Gunsmoke Star Buck Taylor Is 81 Years Old and Looks as Handsome as Ever. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Sent. Strange grew up in the West Texas town of Cross Cut. As a teenager, Burt Reynolds played the role of Sam the bartender on the hit show Gunsmoke. Glenn Strange was born in Weed, New Mexico, on August 16, 1899. In fact, his portrayal of the character became so iconic that, due to an editing error, his face was printed next to Boris Karloff's obituary in newspapers across the country. Your email address will not be published. Eventually in the late 30s, his billing improved and he evolved into a full-time bad guy in hundreds of "B" westerns. In Gunsmoke: Harpes Blood (1961) it is revealed that Sams last name is Noonan. The production made sure that all three characters (Dillon, Chester, and Festus . The Thieves: Directed by Philip Leacock. google_color_url = "999999";
In addition to starring in many popular television series, Bates played many recurring roles including the bartender Sam Jones on Gunsmoke and as a cowboy on Dragnet. The actor was born in Weed, New Mexico Territory, which became part of the state in 1876. He had several roles in western-themed television shows. Required fields are marked *. Louie Pheeters 223 Episodes 1975. Noonans death sparked a massive fan-base. Strange died of cancer in 1973, but his influence on the cast of the series was still felt today. Sam McKay played the bartender in the 1960s, a role he held for six years. See the article in its original context from. This is the most bizarre and sad news of all, especially considering that he was Burt Reynolds' character. Not long after Delgado's passing, third Doctor Jon Pertwee left the program. Click HERE for more stuff
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Marcia Wallace had a remarkable career. In a 1985 interview with the Chicago Tribune, the publication lists that 6-hour drive to Hollywood as the reason why her tenure wrapped up in 1974. The next week, Bill McNeal's role was filled in by Max Louis, played by Hartman's fellow SNL alum Jon Lovitz. To show his gratitude, he insisted his double got a pay raise every single year they worked together. In 1975, two years after Strange's death, his Gunsmoke costar Buck Taylor named his third son Cooper Glenn Taylor after Strange. LOS ANGELES. Strange played the role of Sam Noonan from 1961 until shortly before his death in 1973. He is best remembered for playing Frankensteins monster in three Universal films during the 1940s and for his role as Sam Noonan, the popular bartender on CBS s Gunsmoke television series. He played
Until the Simpsons came along, it was the longest-running prime-time series of all time. In 1959, he appeared in another Western syndicated series, Mackenzie's Raiders, in the episode entitled "Apache Boy". LOS ANGELES. Strange also played a monster in the Bowery Boys horror-comedy Master Minds in 1949, mimicking the brain-transplanted Huntz Hall's frantic comedy movements, with Hall providing his own dubbed voice. Despite very small differences in opinion, the cast had remained friendly during the shows run. Click HERE for more stuff about Glenn Strange. Here, monsters and humans alike congregated, shared meals, and discussed in flagrant disregard of PBS's non-commercial policies which letters and numbers the show was being brought to you by. For the whole 20 years the series was on the air from 1955 until 1975, he appeared in an impressive 605 of 635 episodes, according to IMBD . His career spanned 12 years, starting with the B westerns. He taught himself (by ear) the fiddle and guitar at a young age and started performing at local functions as a teen. Mack, then 42, was one of the most popular characters on the show. Jump to: Photos (11). Glenn Strange was pretty prolific. Maybe Lynne Thigpen's most memorable role, at least for the millennials in the crowd, was as The Chief on Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? Phil Hartman was an American treasure on the same scale as Yosemite, even if he was technicallyborn in Canada. Although she was only 26 at the time, Blake had been part of a singing group that toured fairs and rodeos. CBS/YouTube. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Played Waiter in "Gunsmoke" in 1955. