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Michael Rooker

Michael Rooker

Known for: Acting

Born 06/04/1955
Place of birth Jasper, Alabama, USA

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).

Filmography

The Rookie Series ★ 8,5

The Rookie

Frank Teska

2018

Law & Order Series ★ 7,3

Law & Order

Jamie Yost

1990

Criminal Minds Series ★ 8,3

Criminal Minds

Chief Carlson

2005

The Walking Dead Series ★ 8,1

The Walking Dead

Merle Dixon

2010

NSFW Show Series

NSFW Show

Self - Guest

2009

Stargate SG-1 Series ★ 8,3

Stargate SG-1

Colonel Edwards

1997

CSI: Miami Series ★ 7,7

CSI: Miami

Marty Jones

2002

Psych Series ★ 7,9

Psych

Garth Lawnmore

2006

True Detective Series ★ 8,3

True Detective

Edward Hoyt

2014

SEAL Team Series ★ 8,0

SEAL Team

Big Chief

2017

Superman Film ★ 7,3

Superman

Superman Robot #1 (voice)

2025

What If...? Series ★ 8,0

What If...?

Yondu (voice)

2021

What If...? Series ★ 8,0

What If...?

Yondu Udonta (voice)

2021

Peacemaker Series ★ 8,2

Peacemaker

Red St. Wild

2022

Las Vegas Series ★ 7,0

Las Vegas

Marcus Wexler

2003

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Film ★ 7,9

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Yondu

2023

Chuck Series ★ 7,7

Chuck

Mauser

2007

Archer Series ★ 7,9

Archer

Sheriff E. Z. Ponder (voice)

2009

Crossing Jordan Series ★ 7,2

Crossing Jordan

Shawn Curaco

2001

Burn Notice Series ★ 7,5

Burn Notice

Dale Lawson

2007

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Film ★ 7,6

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Yondu

2017

The Righteous Gemstones Series ★ 7,5

The Righteous Gemstones

Cobb Milsap

2019

The Suicide Squad Film ★ 7,5

The Suicide Squad

Savant

2021

The Equalizer Series ★ 7,1

The Equalizer

Bill Whitaker

1985

The Outer Limits Series ★ 7,7

The Outer Limits

Colonel Beckett

1995

Fallen Angels Series ★ 6,6

Fallen Angels

Babe McCloor

1993

Guardians of the Galaxy Film ★ 7,9

Guardians of the Galaxy

Yondu Udonta

2014

Marvel Studios Legends Series ★ 7,4

Marvel Studios Legends

Yondu Udonta (archive footage) (uncredited)

2021

Creature Commandos Series ★ 7,8

Creature Commandos

Sam (voice)

