Tom Noonan, the acclaimed actor and filmmaker celebrated for his menacing screen presence, has died at 74.
The star, renowned for portraying villains in Hollywood productions including RoboCop 2, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 14.
No cause of death for the actor has been made public.
His former colleague Karen Sillas broke the news via Instagram on Wednesday, sharing a heartfelt message about their professional relationship.
Tom Noonan has died at 74
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“My dear friend and co-star, Tom Noonan passed peacefully on Valentine’s Day 2026,” Ms Sillas wrote.
“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.”
Mr Noonan first gained widespread recognition through his performance as serial killer Francis Dollarhyde in Michael Mann’s 1986 thriller Manhunter.
The collaboration with Mr Mann continued nearly a decade later when Noonan appeared in the 1995 crime epic Heat, sharing scenes with Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer.
His portrayal of Cain, the ruthless leader of the Nuke drug cartel in RoboCop 2, cemented his reputation as a formidable on-screen antagonist.
The 1990 sequel followed the original film’s commercial success, though it received mixed critical reception.
Beyond the signature roles, Mr Noonan’s filmography included The Monster Squad in 1987, where he played Frankenstein’s Monster, Last Action Hero in 1993, Synecdoche, New York in 2008 and The House of the Devil in 2009.
Mr Noonan’s talents extended well beyond acting, and he established himself as an accomplished writer and director.
Tom Noonan starred in RoboCop 2
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His 1994 film What Happened Was…, adapted from his own stage play, earned both the Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Ms Sillas, who starred alongside him in the production, described it as “one of 1990’s most iconic Indies in American cinema.”
Television audiences knew Mr Noonan through substantial recurring roles across several series.
He portrayed Detective Victor Huntley in the legal thriller Damages from 2007 to 2012, Reverend Nathaniel in the western drama Hell on Wheels between 2011 and 2014, and the Pallid Man in the science fiction series 12 Monkeys from 2015 to 2018.
Social media tributes have flooded in for Tom Noonan
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His final screen appearance came in 2017’s Wonderstruck, a mystery drama featuring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams.
Tributes poured in across social media following news of Mr Noonan’s death, with fans celebrating his distinctive contribution to cinema.
One admirer on X described him as the “perfect bad guy,” while another praised RoboCop 2 as “one of the most underrated sequels of all time,” crediting Mr Noonan’s villainous turn as a key factor.
Others highlighted his versatility and consistent quality.