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Actor. He won many awards for his work on the series, including the Emmy Award for Best Actor. Strange learned by ear how to play the fiddle and guitar. Hathorn, Billy (2013). One of his first roles was uncredited as a soldier, in tin armor, as part of "Ming's Army", in the science fiction classic serial "Flash Gordon"(1936/I). Miguel Ferrer had a long career, starting out as a TV actor before breaking into the public eye with his role as the ill-fated vice president of OCP in 1987's RoboCop. Although she was the lead in Gunsmoke, Blake was not the shows first lead. [2], Strange appeared twice as Jim Wade on Bill Williams's syndicated Western series geared to juvenile audiences The Adventures of Kit Carson. [citation needed], In 1932, Strange had a minor role as part of the Wrecker's gang in a 12-part serial, The Hurricane Express, starring John Wayne. His family and cousin were cowboy actors and he was already playing fiddles and singing at cowboy dances by the time he was 12 years old. He was sinister. But how? After Gunsmoke wrapped up, Dillon gifted Bates his signature .45 sidearm. Considering Arness stood at a giant 6-feet 7-inches tall, he likely realized how valuable a great stuntman of that size was. James Nusser. Perhaps another thing that contributed to Blakes departure was the death of Glenn Strange. Bates wrote about the event in James Arness: An Autobiography. George Cleveland was part of a generation of actors who got their start in vaudeville and lived long enough to make it to television. It doesn't just happen to our grandfathers, it happens to the grandfathers of iconic television characters, too. One died during the run of the show, in 1973, at the age of 74Glenn Strange, a real New Mexico cowboy who played Sam the bartender. Not bad for a character whose face we never saw. Gunsmoke is a Technicolor film for action star and war hero Audie Murphy. He died of lung cancer, and Sam Noonan was buried at the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery. However, it remains one of televisions most beloved shows, seen in syndication around the world. Ernie "Coach" Pantusso was a constant presence on Cheers from the beginning of the series. In January 2008, Christopher Allport died tragically in an avalanche while skiing in the San Gabriel mountains in California. Cousin of Rex Allen, Cactus Mack and Lee Lasses White. Gunsmoke was the classic Western tale of a troubled town that needed someone to make sure that law and order was enforced. He was replaced by Woody Harrelson's character Woody, Coach's old "pen pal," with whom he used to exchange pens in the mail. 27 febrero, 2023 . After the shows cancellation, Noonan continued to appear in other westerns, including Smith and Play It As It Lays.. Depending whom you ask, the entire ending of The West Wing was changed by the death of John Spencer. In addition to Burt Reynoldss portrayal of Sam the bartender, Glenn Strange also had a significant role on the series. He played the character from 1961 until his death in 1974. Happy trails, Sam. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon, was also impressed with the young actor. The producers considered writing Hooper out, sending the character off to Florida to retire. James Arness rode the same Buckskin horse (Buck) in this movie as he rode in many episodes of Gunsmoke (1955). To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Strange played the monster a third time in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), with Chaney, Jr. as the Wolf Man and Bela Lugosi in his second screen appearance as Count Dracula. Your email address will not be published. [1] Strange joined the singers after having appeared at a rodeo in Prescott, Arizona. Besides that, he greatly resembled Boris Karloff, best known for his Frankensteins monster role, which led to him landing monster movie parts. During the sixth series' finale, the Doctor calls the nursing home where Lethbridge-Stewart had been living. Sorry if we're blowing some minds here, but it's just the way things are. In 1952, he was cast in the role of Chief Black Cloud in the episode "Indian War Party" of the syndicated The Range Rider. In 1958, they performed at the Albuquerque Arena during the New Mexico State Fair, breaking a house record. No family show in history had depicted the death of a main character on screen before, but they decided to give it a shot. He began his film career with minor appearances in The Way West (1967) and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Season 5 of Mission: Impossible and guest-starred on television in the Western Gunsmoke (1972) and the television films Murder in Texas (1981) and The Shadow Riders (1982). However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. He was a former alcoholic, and he had a lust for alcohol. The series ran from 1955 until 1975, and was one of the longest running prime-time shows on television. Nevertheless, she is best known for her role as Kitty Russell. This is a odd coincidence as his father was a bartender in real-life back in Cross Cut. