Michael Rooker

Michael Rooker

Known for
Acting
Born
April 6, 1955 (age 71)
Birthplace
Jasper, Alabama, USA

Biography

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

Photos

Michael Rooker photoMichael Rooker photo

Filmography

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Road Rage

Road Rage

Movie · as Stony

—
The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow poster

The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow

Movie · as The Man with the Answers

—
Pig Village poster

Pig Village

Movie · as Steve

—
Izzi

Izzi

Movie · as Sheriff Blackstone

—
Survive the Night

Survive the Night

Movie

—
Scott's Dead poster

Scott's Dead

Movie · as Mitch

2025
Superman poster

Superman

Movie · as Superman Robot #1 (voice)

2024
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 poster

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

Movie · as Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan

2024
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 poster

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2

Movie · as Sgt. Major Riordan

2024
Creature Commandos poster

Creature Commandos

TV · as Sam (voice) · 1 ep

2023
The Out-Laws poster

The Out-Laws

Movie · as Agent Oldham

2023
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 poster

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Movie · as Yondu

2022
Corrective Measures poster

Corrective Measures

Movie · as Warden Devlin

2022
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special poster

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Movie · as Yondu

2022
White Elephant poster

White Elephant

Movie · as Gabriel Tancredi

2022
Peacemaker poster

Peacemaker

TV · as Red St. Wild · 3 eps

2021
Clerk poster

Clerk

Movie · as Self

2021
The Suicide Squad poster

The Suicide Squad

Movie · as Savant

2021
F9 poster

F9

Movie · as Buddy

2021
Vivo poster

Vivo

Movie · as Lutador (voice)

2021
Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR poster

Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR

Movie · as Self

2021
What If...? poster

What If...?

TV · as Yondu (voice), Yondu Udonta (voice) · 2 eps

2021
Marvel Studios Legends poster

Marvel Studios Legends

TV · as Yondu Udonta (archive footage) (uncredited) · 6 eps

2020
Fantasy Island poster

Fantasy Island

Movie · as Damon

2020
Love and Monsters poster

Love and Monsters

Movie · as Clyde

2020
The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder poster

The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder

Movie · as Self

2020
The Dark Tower

The Dark Tower

Movie · as Elred Jonas

2020
Dead Talk Live poster

Dead Talk Live

TV · as Self - Guest · 2 eps

2019
Bolden poster

Bolden

Movie · as Pat McMurphy

2019
Brightburn poster

Brightburn

Movie · as The Big T

2019
Creepshow poster

Creepshow

TV · as Beau · 1 ep

2019
The Righteous Gemstones poster

The Righteous Gemstones

TV · as Cobb Milsap · 5 eps

2018
The Rookie poster

The Rookie

TV · as Frank Teska · 2 eps

2017
The Belko Experiment poster

The Belko Experiment

Movie · as Bud Melks

2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 poster

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Movie · as Yondu

2017
The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking poster

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

Movie · as Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice)

2017
Life After Flash poster

Life After Flash

Movie · as Self

2017
SEAL Team poster

SEAL Team

TV · as Big Chief · 1 ep

2016
Ride with Norman Reedus poster

Ride with Norman Reedus

TV · as Self · 2 eps

2016
Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed poster

Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed

TV · as Self · 8 eps

2015
CelebriD&D poster

CelebriD&D

TV · as Arnold · 1 ep

2014
Guardians of the Galaxy poster

Guardians of the Galaxy

Movie · as Yondu Udonta

2014
The Sparrows Are Flying Again! - The Making of the Dark Half

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

Movie · as Himself

2014
The Driving Dead poster

The Driving Dead

Movie · as Trooper

2014
Elwood poster

Elwood

Movie · as Condello

2014
True Detective poster

True Detective

TV · as Edward Hoyt · 1 ep

2013
Brother's Keeper poster

Brother's Keeper

Movie · as Chief Carver

2012
Rogue River poster

Rogue River

Movie · as Gas Attendent

2012
Hypothermia poster

Hypothermia

Movie · as Ray Pelletier

2012
Pennhurst poster

Pennhurst

Movie · as Dr. Death

2011
Cell 213 poster

Cell 213

Movie · as Ray Clement

2011
Mysteria poster

Mysteria

Movie · as Captain McCarthy

2011
Talking Dead poster

Talking Dead

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2010
DC Showcase: Jonah Hex poster

