M. Emmet Walsh

M. Emmet Walsh

Known for
Acting
Born
March 22, 1935
Died
March 19, 2024 (aged 88)
Birthplace
Ogdensburg, New York, USA

Biography

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).

Known For

Photos

M. Emmet Walsh photoM. Emmet Walsh photoM. Emmet Walsh photoM. Emmet Walsh photoM. Emmet Walsh photoM. Emmet Walsh photo

Filmography

2025
Green and Gold poster

Green and Gold

Movie · as Scotty

2024
Outlaw Posse poster

Outlaw Posse

Movie · as Catfish

2024
Brothers poster

Brothers

Movie · as Judge Farful

2023
A Little White Lie poster

A Little White Lie

Movie · as Arthur Baldwin

2023
Dotty and Soul poster

Dotty and Soul

Movie · as Harold Eichelbaum

2022
The Immaculate Room poster

The Immaculate Room

Movie · as Kate's Father

2022
American Gigolo poster

American Gigolo

TV · as Coleman · 1 ep

2021
The Mimic poster

The Mimic

Movie · as The Director

2019
South of Bix poster

South of Bix

Movie · as Grandpa

2019
Faith, Hope & Love poster

Faith, Hope & Love

Movie · as Fr. John

2019
Knives Out poster

Knives Out

Movie · as Mr. Proofroc

2019
Raising Buchanan poster

Raising Buchanan

Movie · as Larry Kiesling

2019
Sorry, Not Sorry poster

Sorry, Not Sorry

Movie · as Harry's Father

2019
The Righteous Gemstones poster

The Righteous Gemstones

TV · as Roy Gemstone · 2 eps

2018
Change in the Air poster

Change in the Air

Movie · as Walter Lemke

2018
Shifting Gears poster

Shifting Gears

Movie · as Hank

2018
Toto poster

Toto

Movie · as Toto

2015
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power poster

The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power

Movie · as Gorak

2015
Boiling Pot poster

Boiling Pot

Movie · as Dean Marison

2015
Empire poster

Empire

TV · as Harold Blakeley · 1 ep

2015
Sneaky Pete poster

Sneaky Pete

TV · as Tex Hopkins · 7 eps

2014
Calvary poster

Calvary

Movie · as The Writer

2014
Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories poster

Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories

TV · as Detective · 1 ep

2012
The Odd Life of Timothy Green poster

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Movie · as Uncle Bub

2012
Love Sick Love poster

Love Sick Love

Movie · as Ed

2012
Arthur Newman poster

Arthur Newman

Movie · as Zazek

2011
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency poster

Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency

Movie · as Chief Van Owen

2010
The Assignment poster

The Assignment

Movie · as Mr. Beudreaux

2010
Chasing 3000 poster

Chasing 3000

Movie · as Chuck Ireland

2010
Pound Puppies poster

Pound Puppies

TV · as Olaf (voice) · 65 eps

2010
Adventure Time poster

Adventure Time

TV · as Cosmic Owl (voice) · 5 eps

2009
Don McKay poster

Don McKay

Movie · as Samuel

2009
Youth in Revolt poster

Youth in Revolt

Movie · as Mr. Saunders

2008
Your Name Here poster

Your Name Here

Movie · as Kroger

2008
Haunted Echoes poster

Haunted Echoes

Movie · as Neil

2008
A True Character

A True Character

Movie · as Self

2007
Big Stan poster

Big Stan

Movie · as Lew Popper

2007
Man in the Chair poster

Man in the Chair

Movie · as Mickey Hopkins

2007
Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner poster

Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner

Movie · as Self

2007
Damages poster

Damages

TV · as Lyle Hewes · 3 eps

2007
Army Wives poster

Army Wives

TV · as Bernie Wallacheck · 1 ep

2006
'Til Death poster

'Til Death

TV · as Uncle Rudolph · 1 ep

2005
Racing Stripes poster

Racing Stripes

Movie · as Woodzie

2005
Greener Mountains poster

Greener Mountains

Movie · as Muggs

2004
Christmas with the Kranks poster

Christmas with the Kranks

Movie · as Walt Scheel

2003
Baggage poster

Baggage

Movie · as Sandy Westphall

2003
Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales poster

Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales

Movie · as Wally Westland

2003
Charlie Lawrence

Charlie Lawrence

TV · as Cubby · 1 ep

2002
Snow Dogs poster

Snow Dogs

Movie · as George

2002
What's New, Scooby-Doo? poster

What's New, Scooby-Doo?