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". An autopsy later revealed that the 31-year-old actor had passed away after overdosing on alcohol and heroin. Sam McKay played the bartender in the 1960s, a role he held for six years. Glenn Strange portrayed the bartender Sam Noonan, starting in 1961. His death sparked debate and controversy, but he is remembered for being an extremely fast draw. Why so surprising? An accomplished singer, songwriter, and character actor out of Hollywood's golden age, he worked in B-movies and television for decades but was perhaps best known for playing Frankenstein's monster in three different films for Universal: House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. After weeks of the station teasing the public about the sitter's identity, Strange removed his mask and revealed himself as Frankenstein's monster (actually, yet another mask.) James Arness played the heroic Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, serving as a paragon of law and order for the west. Strange could barely walk straight after the day's shooting. He played Sam the bartender on Gunsmoke, a western show that aired for eleven seasons on NBC. Curtis 'Cactus Mack' McPeters, joined the Arizona Wranglers - a
In 1961, he began the small, but regular, role as Sam Noonan the bartender in Miss Kitty's Long Branch Saloon, Dodge City in the TV show, Gunsmoke. Offscreen, however, Young's life was a difficult one. In 1943, he played a badman in the Hopalong Cassidy movie False Colors. He was conniving. (Of course, in the patchwork scene, they said he died.) This is a odd coincidence as his father was a bartender in real-life back in Cross Cut. Permalink. Strange died on Sept. 20, 1973. In 1950, he was cast in his first film, The Cowboy. He had been working as a radio announcer and had small parts in several movies. Level-headed Sam walked into the bar first in Season 6 and was on the show until his death in 1973 at age 74. He was Sam the bartender at the Long Branch saloon on GUNSMOKE from 1962 until shortly before his death from lung cancer in 1973. Horror star Boris Karloff had grown weary and fearful of his Frankenstein Creature typecast and abandoned the role. However, in 1971, he was forced to temporarily leave the show for just a handful of episodes because he had to undergo heart surgery after suffering a heart attack. It should be noted that Boris Karloff, who played the original Frankenstein, coached Strange on playing the role in his off-hours. His work on the show is credited to the . The writers on Mad Menoffed his character in Season 2, where they revealed that he had died in the real life American Flight 1 plane crash, a 1962 airline accident that took the lives of everyone on board. After working on the project, Strange was hired to appear in other horror films including the monster in Spy and Blood in the 1950s. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Then, in 1998, Hartman was shot to death by his wife, who then killed herself. The character of the Master would die and regenerate into a new body, another staple of the show. They consulted child psychologists and fought the network and the sponsors to have Gramps pass away within the show, even being told at one point that they couldn't use the words "death" or "die" to refer to what had happened. During its run, Gunsmoke featured many bartenders, including James Arness. He also played The Monster in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. So it was genuinely heartwarming when the fourth season premiere, "In Memoriam," took the emotional bull by the horns and addressed the passing of actor Luke Perry with some level of grace and reverence. When the network called for Gunsmoke to shut down business in Dodge City, it was surprising news to its stars and fans alike. Glenn Strange stood six feet five inches tall and weighed 220 pounds at his peak. He was given a final goodbye two seasons later, and his character's daughter, Kate, later became a recurring character. In 1944, while Strange was being made up for an action film at Universal, make-up artist Jack Pierce noticed that Strange's facial features and 6'5" height would be appropriate for the role of Frankenstein's monster. Long Branch bartender Sam Noonan reveals a good bit about