Tom Noonan
ActingAbout Tom Noonan
Tom Noonan (April 12, 1951 – February 14, 2026) was an American actor, director, and screenwriter, best known for his roles as Francis Dollarhyde in Manhunter (1986), Frankenstein's Monster in The Monster Squad (1987), Cain in RoboCop 2 (1990), The Ripper in Last Action Hero (1993), Kelso the hacker in Heat (1995), Sammy Barnathan in Synecdoche, New York (2008), Mr. Ulman in The House of the Devil (2009), Reverend Nathaniel in Hell on Wheels (2011–2014), the Pallid Man in 12 Monkeys (2015–2018) and as the voice of everyone else in Anomalisa (2015). Noonan is also a writer and director of theatre and film. His debut feature film What Happened Was (1994) won the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tom Noonan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Tom Noonan Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Tom Noonan reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Tom Noonan's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 38% of Tom Noonan's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Tom Goes to the Bar, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Tom Noonan Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Tom Noonan's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Tom Noonan has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Wonderstruck | Walter | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | Corporate Wars: The Making of 'RoboCop 2' | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Anomalisa | Everyone Else (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Late Phases | Father Roger Smith | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | The Shape of Something Squashed | Douglas Whymper | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Stoney | Charles Stoney | Flop | Similar → |
| 2009 | The House of the Devil | Mr. Ulman | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | The Alphabet Killer | Ray Gullikson | Flop | Similar → |
| 2008 | Synecdoche, New York | Sammy Barnathan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Monster Squad Forever! | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Snow Angels | Mr. Chervenick | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | Seraphim Falls | Minister Abraham | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | Ice Cream Ants | The Thinker | Flop | Similar → |
| 2005 | They're Made Out of Meat | Duncan | Average | Similar → |
| 2005 | The Roost | The Horror Host | Flop | Similar → |
| 2005 | The Making of 'Heat' | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 2004 | Hair High | Principal (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Eight Legged Freaks | Joshua Taft (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Knockaround Guys | Sheriff Decker | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Bullet in the Brain | Anders | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Inside 'Manhunter' | Himself | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | The Pledge | Gary Jackson | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | A Constant Forge | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | The Opportunists | Mort Stein | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | The Photographer | Butler | Flop | Similar → |
| 1999 | The Astronaut's Wife | Jackson McLaren | Average | Similar → |
| 1999 | Wang Dang | Mickey Hounsell | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Phoenix | Chicago | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | The Wife | Jack | Flop | Similar → |
| 1995 | Heat | Kelso | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | What Happened Was... | Michael | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Last Action Hero | Ripper / Tommy Noonan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | The 10 Million Dollar Getaway | Mr. Y | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | RoboCop 2 | Cain | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | Mystery Train | Man in Diner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Collision Course | Scully | Flop | Similar → |
| 1988 | Stephen King's Monster Stories | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | The Monster Squad | Frankenstein | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Manhunter | Francis Dollarhyde | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | F/X | Varrick | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Tom Goes to the Bar | Tom | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | The Man with One Red Shoe | Reese | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Best Defense | Holtzman | Flop | Similar → |
| 1983 | Easy Money | Paddy | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Eddie Macon's Run | Darryl Potts | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Wolfen | Ferguson | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Heaven's Gate | Jake | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Gloria | 2nd Man / Gangster | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Rage! | Bo | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Willie & Phil | Man In Park | Flop | Similar → |
Tom Noonan - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Tom Noonan?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Tom Noonan is "Tom Goes to the Bar" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Tom Noonan acted in?
Tom Noonan has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Tom Noonan?
Other notable films include "Heat", "Synecdoche, New York", and "Monster Squad Forever!".