Michael Rooker
Acting
🎂 1955-04-06
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).
Cast credits(142)
Superman Robot #1 (voice)
2025
Frank Teska
2018
Jamie Yost
1990
Chief Carlson
2005
Merle Dixon
2010
Marty Jones
2002
Colonel Edwards
1997
Edward Hoyt
2014
Big Chief
2017
Garth Lawnmore
2006
Buddy (uncredited)
2023
Marcus Wexler
2003
Sheriff E. Z. Ponder (voice)
2009
Yondu
2017
Shawn Curaco
2001
Mauser
2007
Yondu (voice)
2021
Yondu Udonta (voice)
2021
Bill Whitaker
1985
Dale Lawson
2007
Yondu
2023
Savant
2021
Cobb Milsap
2019
Colonel Beckett
1995
Sam (voice)
2024
Beau
2019
2006
Yondu Udonta
2014
Buddy
2021
Self
2011
Sherman McMasters
1993
Yondu Udonta (archive footage) (uncredited)
2021
Bud Melks
2016
Babe McCloor
1993
The Big T
2019
William Rice
2008
Hal Tucker
1993
Captain Howard Cheney
1999
Grant Grant
2006
Clyde
2020
Yondu
2022
A.J. Mercker
2002
Bill Broussard
1991
Rowdy Burns
1990
Kinney
2003
Robert Marshall
2000
Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan
2024
Lieutenant
1986
Frank Bailey
1988
Man in Bar
1988
Damon
2020
Sgt. Major Riordan
2024
Jake
2001
Abe
2010
Lutador (voice)
2021
Chick Gandil
1988
Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov
1998
Terry
1989
Agent Oldham
2023
Bob Malone
1996
Warden Devlin
2022
Self
2016
Svenning
1995
Sydney Braverman
2007
Self
2010
Colonel Curry
2003
Gabriel Tancredi
2022
Detective John Hayes
2006
Henry
1986
Roger Hopkins
2003
Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)
2010
Gary
1996
Self
2014
Calvin Stark
2009
Defense attorney Billy Watkins
2010
Mark Spencer
2005
Red Doc (voice)
2010
Self - Guest
2020
Church
2009
Michael Rooker
1997
Ray Clement
2011
Malcolm Arnold
2000
Sheriff Alan Pangborn
1993
Keith Michaels
1997
Deputy Sheriff (Indian Poker)
1989
Steve
Bosko
1989
Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice)
2017
Chief Carver
2013
2006
Russ
2006
Condello
2014
Matt Draper
Joe
1987
Uncle Earle
1996
Pat McMurphy
2019
Judge / Dark Winged Vesper
2009
Father Vassey
1998
Oogie
1987
Arnold
2015
Fritz Brown
1998
Dr. Death
2012
Father / Alien
2010
Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan
1999
Detective Edward Kennesaw
1997
Mann
2009
Casey 'Z' Zankowski
1992
Sheriff Walker
1997
Karchy Laszlo
1989
Self
2017
Self
2016
Captain Leary
2004
Bertrand
1997
Gas Attendent
2012
Self
2021
Elred Jonas
2020
Detective John Quinn
1989
Detective Stafford
2003
Det. St. John
2009
Priest
2008
Jonah Mantz
1994
Captain McCarthy
2011
Ray Pelletier
2012
2004
The Man with the Answers
Pat McMurphy
2010
Matt Cooper
1998
John McNamara
2000
Rowdy
2000
Frank Tennant
1995
Attendet
1994
John Canterna
2010
Himself
2014
Colonel Beckett
2002
Himself
2005
1988
Self
2021
Richard Crummly
2008
Self
2020
Stony
Trooper
2014
Self
2005