Ach ... another one gone too soon.
I realize that to a great many readers -- especially newer and/or younger ones -- that a name like Tom Noonan's might not be all that recognizable. Certainly, the actor hasn't exactly been blazing a trail on screens big and small so far as work goes; but to those who might not know his name I'd encourage you to check out his full IMDB.com profile today. The guy was a bit of a legend in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and (especially) Horror with some hugely impressive work turned in almost every time he was called into service. And while you're there, make sure to check out his many award wins at festivals and the like as well. His work was special, to say the least, and here's hoping that the guy gets his due amongst fandom with news of his passing reaching the Information Superhighway today.
As for me? Well, the guy's always been on my radar, all the way back since the days when I remember kinda/sorta discovering what he could do with such a small role aboard an otherwise passable episode of the rarely-celebrated Tales From The Darkside (1983-1988) anthology show. He went on to have a good number of gigs in such celebrated projects as The Monster Squad (1987), RoboCop 2 (1990), and The Last Action Hero (1993), but -- for whatever cruel reason -- he never truly found any major breakout success amongst audiences. Alas, some actors are just that way -- they show up, do big things, and yet notoriety kinda/sorta slips away -- but the guy continued hitting a stride when the cameras were rolling.
As I recall, he did turn in some equally impressive work aboard Syfy's 12 Monkeys during its run on the network; and -- as even IMDB.com asserts -- that was probably his last truly big thing. I know I hadn't seen him in anything since, but his bio on the site suggests that perhaps he turned away from the camera and instead invested his time in stage plays. There's an indication that he also toiled away at fiction, something I'd never known about or come across before. Perhaps he wanted to spend what time he felt he had left leaving behind some indications about what he thought about the world at large, as some talented folks have been known to do once they realize that there are fewer days ahead than there are behind.
Our warmest prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Tom Noonan.
May he rest in peace.
-- EZ
I realize that to a great many readers -- especially newer and/or younger ones -- that a name like Tom Noonan's might not be all that recognizable. Certainly, the actor hasn't exactly been blazing a trail on screens big and small so far as work goes; but to those who might not know his name I'd encourage you to check out his full IMDB.com profile today. The guy was a bit of a legend in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and (especially) Horror with some hugely impressive work turned in almost every time he was called into service. And while you're there, make sure to check out his many award wins at festivals and the like as well. His work was special, to say the least, and here's hoping that the guy gets his due amongst fandom with news of his passing reaching the Information Superhighway today.
As for me? Well, the guy's always been on my radar, all the way back since the days when I remember kinda/sorta discovering what he could do with such a small role aboard an otherwise passable episode of the rarely-celebrated Tales From The Darkside (1983-1988) anthology show. He went on to have a good number of gigs in such celebrated projects as The Monster Squad (1987), RoboCop 2 (1990), and The Last Action Hero (1993), but -- for whatever cruel reason -- he never truly found any major breakout success amongst audiences. Alas, some actors are just that way -- they show up, do big things, and yet notoriety kinda/sorta slips away -- but the guy continued hitting a stride when the cameras were rolling.
As I recall, he did turn in some equally impressive work aboard Syfy's 12 Monkeys during its run on the network; and -- as even IMDB.com asserts -- that was probably his last truly big thing. I know I hadn't seen him in anything since, but his bio on the site suggests that perhaps he turned away from the camera and instead invested his time in stage plays. There's an indication that he also toiled away at fiction, something I'd never known about or come across before. Perhaps he wanted to spend what time he felt he had left leaving behind some indications about what he thought about the world at large, as some talented folks have been known to do once they realize that there are fewer days ahead than there are behind.
Our warmest prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Tom Noonan.
May he rest in peace.
-- EZ
RSS Feed