M. Emmet Walsh
Known for: Acting
Michael Emmet Walsh (March 22, 1935 – March 19, 2024) was an American character actor who has appeared in over 200 films and television series, including supporting roles in dozens of major studio features of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in Blood Simple (1984), the Coen Brothers' first film for which he won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. He also appeared in The Jerk (1979), Ordinary People (1980), Blade Runner (1982), Wild Wild West (1999), and The Iron Giant (1999). His final films included Knives Out (2019) and Brothers (2024).
Filmography
Series
The X-Files
Arthur Dales
1993
Series
Frasier
Rich Koechner
1993
Series
Adventure Time
Cosmic Owl (voice)
2010
Series
Bonanza
Mattheson
1959
Series
NYPD Blue
Joe Kroft
1993
Series
Ironside
Telegraph Clerk
1967
Series
Home Improvement
Colonel
1991
Series
Little House on the Prairie
Callahan
1974
Series
The Waltons
David Fletcher
1972
Series
The Rockford Files
Edgar Burch
1974
Series
Empire
Harold Blakeley
2015
Series
Damages
Lyle Hewes
2007
Series
Army Wives
Bernie Wallacheck
2007
Series
Early Edition
Santa
1996
Series
The Wild Thornberrys
Gemsbok #1 (voice)
1998
Series
The Outer Limits
Sanford Vallé
1995
Series
Starsky & Hutch
Freddie
1975
Series
Starsky & Hutch
Lloyd Herman Eckworth
1975
Series
The Guardian
Ezra Pence
2001
Series
The Twilight Zone
Peter (segment "Dealer's Choice")
1985
Series
The Righteous Gemstones
Roy Gemstone
2019
Series
Tales from the Crypt
Jonas
1989
Series
The Bob Newhart Show
Jack Hoover
1972
Series
Sneaky Pete
Tex Hopkins
2015
Series
All in the Family
Billy Hartfield
1971
Series
Amazing Stories
Grandpa
1985
Film
Knives Out
Mr. Proofroc
2019
Series
Pound Puppies
Olaf (voice)
2010
Series
The Hitchhiker
Detective Underhill
1983
Film
Blade Runner
Bryant
1982
Series
Baretta
1975
Series
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
Jeb (voice)
2002
Series
Ed
Mayor Wally Kendricks
2000
Series
'Til Death
Uncle Rudolph
2006
Film
The Iron Giant
Earl Stutz (voice)
1999
Series
The Flash
Henry Allen
1990
Series
McMillan & Wife
Officer Ames
1971
Series
Tracey Takes On...
1996
Film
A Time to Kill
Willard Tyrell Bass (uncredited)
1996
Film
Romeo + Juliet
Apothecary
1996
Series
Baseball
(voice)
1994
Series
Nichols
Gabe McCutcheon
1971
Film
Big Stan
Lew Popper
2007
Film
Midnight Cowboy
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
1969
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
General Presser
1954
Film
Wild Wild West
Coleman
1999
Series
The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot
Mack (voice)
1999
Series
American Gigolo
Coleman
2022
Film
Raising Arizona
Machine Shop Ear-Bender
1987
Series
The Civil War
Various (voice)
1990
Series
Night Visions
Gus (segment "Reunion")
2001
Film
My Best Friend's Wedding
Joe O'Neal
1997
Series
Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories
Detective
2014
Series
AfterMASH
Reverend Horn
1983
Series
East of Eden
Sheriff Horace Quinn
1981
Film
Ordinary People
Swim Coach
1980
Film
Racing Stripes
Woodzie
2005
Film
Critters
Harv
1986
Film
Blood Simple
Private Detective
1985
Film
Christmas with the Kranks
Walt Scheel
2004
Film
Harry and the Hendersons
George Henderson Sr.
1987
Film
Random Hearts
Billy (uncredited)
1999
Film
Snow Dogs
George
2002
Film
Serpico
Gallagher
1973
Film
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Aide
1971
Film
Back to School
Coach Turnbull
1986
Film
Youth in Revolt
Mr. Saunders
2009
Film
Brothers
Judge Farful
2024
Film
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
Uncle Bub
2012
Film
What's Up, Doc?
