In Character: Tom Noonan

We all know Tom Noonan. Whether he’s masked by monster make-up, shadowing Philip Seymour Hoffman, pulling a cameo in a Michael Mann flick, or terrorizing young women, Tom Noonan is a character actor whose face is impossible to forget. His career is full of such excellent choices. Large roles in tiny films, or tiny roles in large films, Noonan always delivers with his unique brand of restraint. I just love watching this guy work.

Five Essential Roles

Last Action Hero (1993)

Ripper/Tom Noonan

The ax-wielding, rain coat-wearing slimy psycho from Last Action Hero is none other than Tom Noonan. Make-up is a great facilitator for actors to get into character, and while Noonan’s prosthetic work is creepily effective in this film, it’s his performance that sells Ripper. The way he pushes kids off rooftops as if they’re a piece of spoiled food, or bounces around exuberantly, begging Arnold Schwarzenegger for a fight; that voice, that hair – so good. I’ve defended Last Action Hero a lot on this site. As a child of the ‘90s, the film was a staple of my upbringing. So Ripper will always have a special place in my heart (how’s that for a weird sentence?). And for bonus points, Noonan has a great cameo as himself late in the movie. Always good for a laugh.

What Happened Was... (1994)

Michael

In addition to being a stellar character actor, Tom Noonan is a splendid filmmaker in his own right. He’s written, directed and starred in four independent films, the best of which is his Sundance-winning debut feature, What Happened Was. The film is a narrative experiment in which two co-workers go on a first date, and that’s it. Noonan and his costar, Karen Sillas, are literally the only two people in the film, and with the exception of a few opening and closing exterior shots, the entire movie takes place in one small New York City apartment. It’s an interesting concept, but one that’s only going to work if the actors really bring it, which Noonan and Sillas certainly do. As a Tom Noonan fan, it’s so fun to watch him play a normal guy like Michael. And knowing that Noonan is solely responsible for the character makes it that much more enjoyable. What Happened Was is a very worthy ‘90s indie film that deserves more attention. And Noonan’s final scene could very well be the greatest single scene of his career. It’s a thing of such quiet power.

Synecdoche, New York (2008)

Sammy Barnathan

“Well I’ve been… I’ve been following you for 20 years. So I knew about this audition because I follow you. So hire me, and you’ll see who you truly are. Peak-a-boo.”

Sammy Barnathan is a supremely odd character who occupies the supremely odd Synecdoche, New York. By the time we’re officially introduced to Sammy, he informs tortured theater director, Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman), that he’s been following him for two decades. Why? We have no idea, because Caden doesn’t even bother to ask. Instead, Caden hires Sammy to play Caden in a massive theatrical production, which has been stuck in rehearsal for more than a decade. Sammy fits seamlessly into Caden’s world-within-a-world, shadowing Caden (when Caden isn’t shadowing him), studying his every word and gesture. Basically, it’s the kind of peculiar performance that only Tom Noonan could pull off. Or at least pull off as well as he does here.

The House of the Devil (2009)

Mr. Ulman

“Making ‘bad people’ seem human is the key to making them really scary.” That’s what Noonan told the AV Club a few years ago when describing his chilling performance in The House of the Devil. Mr. Ulman hires a college-aged babysitter to watch his child for the night. Simple enough, right? But the moment she arrives at his eerie home, everything about the situation feels off. And this fear can be credited, at least initially, solely to Noonan himself. Rarely has his lanky frame and shaky voice been as effective as it is in this film. Dressed in a tailored black suit and relying on a cane for balance, Mr. Ulman does indeed seem human, he’s just not the kind of human you want to spend an evening with. The House of the Devil is a slow brew horror flick that peaks late, which might have been a problem, were it not for Noonan’s consistently stirring work. Once he enters the film, you simply can’t get him out of your head.

Damages (2009-2011)

Det. Victor Huntley

Noonan’s work on Damages is a grade-A lesson in timing. That might seem like an odd thing to praise, but the moment he showed up as a mild mannered detective for the NYPD on the show, I couldn’t help but be taken by his timing choices. Like most men Noonan plays, Det. Huntley is a little… odd. He walks slowly, talks quietly, and keeps us waiting for the moment he’ll reveal himself to be a psycho. But the best part is, Huntley isn’t crazy. He’s just a normal guy doing his modest best to enact some good in the world. But the way Noonan plays him is a masterclass of subtlety. His abnormal pauses between words, his long stares, his faint smile – it’s the kind of acting choices that I so admire. And the scene where Huntley tries to lovingly persuade Glenn Close’s Patty Hewes to join social media remains a highlight of the series. It’s absolutely priceless.

The Best of the Best

Manhunter (1986)

Francis Dollarhyde

Perhaps this is lazy criticism, but the best way I can describe Noonan’s work as Francis Dollarhyde is to hail it as the exact opposite of Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of the same character in Red Dragon. And don’t get me wrong, I like what Fiennes did with Dollarhyde, but he’s really pushing the crazy fucko factor in that flick. Fiennes is saying Look at me! I’m a goddamn beast freak! while Noonan plays it as Hello, may I shake your hand and slit your throat, at the same time? Two completely different takes on the same character, but my preference will always be Noonan.

Francis Dollarhyde is one of those characters we hear a lot about before actually meeting him. And everything we hear about Dollarhyde is terrifying. He’s a famed serial killer who invades homes and kills entire families, and has yet to be caught. So by the time we meet him, the actor playing him has the difficult job of meeting our expectations. And holy shit, Noonan’s first scene in this film certainly doesn’t disappoint. Panty house cover half his face and a dangerous gleam shines in his eyes as he terrorizes a local reporter. And from there, Noonan is off and running, always remembering to inject humanity in the most depraved of men.

Other Notable Roles

Yeah, he played Frankenstein in The Monster Squad, too

Heaven’s Gate (1980)

Easy Money (1983)

The Monster Squad (1987)

RoboCop 2 (1990)

The Wife (1995)

Heat (1995)

The X-Files (1996)

The Astronaut’s Wife (1999)

Knockaround Guys (2001)

The Pledge (2001)

Seraphim Falls (2006)

Snow Angels (2007)

Louie (2010)

Hell on Wheels (2011-2014)

The Blacklist (2014)

The Leftovers (2014)

The Shape of Something Squashed (2014)
12 Monkeys (2015)