Michael Rooker
Biography
Michael Rooker (born April 6, 1955) is an American actor who mainly plays roles of antagonists. He first rose to prominence for portraying the titular role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) and is best known for starring as Merle Dixon in the AMC series The Walking Dead (2010–2013) and as Yondu Udonta in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), followed by its sequels Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). He is a recurring collaborator of Guardians of the Galaxy director and co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn, appearing in all of his films to date, including Slither (2006), Super (2010), and The Suicide Squad (2021). Rooker's other notable roles include Chick Gandil in Eight Men Out (1988), Frank Bailey in Mississippi Burning (1988), Terry Cruger in Sea of Love (1989), Rowdy Burns in Days of Thunder (1990), Bill Broussard in JFK (1991), Hal Tucker in Cliffhanger (1993), Sherman McMaster in Tombstone (1993), Jared Svenning in Mallrats (1995), Detective Edward Kennesaw in Deceiver (1997), Detective Howard Cheney in The Bone Collector (1999), Detective Jake Riley in Replicant (2001), and Buddy in F9 (2021).
Known For
All Movies (108)
- Superman2025 · as Superman Robot #1 (voice)
- Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 22024 · as Sgt. Major Riordan
- Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 12024 · as Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan
- The Out-Laws2023 · as Agent Oldham
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 32023 · as Yondu
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special2022 · as Yondu
- White Elephant2022 · as Gabriel Tancredi
- Corrective Measures2022 · as Warden Devlin
- Vivo2021 · as Lutador (voice)
- The Suicide Squad2021 · as Savant
- Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR2021 · as Self
- F92021 · as Buddy
- Clerk2021 · as Self
- Love and Monsters2020 · as Clyde
- The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder2020 · as Self
- The Dark Tower2020 · as Elred Jonas
- Fantasy Island2020 · as Damon
- Brightburn2019 · as The Big T
- Bolden2019 · as Pat McMurphy
- The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking2017 · as Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice)
- Life After Flash2017 · as Self
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 22017 · as Yondu
- The Belko Experiment2017 · as Bud Melks
- The Sparrows Are Flying Again! - The Making of the Dark Half2014 · as Himself
- The Driving Dead2014 · as Trooper
- Guardians of the Galaxy2014 · as Yondu Udonta
- Elwood2014 · as Condello
- Brother's Keeper2013 · as Chief Carver
- Pennhurst2012 · as Dr. Death
- Hypothermia2012 · as Ray Pelletier
- Rogue River2012 · as Gas Attendent
- Mysteria2011 · as Captain McCarthy
- Cell 2132011 · as Ray Clement
- Super2010 · as Abe
- DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection2010 · as Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)
- Atlantis Down2010 · as Father / Alien
- The Making of The Walking Dead2010 · as Self
- DC Showcase: Jonah Hex2010 · as Red Doc (voice)
- Blood Done Sign My Name2010 · as Defense attorney Billy Watkins
- Matadors2010 · as John Canterna
- Louis2010 · as Pat McMurphy
- The Marine 22009 · as Church
- Freeway Killer2009 · as Det. St. John
- Penance2009 · as Mann
- Super Capers2009 · as Judge / Dark Winged Vesper
- Humanzee!2008 · as Priest
- This Man's Life2008 · as Richard Crummly
- Jumper2008 · as William Rice
- Whisper2007 · as Sydney Braverman
- Slither2006 · as Grant Grant
- Lenexa, 1 Mile2006 · as Russ
- Repo! The Genetic Opera2006
- Portrait: The Making of Henry2005 · as Self