DC Showcase: Jonah Hex

Movie · as Red Doc (voice)

2010
Super poster

Super

Movie · as Abe

2010
Matadors

Matadors

Movie · as John Canterna

2010
Louis poster

Louis

Movie · as Pat McMurphy

2010
Blood Done Sign My Name poster

Blood Done Sign My Name

Movie · as Defense attorney Billy Watkins

2010
Atlantis Down poster

Atlantis Down

Movie · as Father / Alien

2010
DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection poster

DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection

Movie · as Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)

2010
The Making of The Walking Dead poster

The Making of The Walking Dead

Movie · as Self

2010
The Walking Dead poster

The Walking Dead

TV · as Merle Dixon · 19 eps

2009
Super Capers poster

Super Capers

Movie · as Judge / Dark Winged Vesper

2009
Penance poster

Penance

Movie · as Mann

2009
Freeway Killer poster

Freeway Killer

Movie · as Det. St. John

2009
The Marine 2 poster

The Marine 2

Movie · as Church

2009
Meteor poster

Meteor

TV · as Calvin Stark · 2 eps

2009
Archer poster

Archer

TV · as Sheriff E. Z. Ponder (voice) · 1 ep

2009
NSFW Show poster

NSFW Show

TV · as Self - Guest · 6 eps

2008
Jumper poster

Jumper

Movie · as William Rice

2008
Humanzee! poster

Humanzee!

Movie · as Priest

2008
This Man's Life

This Man's Life

Movie · as Richard Crummly

2008
Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story poster

Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story

Movie · as Sheriff Haney

2007
Whisper poster

Whisper

Movie · as Sydney Braverman

2007
Chuck poster

Chuck

TV · as Mauser · 1 ep

2007
Burn Notice poster

Burn Notice

TV · as Dale Lawson · 1 ep

2006
Slither poster

Slither

Movie · as Grant Grant

2006
Lenexa, 1 Mile poster

Lenexa, 1 Mile

Movie · as Russ

2006
Repo! The Genetic Opera poster

Repo! The Genetic Opera

Movie

2006
Shark poster

Shark

TV · as Oscar Riddick · 1 ep

2006
Psych poster

Psych

TV · as Garth Lawnmore · 1 ep

2006
Thief poster

Thief

TV · as Detective John Hayes · 5 eps

2005
Chasing Ghosts poster

Chasing Ghosts

Movie · as Mark Spencer

2005
Erection of an Epic - The Making of Mallrats poster

Erection of an Epic - The Making of Mallrats

Movie · as Self

2005
Portrait: The Making of Henry poster

Portrait: The Making of Henry

Movie · as Self

2005
Criminal Minds poster

Criminal Minds

TV · as Chief Carlson · 1 ep

2004
Skeleton Man poster

Skeleton Man

Movie · as Captain Leary

2004
The Eliminator poster

The Eliminator

Movie

2003
The Box poster

The Box

Movie · as Detective Stafford

2003
Saving Jessica Lynch poster

Saving Jessica Lynch

Movie · as Colonel Curry

2003
On Thin Ice poster

On Thin Ice

Movie · as Roger Hopkins

2003
Las Vegas poster

Las Vegas

TV · as Marcus Wexler · 1 ep

2003
Tremors poster

Tremors

TV · as Kinney · 1 ep

2002
Undisputed poster

Undisputed

Movie · as A.J. Mercker

2002
The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity poster

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

Movie · as Colonel Beckett

2002
The Making of 'Tombstone' poster

The Making of 'Tombstone'

