19 February 2026
Tom Noonan has died aged 74.
Tom Noonan has passed away
The actor and director passed away peacefully on Valentine’s Day (14.02.26), according to his former co-star Karen Sillas.
Karen – who worked alongside Noonan in What Happened Was…, his 1994 film – wrote on Instagram: “My dear friend and co-star, Tom Noonan passed peacefully on Valentine’s Day 2026.
“Working with him in his original off Broadway play, ‘What Happened Was…,’ at the Paradise Factory Theatre in the early nineties, was a turning point for me and my career that still resonates throughout my life and work as an actor. (sic)”
Karen admitted that she feels privileged to have worked with Noonan, who was actually best known for his roles in the RoboCop franchise and for playing Francis Dollarhyde in Manhunter.
She said: “Little did I know when we shot it as a film a year later, we would be creating one of 1990’s most iconic Indies in American cinema.
“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. (sic)”
Noonan began his career in the 80s, when he landed small roles in a number of movies. He achieved a breakthrough in 1986, when he starred in Manhunter, the crime thriller film written and directed by Michael Mann.
Noonan subsequently played Frankenstein’s Monster in The Monster Squad, the horror comedy film directed by Fred Dekker.
The filmmaker has actually taken to social media to pay tribute to the late actor.
Fred said on Facebook: “Tom’s indelible performance as Frankenstein in The Monster Squad is a highlight of my modest filmography … he was the proverbial gentleman and scholar, and the world has lost a great talent.”
In 1990, Noonan starred as Cain, the leader of the Nuke drug cartel, in RoboCop 2, the sequel to the 1987 original.
Noonan also enjoyed success in the TV industry, appearing in shows such as The X-Files and CSI.
