1945
House of Dracula
The Frankenstein Monster
Bad Men of the Border
Sheriff Peters
Renegades of the Rio Grande
Bart Drummond
- 1944
House of Frankenstein
Frankenstein Monster
Harmony Trail
Marshal Taylor
Trail to Gunsight
Duke Ellis, Gang Leader
San Antonio Kid
Frank 'Ace' Hanlon
Silver City Kid
Henchman Garvey
Forty Thieves
Ike Simmons
The Contender
Biff Benham
Valley Of Vengeance
Barker
The Monster Maker
Giant
- 1943
The Woman of the Town
Walker
Death Valley Rangers
The Marshall
False Colors
Sonora
Bullets and Saddles
Jack Hammond
The Return of the Rangers
Frank Martin
Arizona Trail
Henchman Matt
Black Market Rustlers
Corbin (as Glen Strange)
Cattle Stampede
Boss Coulter
Action in the North Atlantic
Jake (uncredited)
The Black Raven
Andy
Western Cyclone
Dirk Randall
Mission to Moscow
Southerner in Montage (uncredited)
Wild Horse Stampede
Henchman Tip
Haunted Ranch
Rance Austin
The Kid Rides Again
Tom Slade
- 1942
Little Joe, the Wrangler
Banker Jeff Corey
Beyond the Line of Duty
Cal (uncredited)
The Mummy's Tomb
Farmer Holding Horse (uncredited)
Overland Stagecoach
Harlen Kent
Come on Danger
Henchman Sloan
Down Texas Way
Sheriff Trump
Romance on the Range
Lead Henchman Stokes
The Mad Monster
Petro
Rolling Down the Great Divide
Joe Duncan
Boot Hill Bandits
The Maverick
Sunset on the Desert
Deputy Louie Meade
Billy the Kid Trapped
Boss Stanton
Raiders of the West
Hank Reynolds
Stagecoach Buckaroo
Henchman Bill
The Lone Rider and the Bandit
Luke Miller
- 1941
Dude Cowboy
Henchman Krinkle
Billy The Kid's Round-Up
Vic Landreau
Lone Star Law Men
Marshal Scott (as Glen Strange)
Go West, Young Lady
Townsman
Arizona Cyclone
Roy Jessup
The Driftin' Kid
Jeff Payson (as Glen Strange)
The Bandit Trail
Idaho
Billy the Kid Wanted
Matt Brawley
Westward Ho-Hum
Movie
Fugitive Valley
Gray
Riders of Death Valley
Tex, a Benton Rider
Saddlemates
Little Bear
- 1940
San Francisco Docks
Mike
The Fargo Kid
Sheriff Dave
Three Men from Texas
Stokes
Wagon Train
Stagecoach driver
Triple Justice
Frank Wiley
Wyoming
Bill Smalley - Henchman
Stage to Chino
Bill Hoagland
Land of the Six Guns
Manny
Pals of the Silver Sage
Vic Insley
Dark Command
Tough Yankee #1
Covered Wagon Trails
Fletcher - Henchman
Rhythm of the Rio Grande
Sheriff Hays (as Glen Strange)
Teddy the Rough Rider
Jim Rawlins
Pioneer Days
Sheriff
1930s
- 1939
Days of Jesse James
Cole Younger
The Llano Kid
Henderson
Overland Mail
Sheriff Dawson
Range War
Sheriff
The Fighting Gringo
Rance Potter
Across the Plains
Jeff Masters
Blue Montana Skies
Bob Causer
The Night Riders
Angry Riverboat Gambler
Rough Riders' Round-up
Boggs
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
Raider Thorne
The Phantom Stage
Sheriff
Arizona Legion
George Kirby
Honor of the West
Bat Morrison
- 1938
Ghost Town Riders
Tex - Henchman
California Frontier
Blackie
Gun Packer
Sheriff
The Mysterious Rider
Henchman Cramer
Black Bandit
Movie
The Mexicali Kid
Foreman Jed
In Old Mexico
Burke
Six Shootin' Sheriff
Kendal Henchman
Air Devils
Messenger
Whirlwind Horseman
Henchman Bull
Call of the Rockies
Henchman Kelso
The Last Stand
Movie
State Police
Henchman
Border Wolves
Deputy Joe O'Connell
The Painted Trail
Sheriff Ed
The Spy Ring
The 'Champ' (uncredited)
- 1937
Adventure's End
Barzeck
The Devil's Saddle Legion
Pewee
Empty Holsters
Tex Roberts
Blazing Sixes
Peewee
The Cherokee Strip
Harry, Fiddle Player and Band Leader
Land Beyond the Law
Bandy Malarkey
Arizona Days
Henchman Pete
- 1936
Guns of the Pecos
Wedding Groom / Rustler
California Mail
Henchman Bud
The Sunday Round-Up
Master of Ceremonies
The Fugitive Sheriff
Trial Spectator (uncredited)
A Tenderfoot Goes West
Prankster Butch
Trailin' West
Henchman Tim / Trooper (uncredited)
Avenging Waters
Henchman Jake
Flash Gordon
Gocko/Robot/Soldier
- 1935
The Law of 45's
Monte
Lawless Range
Burn's Henchman
Moonlight on the Prairie
Stew-Bum
The New Frontier
Norton
Stormy
Arizona Wranglers Band Member 'Peewee' Strange (uncredited)
Cyclone of the Saddle
Singer / Fiddler / Townsman
- 1934
- 1933
The Thrill Hunter
Studio Western Cowboy
- 1932
Ride Him, Cowboy
Hawk Henchman (uncredited)
The Hurricane Express
Jim
- 1931
Cavalier of the West
Trooper
Wild Horse
Cowboy Who Refuses to Ride
Other crew 1
1930s
- 1932
Ride Him, Cowboy
Stunts
Appearances4
2000s
- 2006
I Was a Teenage Movie Maker: Don Glut's Amateur Movies
Self
1990s
- 1999
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
Self (archive footage)
- 1994
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
Self (archive footage)
1950s
- 1955
The Lone Ranger Story
Self - Butch Cavendish