‘Manhunter’ Villain and Sundance-Winning Indie Director Was 74

Tom Noonan, the distinctive character actor, playwright and filmmaker best known for his haunting turn in “Manhunter” and his Sundance-winning indie “What Happened Was…,” has died. He passed away peacefully on Valentine’s Day 2026, according to his former co-star Karen Sillas.

Sillas shared the news on Instagram, writing,

“My dear friend and costar, Tom Noonan passed peacefully on Valentine’s Day 2026. Working with him in his original off Broadway play, ‘What Happened Was…,’ at the Paradise Factory Theater in the early nineties, was a turning point for me and my career that still resonates throughout my life and work as an actor.”

She continued,

“Little did I know when we shot it as a film a year later, we would be creating one of 1990’s most iconic Indies in American cinema. What a privilege and crazy fun it was working with this man and calling him my friend to the end… may his Legacy continue to shine on.”

Breakthrough Villain in “Manhunter”

Tom Noonan built a singular career across film, television and the stage, often gravitating toward emotionally complex outsiders and quietly menacing figures. He was widely recognized for playing serial killer Francis Dollarhyde in Manhunter, directed by Michael Mann, a performance that left an indelible mark on the modern thriller and helped define the screen portrayal of Thomas Harris’ infamous antagonist.

An Indie Landmark With “What Happened Was…”

Beyond acting, Noonan was an accomplished writer and director. His 1994 film What Happened Was…, adapted from his own stage play, premiered at Sundance, where it won the Grand Jury Prize. The two-hander, starring Noonan and Sillas, became a touchstone of 1990s American independent cinema for its raw intimacy and emotional precision.

A Career Spanning Film and Television

Over the decades, Noonan appeared in films including The Last Action Hero and Synecdoche, New York, and on television in series such as Damages and Hell on Wheels. Whether onstage in downtown New York or onscreen in studio features, he brought an unmistakable gravity and intelligence to his work.

Further details, including survivors, were not immediately available.