2024

Shark Series ★ 6,7

Shark

Oscar Riddick

2006

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Film ★ 7,1

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Yondu

2022

Brightburn Film ★ 6,2

Brightburn

The Big T

2019

Crime Story Series ★ 8,0

Crime Story

Lieutenant

1986

Creepshow Series ★ 7,4

Creepshow

Beau

2019

Talking Dead Series ★ 7,2

Talking Dead

Self

2011

Mallrats Film ★ 6,8

Mallrats

Svenning

1995

Tombstone Film ★ 7,6

Tombstone

Sherman McMasters

1993

F9 Film ★ 7,0

F9

Buddy

2021

Jumper Film ★ 6,2

Jumper

William Rice

2008

Fantasy Island Film ★ 5,8

Fantasy Island

Damon

2020

Days of Thunder Film ★ 6,4

Days of Thunder

Rowdy Burns

1990

Above the Law Film ★ 6,1

Above the Law

Man in Bar

1988

The Bone Collector Film ★ 6,8

The Bone Collector

Captain Howard Cheney

1999

Tremors Series ★ 6,2

Tremors

Kinney

2003

Slither Film ★ 6,5

Slither

Grant Grant

2006

The 6th Day Film ★ 6,0

The 6th Day

Robert Marshall

2000

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 Film ★ 6,8

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan

2024

Ride with Norman Reedus Series ★ 7,4

Ride with Norman Reedus

Self

2016

Cliffhanger Film ★ 6,5

Cliffhanger

Hal Tucker

1993

Love and Monsters Film ★ 7,3

Love and Monsters

Clyde

2020

Sea of Love Film ★ 6,6

Sea of Love

Terry

1989

JFK Film ★ 7,6

JFK

Bill Broussard

1991

Undisputed Film ★ 6,5

Undisputed

A.J. Mercker

2002

Mississippi Burning Film ★ 7,7

Mississippi Burning

Frank Bailey

1988

The Out-Laws Film ★ 6,0

The Out-Laws

Agent Oldham

2023

The Replacement Killers Film ★ 6,3

The Replacement Killers

Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov

1998

The Belko Experiment Film ★ 6,2

The Belko Experiment

Bud Melks

2017

Vivo Film ★ 7,2

Vivo

Lutador (voice)

2021

Super Film ★ 6,5

Super

Abe

2010

Replicant Film ★ 5,8

Replicant

Jake

2001

Meteor Series ★ 6,1

Meteor

Calvin Stark

2009

Thief Series ★ 6,6

Thief

Detective John Hayes

2006

Eight Men Out Film ★ 6,8

Eight Men Out

Chick Gandil

1988

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 Film ★ 7,0

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2

Sgt. Major Riordan

2024

The Dark Half Film ★ 6,0

The Dark Half

Sheriff Alan Pangborn

1993

White Elephant Film ★ 5,8

White Elephant

Gabriel Tancredi

2022

The Marine 2 Film ★ 6,0

The Marine 2

Church

2009

Skeleton Man Film ★ 3,3

Skeleton Man

Captain Leary

2004

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Film ★ 6,7

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

Henry

1986

Light of Day Film ★ 5,5

Light of Day

Oogie

1987

Bastard Out of Carolina Film ★ 7,1

Bastard Out of Carolina

Uncle Earle

1996

Music Box Film ★ 7,1

Music Box

Karchy Laszlo

1989

The Trigger Effect Film ★ 5,9

The Trigger Effect

Gary

1996

Dead Talk Live Series ★ 9,0

Dead Talk Live

Self - Guest

2020

Corrective Measures Film ★ 5,0

Corrective Measures

Warden Devlin

2022

Whisper Film ★ 6,3

Whisper

Sydney Braverman

2007

Rent-a-Cop Film ★ 4,7

Rent-a-Cop

Joe

1987

L.A. Takedown Film ★ 5,5

L.A. Takedown

Bosko

1989

Here on Earth Film ★ 5,8

Here on Earth

Malcolm Arnold

2000

CelebriD&D Series ★ 1,0

CelebriD&D

Arnold

2015

Back to Back Film ★ 5,4

Back to Back

Bob Malone

1996

Series ★ 7,0

Gideon Oliver

Detective John Quinn

1989

Bolden Film ★ 4,1

Bolden

Pat McMurphy

2019

On Thin Ice Film ★ 4,9

On Thin Ice

Roger Hopkins

2003

Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed Series

Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed

Self

2016

Deceiver Film ★ 6,0

Deceiver

Detective Edward Kennesaw

1997

DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection Film ★ 7,0

DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection

Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)

2010

Rosewood Film ★ 6,5

Rosewood

Sheriff Walker

1997

Meet Wally Sparks Film ★ 4,7

Meet Wally Sparks

Michael Rooker

1997

Afterburn Film ★ 4,2

Afterburn

Casey 'Z' Zankowski

1992

Wicked Ways Film ★ 5,1

Wicked Ways

Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan

1999

Song of Hiawatha Film ★ 5,8

Song of Hiawatha

Bertrand

1997

The Making of 'Tombstone' Film ★ 6,7

The Making of 'Tombstone'

Self

2002

Retreads Film ★ 4,7

Retreads

1988

Cell 213 Film ★ 5,0

Cell 213

Ray Clement

2011

The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking Film ★ 7,0

The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking

Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice)