his young life while talking to a young man on probation for theft. Perry, who had experienced heavy levels of celebrity in the 90s playing Dylan McKay onBeverly Hills, 90210had been a regular member of theRiverdalecast since the show's pilot episode. Shot in nine days. While this was probably Susi's most prolific role, she had a long, fascinating career as a television and movie actress, starting with a recurring role on Kolchak: The Night Stalker all the way back in 1974. Although his most famous role was as the sleazy, scheming Sam the bartender on Gunsmoke, Glenn Strange had a long career in the cinema. Strange worked as a cowboy, fought as a profes sional heavyweight and toured with Hoot Gibson's Rodeo be fore entering films as a stunt man. Your email address will not be published. That same year, he played rancher Pat Cafferty, who faces the threat of anthrax, in the episode "Queen of the Cimarron" of the syndicated Western series, Frontier Doctor. His character was named Mr. He played the nemesis "Butch Cavendish" and later reprised the role, after a prison escape, on "The Lone Ranger" (1949). Gunsmoke, starring James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon, ended its 20-season run on CBS in 1975. While the series may not be a classic, it embodies the new adult vision of the mythic Old West. The resemblance was so strong, a photo of Stranges Frankensteins monster appeared in Karloffs obituary. Instead, they rewrote the ending with McGarry dying on election night and Santos becoming president. Although the original radio series ended in 1972, the television series continued to run until 1990. Gunsmoke: Glenn Strange, Who Played Sam the Bartender, Had Some Wild Roles Before the Show. The producers considered writing Hooper out, sending the character off to Florida to retire. Blake, who portrayed the saloon owner in CBSs popular western TV series, left one season before the show ended. The series later introduced a Norwegian-German actor named Michael Learned as Dillons ex-lover, and Richard Kiley as Chalk Brighton, a die-hard suitor of Matt Dillon. Their sons Rolf and Craig are still alive, but sadly, he died before his daughter. He was 74 years old when he died of cancer. His role as Sam Noonan lasted until the shows cancellation in 1973. Mack had a hard time coping with the alcoholism he was feeling. On the radio, William Conrad played the titular character, Marshall Matt Dillon. While his role in Gunsmoke was likely his most memorable, Strange had a successful career acting in other. How many different bartenders did they have on Gunsmoke? During the shows run, Sam Noonans singing trio was accompanied by singer Dennis Weaver. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. raised in Texas. He would show up in dozens of episodes, plotting to end the world with everything from nerve gas to killer inflatable chairs. While Kroger was replaced by a new therapist, Hctor Elizondo's Dr. Neven Bell, his loss was felt deeply. Growing up in Cross Cut, Texas, his father was a rancher. Who played Sam the bartender on Gunsmoke? Here are a few actors you may have missed. google_ad_height = 600;
The original series of Gunsmoke aired from September 1955 until the spring of 1975. She was ready to give CBS President William Paley. He played a variety of roles in the series, including a recurring character called Quint Asper. The couple had one child, Janine Laraine Strange (born 1939). Death. He married his first wife, Flora Hooper, and later, to Minnie Thompson. The man climbs on Ruth and rides into Dodge City. Buck Taylor, another of Strange's costars on "Gunsmoke," named his son Cooper Glenn Taylor in honor of Strange. However, the Minneapolis-born Peter and James are not related to Nielsen. This is a odd coincidence as his father was a bartender in real-life back in Cross Cut. acted as a heavy in over 230 films. Among other TV roles, he capped off his career with a steady (12 years) role as Sam the bartender on the classic Gunsmoke (1955) series from 1962 until shortly before his death from lung cancer in 1973. Bert Rumsey: Bartender, Sam, Sam, Bartender, Bartender Sam, Long Branch Bartender, Second Bartender, The Bartender, Townsman. When it returned, Hennessy's death was addressed, the program was retitled as just8 Simple Rules, and the paternal void left by Ritter was filled in by James Garner, who came on board as Ritter's father-in-law/grandfather to the teenagers. Then Blake decided it was time to go. But CBS was moving away from westerns and rural comedies by the mid-1970s. In recent