Noble Craig

{{Infobox person

| name = Noble Craig

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Noble Henry Craig Jr.

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|8|6|df=y}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|04|26|1948|8|6|df=y}}

| death_place = Torrance, California, U.S.

| death_cause =

| spouse =

| children = 6

| nationality =

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|Stuntman|Mechanic}}

| education =

| alma_mater =

| relations =

| years_active = 1973–1990

| module = {{Infobox military person

| embed = yes

| allegiance = {{flagu|United States}}

| branch = {{army|United States}}

| serviceyears = 1967–1970

| battles = Vietnam War

| unit = 82nd Airborne Division

| rank = Sergeant

}}

Noble Henry Craig Jr. (August 6, 1948 – April 26, 2018) was an American character actor and stunt performer, who became known for his creature roles in horror films after having lost both of his legs and one of his arms in the Vietnam War.{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=John |date=2015-07-27 |title=Noble Craig: A Horror Icon You're Probably Not Aware Of {{!}} Halloween Love |url=https://halloweenlove.com/noble-craig-a-horror-icon-youre-probably-not-aware-of/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |language=en-US}}

Early life and military service

Craig was born in Los Angeles, California on August 6, 1948.{{Cite web |title=Noble Craig Obituary (2018) - Torrance, CA - Daily Breeze |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/dailybreeze/name/noble-craig-obituary?id=52005780 |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Legacy.com}} After graduating from North High School in Torrance, he was drafted into the United States Army on May 3, 1967, during the Vietnam War, and was sent to Vietnam in April 1969. On his twelfth day of duty while serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, he stepped on a buried artillery shell or land mine, causing him to lose both of his legs, his right arm, and most of the sight in his right eye.{{cite book|last1=Bennett|first1=Tara|last2=Terry|first2=Paul|year=2017|title=The Official Making of Big Trouble in Little China|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rq4yDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA138|publisher=Boom! Studios|page=138|isbn=978-1608868711}}

Acting career

After his medical discharge, Craig attended the University of California, Los Angeles on the G.I. Bill. He made his acting debut in the 1973 film Sssssss, in which he played Tim McGraw, "the Snake Man".

He later played a legless monster in the Poltergeist II: The Other Side{{cite magazine|last=Rainone|first=Tom|date=July 1991|title=The Wedding Preparations: Bride of Re-Animator|magazine=Fangoria|publisher=Starlog Group, Inc.|issue=104|page=46|issn=0164-2111}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/top-10-lists/294709/dread-x-rkss-pick-their-top-10-practical-fx-that-messed-up-their-childhood/|title=Dread X: RKSS Pick Their Top 10 Practical FX That Messed Up Their Childhood!|last=Barkan|first=Jonathan|date=May 24, 2019|website=Dread Central|access-date=January 21, 2020}} and a sewer monster in Big Trouble in Little China, as well as a partially dissolved character in The Blob. He briefly portrayed Freddy Krueger in the climax of A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child,{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/videos/3441454/video-pays-tribute-actors-played-freddy-elm-street-films/|title=Video Pays Tribute to the Other Actors Who Played Freddy in the 'Elm Street' Films|last=Squires|first=John|date=June 12, 2017|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=January 21, 2020}} and played one of Herbert West's failed experiments in Bride of Re-Animator.

Personal life

Craig was married twice,{{cite news|last=Conlan|first=Steve|title=Fate Brought Legless Veteran His Answer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42751533/green_bay_pressgazette/|work=Green Bay Press-Gazette|location=Green Bay, Wisconsin|date=April 14, 1973|access-date=January 21, 2020}} and had six children.{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3497462/r-p-creature-performer-noble-craig-unsung-horror-icon/|title=[R.I.P.] Creature Performer Noble Craig Was an Unsung Horror Icon|last=Squires|first=John|date=May 7, 2018|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=January 21, 2020}} Aside from acting, he was an avid sportsman, ran a skeet and trap range, and worked as a mechanic.