Arresting Officer
1972
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Sarge
1951
Film
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Bill Wilcox
1995
Film
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power
Gorak
2015
Film
The Jerk
Madman
1979
Series
The French Atlantic Affair
Harry
1979
Series
The West
Self (voice)
1996
Film
Little Big Man
Shotgun Guard
1970
Film
Slap Shot
Dickie Dunn
1977
Series
Arnie
1970
The Sandy Duncan Show
1972
Film
Camp Nowhere
T.R. Polk
1994
Film
Narrow Margin
Sergeant Dominick Benti
1990
Film
No Man's Land
Captain Haun
1987
Film
Missing in Action
Tuck
1984
Film
A Little White Lie
Arthur Baldwin
2023
Series
The Deliberate Stranger
Det. Sam Davies
1986
Film
Brubaker
C.P. Woodward
1980
Film
Airport '77
Dr. Williams
1977
Film
Fletch
Dr. Joseph Dolan
1985
Film
The Gambler
Las Vegas Gambler
1974
Film
Red Scorpion
Dewey Ferguson
1988
Film
White Sands
Bert Gibson
1992
Film
Reds
Speaker at Liberal Club
1981
Film
Silkwood
Walt Yarborough
1983
Series
Brotherhood of the Rose
Hardy
1989
Film
The Best of Times
Charlie
1986
Film
Raise the Titanic
Master Chief Vinnie Walker
1980
Film
Straight Time
Earl Frank
1978
Film
Arthur Newman
Zazek
2012
Film
The Immaculate Room
Kate's Father
2022
Series
Unsub
Ned Platt
1989
Film
The Pope of Greenwich Village
Burns
1984
Film
The Mighty Quinn
Fred Miller
1989
Film
They Might Be Giants
1st Sanitation Man
1971
Film
The Milagro Beanfield War
Governor
1988
Film
Mikey and Nicky
Bus Driver
1976
Film
Grandview, U.S.A.
Mr. Clark
1984
Film
Calvary
The Writer
2014
Film
Faith, Hope & Love
Fr. John
2019
Film
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
Doorman
1975
Charlie Lawrence
Cubby
2003
Film
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
Mort
1991
Film
The Flash
Henry Allen
1990
Film
Clean and Sober
Richard Dirks
1988
Series
Murder Ordained
Vern Humphrey
1987
Film
Albino Alligator
Dino
1997
Film
Twilight
Lester Ivar
1998
Film
Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner
Self
2007
Film
Wildcats
Walt Coes
1986
Film
Resting Place
Sarge
1986
Film
Cold Turkey
Art
1971
Film
Back Roads
Arthur
1981
Film
Retroactive
Sam
1997
Film
The Glass Shield
Det. Jesse Hall
1994
Film
Nickelodeon
"Father" Logan
1976
Film
Bound for Glory
Husband
1976
Film
Cops & Robbersons
Captain Ted Corbett (uncredited)
1994
Film
Sunset
Chief Marvin Dibner
1988
Film
Change in the Air
Walter Lemke
2018
Film
Hero in the Family
General Presser
1986
Film
War Party
Colin Ditweiler
1988
Film
Me and Will
Dean
1999
Film
The Deliberate Stranger
Det. Sam Davies
1986
Film
Alice's Restaurant
Group W Sergeant
1969
Film
Wilder Napalm
Fire Chief
1993
Film
Catch Me... If You Can
Johnny Phatmun
1989
Film
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
Wally Cantrell
1979
Film
At Long Last Love
Harold
1975
Film
Portraits of a Killer
Raymond Garrison
1996
Film
Chairman of the Board
Freemont
1998
Film
On the Edge of 'Blade Runner'
Self
2000
Film
Panther
Dorsett
1995
Film
Raising Buchanan
Larry Kiesling
2019
Film
The Music of Chance
Calvin Murks
1993
Film
A Question of Guilt
Inspector McCartney
1978
