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