2017

Shadow Builder Film ★ 4,7

Shadow Builder

Father Vassey

1998

DC Showcase: Jonah Hex Film ★ 6,9

DC Showcase: Jonah Hex

Red Doc (voice)

2010

Life After Flash Film ★ 5,6

Life After Flash

Self

2017

Pennhurst Film ★ 3,1

Pennhurst

Dr. Death

2012

Suspicious Film ★ 4,3

Suspicious

Attendant

1994

Film

Izzi

Sheriff Blackstone

Mysteria Film ★ 3,8

Mysteria

Captain McCarthy

2011

The Making of The Walking Dead Film ★ 7,8

The Making of The Walking Dead

Self

2010

Brother's Keeper Film ★ 4,9

Brother's Keeper

Chief Carver

2013

Brown's Requiem Film ★ 4,5

Brown's Requiem

Fritz Brown

1998

The Edge Film ★ 4,0

The Edge

Deputy Sheriff (Indian Poker)

1989

Film ★ 4,7

Matadors

John Canterna

2010

Chasing Ghosts Film ★ 5,5

Chasing Ghosts

Mark Spencer

2005

Erection of an Epic - The Making of Mallrats Film ★ 2,0

Erection of an Epic - The Making of Mallrats

Self

2005

Keys to Tulsa Film ★ 4,7

Keys to Tulsa

Keith Michaels

1997

The Hard Truth Film ★ 3,8

The Hard Truth

Jonah Mantz

1994

Renegade Force Film ★ 5,4

Renegade Force

Matt Cooper

1998

Penance Film ★ 3,6

Penance

Mann

2009

Pig Village Film

Pig Village

Steve

Blood Done Sign My Name Film ★ 5,4

Blood Done Sign My Name

Defense attorney Billy Watkins

2010

Johnny and Clyde Film ★ 4,0

Johnny and Clyde

Frank Tennant

1995

The Eliminator Film ★ 4,2

The Eliminator

2004

Lenexa, 1 Mile Film ★ 4,0

Lenexa, 1 Mile

Russ

2006

Super Capers Film ★ 3,4

Super Capers

Judge / Dark Winged Vesper

2009

Clerk Film ★ 6,2

Clerk

Self

2021

Saving Jessica Lynch Film ★ 4,4

Saving Jessica Lynch

Colonel Curry

2003

The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow Film

The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow

The Man with the Answers

Table One Film ★ 3,6

Table One

Rowdy

2000

Rogue River Film ★ 4,7

Rogue River

Gas Attendent

2012

Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger Film

Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger

Self

1993

Film ★ 4,0

The Dark Tower

Elred Jonas

2020

Freeway Killer Film ★ 4,6

Freeway Killer

Det. St. John

2009

Repo! The Genetic Opera Film ★ 3,0

Repo! The Genetic Opera

2006

Portrait: The Making of Henry Film ★ 6,2

Portrait: The Making of Henry

Self

2005

Hypothermia Film ★ 3,9

Hypothermia

Ray Pelletier

2012

The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder Film ★ 6,2

The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder

Self

2020

Newsbreak Film ★ 4,3

Newsbreak

John McNamara

2000

Film

Road Rage

Stony

The Box Film ★ 4,3

The Box

Detective Stafford

2003

Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR Film ★ 2,0

Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR

Self

2021

Atlantis Down Film ★ 2,6

Atlantis Down

Father / Alien

2010

Louis Film ★ 3,0

Louis

Pat McMurphy

2010

The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity Film ★ 4,7

The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity

Colonel Beckett

2002

Humanzee! Film ★ 4,5

Humanzee!

Priest

2008

Film

Survive the Night

Elwood Film ★ 2,3

Elwood

Condello

2014

The Driving Dead Film ★ 2,0

The Driving Dead

Trooper

2014

Film ★ 2,0

This Man's Life

Richard Crummly

2008

Film ★ 2,0

The Sparrows Are Flying Again! - The Making of the Dark Half

Himself

2014