Michael Rooker
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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
Credits
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
as Yondu
Superman (2025)
as Superman Robot #1 (voice)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
as Yondu
The Suicide Squad (2021)
as Savant
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
as Yondu Udonta
Tombstone (1993)
as Sherman McMasters
Mississippi Burning (1988)
as Frank Bailey
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
as Yondu
F9 (2021)
as Buddy
Brightburn (2019)
as The Big T
Cliffhanger (1993)
as Hal Tucker
The 6th Day (2000)
as Robert Marshall
Jumper (2008)
as William Rice
Undisputed (2002)
as A.J. Mercker
Days of Thunder (1990)
as Rowdy Burns
The Bone Collector (1999)
as Captain Howard Cheney
Love and Monsters (2020)
as Clyde
JFK (1991)
as Bill Broussard
Fantasy Island (2020)
as Damon
The Out-Laws (2023)
as Agent Oldham
The Replacement Killers (1998)
as Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov
Sea of Love (1989)
as Terry
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (2024)
as Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan
Slither (2006)
as Grant Grant
The Belko Experiment (2017)
as Bud Melks
Above the Law (1988)
as Man in Bar
Vivo (2021)
as Lutador (voice)
Replicant (2001)
as Jake
Mallrats (1995)
as Svenning
Super (2010)
as Abe
White Elephant (2022)
as Gabriel Tancredi
Corrective Measures (2022)
as Warden Devlin
The Dark Half (1993)
as Sheriff Alan Pangborn
Skeleton Man (2004)
as Captain Leary
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
as Henry
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 (2024)
as Sgt. Major Riordan
Eight Men Out (1988)
as Chick Gandil
Whisper (2007)
as Sydney Braverman
Bastard Out of Carolina (1996)
as Uncle Earle
Deceiver (1997)
as Detective Edward Kennesaw
The Marine 2 (2009)
as Church
Music Box (1989)
as Karchy Laszlo
L.A. Takedown (1989)
as Bosko
The Trigger Effect (1996)
as Gary
Light of Day (1987)
as Oogie
DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection (2010)
as Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)
Back to Back (1996)
as Bob Malone
Meet Wally Sparks (1997)
as Michael Rooker
The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking (2017)
as Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice)
DC Showcase: Jonah Hex (2010)
as Red Doc (voice)
Afterburn (1992)
as Casey 'Z' Zankowski
Rent-a-Cop (1987)
as Joe
Shadow Builder (1998)
as Father Vassey
Erection of an Epic - The Making of Mallrats (2005)
as Self
Rosewood (1997)
as Sheriff Walker
Keys to Tulsa (1997)
as Keith Michaels
Here on Earth (2000)
as Malcolm Arnold
Brown's Requiem (1998)
as Fritz Brown
Song of Hiawatha (1997)
as Bertrand
Cell 213 (2011)
as Ray Clement
Bolden (2019)
as Pat McMurphy
Renegade Force (1998)
as Matt Cooper
Life After Flash (2017)
as Self
Matadors (2010)
as John Canterna
Chasing Ghosts (2005)
as Mark Spencer
The Making of The Walking Dead (2010)
as Self
Super Capers (2009)
as Judge / Dark Winged Vesper
The Edge (1989)
as Deputy Sheriff (Indian Poker)
On Thin Ice (2003)
as Roger Hopkins
Wicked Ways (1999)
as Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan
The Making of 'Tombstone' (2002)
as Self
Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger (1993)
as Self
Saving Jessica Lynch (2003)
as Colonel Curry
The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder (2020)
as Self
Newsbreak (2000)
as John McNamara
Mysteria (2011)
as Captain McCarthy
Blood Done Sign My Name (2010)
as Defense attorney Billy Watkins
Pennhurst (2012)
as Dr. Death
The Hard Truth (1994)
as Jonah Mantz
Clerk (2021)
as Self
The Eliminator (2004)
Actor
Penance (2009)
as Mann
Road Rage (—)
as Stony
Rogue River (2012)
as Gas Attendent
Lenexa, 1 Mile (2006)
as Russ
Freeway Killer (2009)
as Det. St. John
Suspicious (1994)
as Attendant
Hypothermia (2012)
as Ray Pelletier
Atlantis Down (2010)
as Father / Alien
Humanzee! (2008)
as Priest
Pig Village (—)
as Steve
Johnny and Clyde (1995)
as Frank Tennant
Table One (2000)
as Rowdy
The Box (2003)
as Detective Stafford
The Dark Tower (2020)
as Elred Jonas
Izzi (—)
as Sheriff Blackstone
Repo! The Genetic Opera (2006)
Actor
The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity (2002)
as Colonel Beckett
Retreads (1988)
Actor
Portrait: The Making of Henry (2005)
as Self
Brother's Keeper (2013)
as Chief Carver
Louis (2010)
as Pat McMurphy
Elwood (2014)
as Condello
The Driving Dead (2014)
as Trooper
This Man's Life (2008)
as Richard Crummly
The Sparrows Are Flying Again! - The Making of the Dark Half (2014)
as Himself
Survive the Night (—)
Actor
Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR (2021)
as Self
The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow (—)
as The Man with the Answers
Scott's Dead (—)
as Mitch