- Erection of an Epic - The Making of Mallrats2005 · as Self
- Chasing Ghosts2005 · as Mark Spencer
- The Eliminator2004
- Skeleton Man2004 · as Captain Leary
- Saving Jessica Lynch2003 · as Colonel Curry
- On Thin Ice2003 · as Roger Hopkins
- The Box2003 · as Detective Stafford
- The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity2002 · as Colonel Beckett
- Undisputed2002 · as A.J. Mercker
- The Making of 'Tombstone'2002 · as Self
- Replicant2001 · as Jake
- The 6th Day2000 · as Robert Marshall
- Newsbreak2000 · as John McNamara
- Table One2000 · as Rowdy
- Here on Earth2000 · as Malcolm Arnold
- Wicked Ways1999 · as Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan
- The Bone Collector1999 · as Captain Howard Cheney
- Renegade Force1998 · as Matt Cooper
- Brown's Requiem1998 · as Fritz Brown
- Shadow Builder1998 · as Father Vassey
- The Replacement Killers1998 · as Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov
- Deceiver1997 · as Detective Edward Kennesaw
- Song of Hiawatha1997 · as Bertrand
- Keys to Tulsa1997 · as Keith Michaels
- Rosewood1997 · as Sheriff Walker
- Meet Wally Sparks1997 · as Michael Rooker
- Bastard Out of Carolina1996 · as Uncle Earle
- The Trigger Effect1996 · as Gary
- Back to Back1996 · as Bob Malone
- Mallrats1995 · as Svenning
- Johnny and Clyde1995 · as Frank Tennant
- The Hard Truth1994 · as Jonah Mantz
- Suspicious1994 · as Attendant
- Tombstone1993 · as Sherman McMasters
- Cliffhanger1993 · as Hal Tucker
- The Dark Half1993 · as Sheriff Alan Pangborn
- Afterburn1992 · as Casey 'Z' Zankowski
- JFK1991 · as Bill Broussard
- Days of Thunder1990 · as Rowdy Burns
- Music Box1989 · as Karchy Laszlo
- Sea of Love1989 · as Terry
- L.A. Takedown1989 · as Bosko
- The Edge1989 · as Deputy Sheriff (Indian Poker)
- Mississippi Burning1988 · as Frank Bailey
- Eight Men Out1988 · as Chick Gandil
- Above the Law1988 · as Man in Bar
- Retreads1988
- Rent-a-Cop1987 · as Joe
- Light of Day1987 · as Oogie
- Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer1986 · as Henry
- Road Rage— · as Stony
- The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow— · as The Man with the Answers
- Pig Village— · as Steve
- Izzi— · as Sheriff Blackstone
- Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger— · as Self
All TV Shows (36)
- Creature Commandos2024 · as Sam (voice)
- Peacemaker2022 · as Red St. Wild
- What If...?2021 · as Yondu (voice)
- What If...?2021 · as Yondu Udonta (voice)
- Marvel Studios Legends2021 · as Yondu Udonta (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Dead Talk Live2020 · as Self - Guest
- Creepshow2019 · as Beau
- The Righteous Gemstones2019 · as Cobb Milsap
- The Rookie2018 · as Frank Teska
- SEAL Team2017 · as Big Chief
- Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed2016 · as Self
- Ride with Norman Reedus2016 · as Self
- CelebriD&D2015 · as Arnold
- True Detective2014 · as Edward Hoyt
- Talking Dead2011 · as Self
- The Walking Dead2010 · as Merle Dixon
- NSFW Show2009 · as Self - Guest
- Archer2009 · as Sheriff E. Z. Ponder (voice)
- Meteor2009 · as Calvin Stark
- Chuck2007 · as Mauser
- Burn Notice2007 · as Dale Lawson
- Shark2006 · as Oscar Riddick
- Psych2006 · as Garth Lawnmore
- Thief2006 · as Detective John Hayes
- Criminal Minds2005 · as Chief Carlson
- Las Vegas2003 · as Marcus Wexler
- Tremors2003 · as Kinney
- CSI: Miami2002 · as Marty Jones
- Crossing Jordan2001 · as Shawn Curaco
- Stargate SG-11997 · as Colonel Edwards
- The Outer Limits1995 · as Colonel Beckett
- Fallen Angels1993 · as Babe McCloor
- Law & Order1990 · as Jamie Yost
- Gideon Oliver1989 · as Detective John Quinn
- Crime Story1986 · as Lieutenant
- The Equalizer1985 · as Bill Whitaker