Tom Noonan, the towering character actor known for his chilling portrayal of serial killer Francis Dollarhyde in Manhunter, died February 14th at age 74. No cause was disclosed. Noonan began acting in the late 1970s with small roles before his breakthrough in Manhunter, which was adapted from Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon (and features the first screen appearance of Hannibal Lecter). Noonan became Hollywood’s go-to villain, memorably playing drug lord Cain in RoboCop 2 and Frankenstein’s Monster in The Monster Squad. His extensive filmography also included Heat, 12 Monkeys, Last Action Hero, and The House Of The Devil, plus TV work on The X-Files and CSI.
Tom Noonan, Acclaimed Character Actor And ‘Manhunter’ Villain, Dies At 74
Feb 19, 2026 | 5:56 AM


