---
name: "Tom Noonan"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/tom-noonan"
fi1m_id: "tom-noonan"
imdb_id: "nm0006888"
tmdb_id: 119232
wikidata_id: "Q1339951"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "12 April 1951"
died: "14 February 2026"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 12
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-04T23:17:05.710021+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Tom Noonan

## Identity

Tom Noonan

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tom-noonan
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** tom-noonan
- **IMDb ID:** nm0006888
- **TMDB ID:** 119232
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1339951
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Noonan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1339951, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006888/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/119232

Actor. Born 12 April 1951 in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA. Died 14 February 2026.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 12 April 1951, Greenwich, Connecticut, USA
- **Died:** 14 February 2026
- **Active:** 1980–2015
- **Also known as:** Richmond Arrley, Lodovico Sorret, Ludovico Sorret, تام نونان, Thomas Patrick Noonan
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 12: 11 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Charlie Kaufman](https://film.one/person/charlie-kaufman.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 80 (3), 1990s 76 (2), 2000s 81 (3), 2010s 71 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 71 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 9, Crime 5, Action 2, Comedy 2, Mystery 2, Thriller 2
- **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $351m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Noonan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1339951, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006888/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/119232

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Manhunter*](https://film.one/film/manhunter.md) (84), [*Gloria*](https://film.one/film/gloria-1980.md) (78), [*Last Action Hero*](https://film.one/film/last-action-hero.md) (62)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Synecdoche, New York*](https://film.one/film/synecdoche-new-york.md) (84)
- **AMC+:** [*Hell on Wheels*](https://film.one/tv/hell-on-wheels.md) (52)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Tom Noonan

> Tom Noonan could make threatening men frightening without raising his voice. We value the fear and humanity he allowed them, though his repeated casting in sinister parts can give a narrow impression of what he could do.

Tom Noonan keeps his voice quiet when a less patient actor might start shouting. In *Manhunter* (1986), his Francis Dollarhyde is frightening partly because Noonan lets the man's own fear show. We found him disturbing because that fear made it harder to watch him simply as a criminal waiting to be caught. Michael Mann's thriller needs that complication: without it, the investigation could become an exercise in solving a puzzle. Noonan gives us a person whose behaviour demands attention, however uncomfortable that attention becomes.

That part brought him notice, but repeated casting in sinister supporting roles could make his work look narrower than it was. His height suited those parts; his quiet, ironic delivery was the more interesting tool. With *What Happened Was…* (1994), he wrote, directed and starred in an intimate, dialogue-led film drawn from his own play. That is a useful place to look beyond the threatening men. Mann also cast him as Kelso in *Heat* (1995).

Charlie Kaufman found another use for him as Sammy Barnathan in *Synecdoche, New York* (2008), a drama about a man staging his own life. The film is funny and distressing, with Philip Seymour Hoffman making its complications matter. Its repeated reminders of mortality can test our patience, but it rewards the effort it asks of us. In *Anomalisa* (2015), Noonan supplies nearly all the supporting voices, a substantial use of an actor so often noticed first for his physical presence. He does it without relying on a succession of vocal tricks.

The risk is that we recognise the sinister casting and stop paying attention to the acting. A tall, still man is an easy way of suggesting trouble, and he was repeatedly asked to supply it. In *Manhunter*, we get enough time with Dollarhyde to find more than that, without the film leaning heavily on graphic violence. Start there, then try *What Happened Was…* before deciding that being frightening was all he could do.

## Biography

Tom Noonan (1951–2026) was an American actor, director and screenwriter. He appeared in numerous films and television series, including as Francis Dollarhyde in *Manhunter* (1986), Kelso in *Heat* (1995), Sammy Barnathan in *Synecdoche, New York* (2008) and Mr. Ulman in *The House of the Devil* (2009). He also provided the voice of everyone except the two main characters in *Anomalisa* (2015).

Noonan founded the Paradise Factory theatre in Manhattan in the early 1980s and wrote and directed plays there. His debut feature film as writer-director, *What Happened Was...* (1994), won the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival. He was the brother of playwright John Ford Noonan.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (12)

### Performed in (11) — the average rests on these

- *Anomalisa* (2015), Fi1m 82, as Everyone Else (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/anomalisa.md)
- *The Leftovers* (2014), Fi1m 87, as Casper — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-leftovers.md)
- *The Blacklist* (2013), Fi1m 63, as The Stewmaker — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Hell on Wheels* (2011), Fi1m 52, as Reverend Cole — [page](https://film.one/tv/hell-on-wheels.md)
- *Synecdoche, New York* (2008), Fi1m 84, as Sammy Barnathan — [page](https://film.one/film/synecdoche-new-york.md)
- *Damages* (2007), Fi1m 78, as Detective Victor Huntley — [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Heat* (1995), Fi1m 91, as Kelso — [page](https://film.one/film/heat.md)
- *Last Action Hero* (1993), Fi1m 62, as Ripper / Tommy Noonan — [page](https://film.one/film/last-action-hero.md)
- *Manhunter* (1986), Fi1m 84, as Francis Dollarhyde — [page](https://film.one/film/manhunter.md)
- *Gloria* (1980), Fi1m 78, as 2nd Man / Gangster — [page](https://film.one/film/gloria-1980.md)
- *Heaven's Gate* (1980), Fi1m 79, as Jake — [page](https://film.one/film/heavens-gate.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Where the Wild Things Are* (2009), Fi1m 80, Thanks — [page](https://film.one/film/where-the-wild-things-are.md)