years, though, many shows have adopted the approach of dealing with a cast member's death directly: by killing off the character that they were portraying. His father was a rancher and a bartender. Strange died on Sept. 23, 1973, from lung cancer at 74 years old. Monteith's life was both short and difficult. Mack was a relative of Rex Allen and Glenn Strange, and his last co-starring role was in a 1961 episode. For six full seasons, he served as Monk's friend, doctor, and confidant, often unwittingly helping Monk piece together the case he was working on. When she died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage in 2003 at age 54, her character, Ella Mae Farmer, was killed in universe, dying of the cancer she'd been recovering from. Mr. Rangers in the opening three-parter of the LONE RANGER TV show. The Real Reason Chester Was Written Off Gunsmoke. Bert Rumsey: Bartender, Sam, Sam, Bartender, Bartender Sam, Long Branch Bartender, Second Bartender, The Bartender, Townsman. James Arness, the towering actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon, the strong and commanding symbol of frontier justice on the landmark TV western series Gunsmoke, died Friday. [4] Frankenstein's monster [ edit] Strange (left) and Boris Karloff in the 1944 horror film, House of Frankenstein What was Sam the bartender last episode on Gunsmoke? So how does a show about a guy who can travel anywhere in time deal with death? He'll permanently engrain the smell of musk-scented Speed Stick into your memory. Gunsmoke (TV Series 1955-1975) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. But in a maneuver now widely known as the "Reverse Fast 7," they acknowledged that their audience was mature enough to accept death and made a whole episode about his passing. A lone lawman and a chaotic frontier, a stern yet gentle lawman, and moral judgments all of these elements of the Western genre are central to the shows appeal. Arness died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, said family spokeswoman Ginny Fazer. In Season 7, McGarry ran for vice president alongside Jimmy Smits' Congressman Santos. In his spare time, he continued to perform as an actor, and was also an accomplished singer. The cancellation of Gunsmoke came as a surprise to fans, and the cast was unable to put together a farewell episode. Although Arness was not involved in the production of the show, he said that Reynolds had a successful career and continued to appear in several other television shows. Will Lee, the actor who played Mister Hooper, died of a heart attack in 1982. Ferrer had been playing Assistant Director Owen Granger on NCIS: Los Angeles for five years when he passed away due to throat cancer in 2017. Arness role in the show as detective Jim McClain is particularly memorable. Strange played Frankensteins monster in three Universal films in the 1940s, and also played a character named Sam Noonan on the series. Before playing Willie the drunk on Gunsmuke, Glenn Strange acted in several films and television shows. Around 12, he taught himself the fiddle and guitar and began performing in his teenage years. In one episode, The Fourth Victim, Bates played a bartender who helps Sam get away from the gunfighters. She left the show following the death of her co-star Sam the bartender in season eight. By the time he was 12, he was performing at cowboy dances. [5], Strange was 6ft 5in tall and weighed 220lbs. In 1961, he was permanently cast as the stolid bartender Sam Noonan. It was explained that Coach had died, but not a lot of details were given. Strange was Butch Cavendish, the outlaw that bushwhacks the Texas Rangers in the opening three-parter of the LONE RANGER TV show. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
In short, he was good at being bad. He was also seen on nearly 100 other TV western episodes of Cisco Kid, Kit Carson, Gene Autry, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill Jr., Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, Rawhide, Hopalong Cassidy, Rifleman, Judge Roy Bean, Rin Tin Tin, Sky King, etc. Strange was born in Weed, New Mexico Territory,[1] 13 years prior to New Mexico gaining statehood. Is anyone alive from Gunsmoke? His father William Russell Strange was of Irish ancestry, but his mother Sarah Eliza Strange (ne Byrd) was of British ancestry. Played by British actor Nicholas Courtney, the character of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart appeared in more than 100 episodes of the series, also showing up in its various spin-offs, radio dramas, and comic books.