Movie · as Self

2002
CSI: Miami poster

CSI: Miami

TV · as Marty Jones · 1 ep

2001
Replicant poster

Replicant

Movie · as Jake

2001
Crossing Jordan poster

Crossing Jordan

TV · as Shawn Curaco · 1 ep

2000
The 6th Day poster

The 6th Day

Movie · as Robert Marshall

2000
Here on Earth poster

Here on Earth

Movie · as Malcolm Arnold

2000
Table One poster

Table One

Movie · as Rowdy

2000
Newsbreak poster

Newsbreak

Movie · as John McNamara

1999
The Bone Collector poster

The Bone Collector

Movie · as Captain Howard Cheney

1999
Wicked Ways poster

Wicked Ways

Movie · as Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan

1998
The Replacement Killers poster

The Replacement Killers

Movie · as Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov

1998
Renegade Force poster

Renegade Force

Movie · as Matt Cooper

1998
Brown's Requiem poster

Brown's Requiem

Movie · as Fritz Brown

1998
Shadow Builder poster

Shadow Builder

Movie · as Father Vassey

1997
Rosewood poster

Rosewood

Movie · as Sheriff Walker

1997
Deceiver poster

Deceiver

Movie · as Detective Edward Kennesaw

1997
Keys to Tulsa poster

Keys to Tulsa

Movie · as Keith Michaels

1997
Song of Hiawatha poster

Song of Hiawatha

Movie · as Bertrand

1997
Meet Wally Sparks poster

Meet Wally Sparks

Movie · as Michael Rooker

1997
Stargate SG-1 poster

Stargate SG-1

TV · as Colonel Edwards · 1 ep

1996
Back to Back poster

Back to Back

Movie · as Bob Malone

1996
The Trigger Effect poster

The Trigger Effect

Movie · as Gary

1996
Bastard Out of Carolina poster

Bastard Out of Carolina

Movie · as Uncle Earle

1995
Mallrats poster

Mallrats

Movie · as Svenning

1995
Johnny and Clyde poster

Johnny and Clyde

Movie · as Frank Tennant

1995
The Outer Limits poster

The Outer Limits

TV · as Colonel Beckett · 1 ep

1994
The Hard Truth poster

The Hard Truth

Movie · as Jonah Mantz

1994
Suspicious poster

Suspicious

Movie · as Attendant

1993
The Dark Half poster

The Dark Half

Movie · as Sheriff Alan Pangborn

1993
Tombstone poster

Tombstone

Movie · as Sherman McMasters

1993
Cliffhanger poster

Cliffhanger

Movie · as Hal Tucker

1993
Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger poster

Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger

Movie · as Self

1993
Fallen Angels poster

Fallen Angels

TV · as Babe McCloor · 1 ep

1992
Afterburn poster

Afterburn

Movie · as Casey 'Z' Zankowski

1991
JFK poster

JFK

Movie · as Bill Broussard

1990
Days of Thunder poster

Days of Thunder

Movie · as Rowdy Burns

1990
Law & Order poster

Law & Order

TV · as Jamie Yost · 1 ep

1989
Music Box poster

Music Box

Movie · as Karchy Laszlo

1989
Sea of Love poster

Sea of Love

Movie · as Terry

1989
L.A. Takedown poster

L.A. Takedown

Movie · as Bosko

1989
The Edge poster

The Edge

Movie · as Deputy Sheriff (Indian Poker)

1989
Gideon Oliver poster

Gideon Oliver

TV · as Detective John Quinn · 1 ep

1988
Mississippi Burning poster

Mississippi Burning

Movie · as Frank Bailey

1988
Eight Men Out poster

Eight Men Out

Movie · as Chick Gandil

1988
Retreads poster

Retreads

Movie

1988
Above the Law poster

Above the Law

Movie · as Man in Bar

1987
Light of Day poster

Light of Day

Movie · as Oogie

1987
Rent-a-Cop poster

Rent-a-Cop

Movie · as Joe

1986
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer poster

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

Movie · as Henry

1986
Crime Story poster

Crime Story

TV · as Lieutenant · 2 eps

1985
The Equalizer poster

The Equalizer

TV · as Bill Whitaker · 1 ep