Film
Get to Know Your Rabbit
Mr. Wendel
1972
Film
City in Fear
Sheldon Lewis
1980
Film
Cannery Row
Mack
1982
Film
Bitter Harvest
Sheriff Bob
1993
Film
No Other Love
DeFranco
1979
Film
Poor White Trash
Judge Pike
2000
Film
Green and Gold
Scotty
2025
Film
The Traveling Executioner
Warden Brodski
1970
Film
Don McKay
Samuel
2009
Film
Wild Card
Mose
1992
Film
Criminal Hearts
Martin
1996
Film
Relative Fear
Earl Ladelle
1994
Film
The Escape Artist
Fritz
1982
Film
Crime Club
Jack Doyle
1975
Film
Outlaw Posse
Catfish
2024
Film
Dotty and Soul
Harold Eichelbaum
2023
Film
Eyeball Eddie
Coach Cook
2001
Film
The Naked Truth
Garcia / Gesundheim
1992
Film
Skag
Moran
1980
Film
The Abduction of Kari Swenson
Don Nichols
1987
Film
Christmas in the Clouds
Stu O'Malley
2001
Film
Man in the Chair
Mickey Hopkins
2007
Film
Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic
Mr. Peterson
1975
Film
End of the Road
Crab Man / Tutu Man
1970
Film
Killer Image
John Kane
1992
Film
The Invasion of Johnson County
Irvine
1976
Film
Kid Blue
Barber
1973
Film
Dead Badge
Sergeant Miller Hoskins
1995
Film
Broken Vows
Detective Mulligan
1987
Film
The Mimic
The Director
2021
Film
Four Eyes and Six-Guns
Mayor Thornbush
1992
Film
Men in White
Stanley
1998
Film
Equinox
Pete Petosa
1992
Film
The Assignment
Mr. Beudreaux
2010
Film
The Lottery
Chief Davis
1996
Film
Chasing 3000
Chuck Ireland
2010
Film
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Morris
1995
Film
Shifting Gears
Hank
2018
Film
Fast-Walking
Sergeant Sanger
1982
Film
Greener Mountains
Muggs
2005
Film
Night Partners
Joe Kirby
1983
Film
Courage
Colonel Crouse
1984
Film
Chattahoochee
Morris
1990
Film
Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales
Wally Westland
2003
Film
Love and Lies
Clyde Wilson
1990
Film
Thunderground
Wedge
1989
Film
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane
Harold Patton
1980
Film
The Woman Who Willed a Miracle
Joe Lemke
1983
Film
The Outlaws
Warden MacDonald
1984
Film
The Killing Jar
Sheriff Foley
1997
Film
Superdome
Whitley
1978
Film
Hellinger's Law
Mr. Graebner
1981
Film
The Gift
Legion Commander
1979
Film
Stiletto
Racing Partner (uncredited)
1969
Film
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency
Chief Van Owen
2011
Film
Your Name Here
Kroger
2008
Film
Probable Cause
Sadler
1994
Film
Haunted Echoes
Neil
2008
Film
The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn
Rocco
1985
Film
Fourth Story
Harry
1991
Film
The Right of the People
Sindaco
1986
Film
Nightmare in Big Sky Country
Marshal Jim Phillips
1998
Film
Boiling Pot
Dean Marison
2015
Film
Jack of Hearts
Comissioner Menlo Boyce
2000
Film
Scandalous
Simon Reynolds
1984
Film
South of Bix
Grandpa
2019
Silverfox
Charles Blankenship
1991
Madness of Method
Rudolph Thorndyke
1994
Film
Red Alert
Sheriff Sweeney
1977
Film
Murder Ordained
Vern Humphrey
1987
Film
Monster!
Lloyd Reeves
1999
Erasable You
Ralph Worth
1998
Film
Dear Detective
Capt. Gorcey
1979
Film
Toto
Toto
2018
Film
Sorry, Not Sorry
Harry's Father
2019
Film
Baggage
Sandy Westphall
2003
A True Character
Self
2008
Film
Love Sick Love
Ed
2012