## Complete filmography (79)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Wonderstruck* (2017), as Walter
- *Dimension 404* (2017), series, as Bob (voice)
- *Quarry* (2016), series, as Oldcastle
- *Horace and Pete* (2016), series, as Tom
- *Anomalisa* (2015), as Everyone Else (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/anomalisa.md)
- *12 Monkeys* (2015), series, as Pallid Man
- *Late Phases* (2014), as Father Roger Smith
- *The Leftovers* (2014), series, as Casper — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-leftovers.md)
- *The Shape of Something Squashed* (2014), as Douglas Whymper · Director
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as The Stewmaker — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Hell on Wheels* (2011), series, as Reverend Cole — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/tv/hell-on-wheels.md)
- *The Cape* (2011), series, as Preston Holloway
- *Louie* (2010), series, as Dr. Haveford — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/louie.md)
- *Stoney* (2010), as Charles Stoney
- *Bright Falls* (2010), series, as Hal (voice)
- *The House of the Devil* (2009), as Mr. Ulman
- *Where the Wild Things Are* (2009), Thanks — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/where-the-wild-things-are.md)
- *The Alphabet Killer* (2008), as Ray Gullikson
- *Synecdoche, New York* (2008), as Sammy Barnathan — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/synecdoche-new-york.md)
- *June Weddings* (2007), as RJ
- *Damages* (2007), series, as Detective Victor Huntley — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Snow Angels* (2007), as Mr. Chervenick
- *Seraphim Falls* (2007), as Minister Abraham
- *Kidnapped* (2006), series, Actor
- *Ice Cream Ants* (2006), as The Thinker
- *They're Made Out of Meat* (2005), as Duncan
- *The Roost* (2005), as The Horror Host
- *A Buck's Worth* (2005), Actor
- *Jonny Zero* (2005), series, as Chucky
- *The Jury* (2004), series, Actor
- *Hair High* (2004), as Principal (voice)
- *Madness and Genius* (2003), as Frank Donovan
- *Eight Legged Freaks* (2002), as Joshua Taft (uncredited)
- *Knockaround Guys* (2001), as Sheriff Decker
- *Bullet in the Brain* (2001), as Anders
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Malcolm Bryce
- *An Unpredictable Thing* (2001), Writer
- *The Pledge* (2001), as Gary Jackson
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Zephyr
- *The Opportunists* (2000), as Mort Stein
- *The Photographer* (2000), as Butler
- *The Beat* (2000), series, as Howard Schmidt
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Jake Berlin
- *The Astronaut's Wife* (1999), as Jackson McLaren
- *Wang Dang* (1999), as Mickey Hounsell · Director
- *Phoenix* (1998), as Chicago
- *Early Edition* (1996), series, as Frank Price
- *The Wife* (1996), as Jack · Editor, Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer, Theatre Play
- *Heat* (1995), as Kelso — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/heat.md)
- *The Pesky Suitor* (1995), Editor, Producer
- *What Happened Was...* (1994), as Michael · Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director, Editor
- *The X-Files* (1993), series, as John Lee Roche — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md)
- *Last Action Hero* (1993), as Ripper / Tommy Noonan — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/last-action-hero.md)
- *Bone Daddy* (1991), Writer, Director
- *Red Wind* (1991), Writer, Producer
- *The 10 Million Dollar Getaway* (1991), as Mr. Y
- *RoboCop 2* (1990), as Cain
- *Mystery Train* (1989), as Man in Diner
- *Collision Course* (1989), as Scully
- *Monsters* (1988), series, as Howard Mitla · Director, Writer
- *Stephen King's Monster Stories* (1988), Actor
- *The Monster Squad* (1987), as Frankenstein
- *Manhunter* (1986), as Francis Dollarhyde — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/manhunter.md)
- *F/X* (1986), as Varrick
- *North and South* (1985), series, as Will Fenway
- *Tom Goes to the Bar* (1985), as Tom
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Brandon Thorton
- *The Man with One Red Shoe* (1985), as Reese
- *Tales from the Darkside* (1984), series, as Bill Lacey
- *Best Defense* (1984), as Holtzman
- *Doris and Inez Speak the Truth* (1984), Actor
- *Easy Money* (1983), as Paddy
- *Eddie Macon's Run* (1983), as Darryl Potts
- *Wolfen* (1981), as Ferguson
- *Heaven's Gate* (1980), as Jake — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/heavens-gate.md)
- *Gloria* (1980), as 2nd Man / Gangster — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/gloria-1980.md)
- *Rage!* (1980), as Bo
- *Willie & Phil* (1980), as Man In Park
- *Roadside Picnic*, series, as Dr. Kirill

## Gallery

- ![Actor Tom Noonan at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan. Photographed by Luigi Novi. This photo may only be used if the photographer is properly credited. (Se (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/95353/gallery-081e2986d0fb.jpg) Actor Tom Noonan at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan. Photographed by Luigi Novi. This photo may only be used if the photographer is properly credited. (Se (2009) — Nightscream, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/10.17.09TomNoonanByLuigiNovi.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Actor Tom Noonan at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan. Photographed by Luigi Novi. This photo may only be used if the photographer is properly credited. (Se (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/95353/gallery-7fa650511375.jpg) Actor Tom Noonan at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan. Photographed by Luigi Novi. This photo may only be used if the photographer is properly credited. (Se (2009) — Nightscream, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/10.17.2009_Tom_Noonan_by_Luigi_Novi_%28cropped-J1%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Tom Noonan](https://film.one/media/person/95353/gallery-e3822492cf32.jpg) Tom Noonan — Image via TMDB
- ![Tom Noonan](https://film.one/media/person/95353/gallery-c1fae9048a8f.jpg) Tom Noonan — Image via TMDB
- ![Tom Noonan](https://film.one/media/person/95353/gallery-1936e7b7abcd.jpg) Tom Noonan — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- Independent Spirit Awards 1995: Best First Screenplay (nominated), for *What Happened Was*
- Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Award 1994: Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Award (won), for *What Happened Was*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/tom-noonan