TV · as Jeb (voice) · 1 ep

2001
Christmas in the Clouds poster

Christmas in the Clouds

Movie · as Stu O'Malley

2001
Eyeball Eddie poster

Eyeball Eddie

Movie · as Coach Cook

2001
Night Visions poster

Night Visions

TV · as Gus (segment "Reunion") · 1 ep

2001
The Guardian poster

The Guardian

TV · as Ezra Pence · 1 ep

2000
Poor White Trash poster

Poor White Trash

Movie · as Judge Pike

2000
On the Edge of 'Blade Runner' poster

On the Edge of 'Blade Runner'

Movie · as Self

2000
Jack of Hearts poster

Jack of Hearts

Movie · as Comissioner Menlo Boyce

2000
Ed poster

Ed

TV · as Mayor Wally Kendricks · 1 ep

1999
The Iron Giant poster

The Iron Giant

Movie · as Earl Stutz (voice)

1999
Wild Wild West poster

Wild Wild West

Movie · as Coleman

1999
Me and Will poster

Me and Will

Movie · as Dean

1999
Random Hearts poster

Random Hearts

Movie · as Billy (uncredited)

1999
Monster! poster

Monster!

Movie · as Lloyd Reeves

1999
The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot poster

The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot

TV · as Mack (voice) · 26 eps

1998
Chairman of the Board poster

Chairman of the Board

Movie · as Freemont

1998
Twilight poster

Twilight

Movie · as Lester Ivar

1998
Nightmare in Big Sky Country poster

Nightmare in Big Sky Country

Movie · as Marshal Jim Phillips

1998
Erasable You

Erasable You

Movie · as Ralph Worth

1998
Men in White poster

Men in White

Movie · as Stanley

1998
The Wild Thornberrys poster

The Wild Thornberrys

TV · as Gemsbok #1 (voice) · 1 ep

1997
My Best Friend's Wedding poster

My Best Friend's Wedding

Movie · as Joe O'Neal

1997
Retroactive poster

Retroactive

Movie · as Sam

1997
Albino Alligator poster

Albino Alligator

Movie · as Dino

1997
The Killing Jar poster

The Killing Jar

Movie · as Sheriff Foley

1996
A Time to Kill poster

A Time to Kill

Movie · as Willard Tyrell Bass (uncredited)

1996
Criminal Hearts poster

Criminal Hearts

Movie · as Martin

1996
Portraits of a Killer poster

Portraits of a Killer

Movie · as Raymond Garrison

1996
The Lottery poster

The Lottery

Movie · as Chief Davis

1996
Romeo + Juliet poster

Romeo + Juliet

Movie · as Apothecary

1996
Early Edition poster

Early Edition

TV · as Santa · 1 ep

1996
Tracey Takes On... poster

Tracey Takes On...

TV · 2 eps

1996
The West poster

The West

TV · as Self (voice) · 1 ep

1995
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler poster

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Movie · as Morris

1995
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home poster

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home

Movie · as Bill Wilcox

1995
Panther poster

Panther

Movie · as Dorsett

1995
Dead Badge poster

Dead Badge

Movie · as Sergeant Miller Hoskins

1995
The Outer Limits poster

The Outer Limits

TV · as Sanford Vallé · 1 ep

1994
Cops & Robbersons poster

Cops & Robbersons

Movie · as Captain Ted Corbett (uncredited)

1994
Camp Nowhere poster

Camp Nowhere

Movie · as T.R. Polk

1994
Probable Cause poster

Probable Cause

Movie · as Sadler

1994
Relative Fear poster

Relative Fear

Movie · as Earl Ladelle

1994
Madness of Method

Madness of Method

Movie · as Rudolph Thorndyke

1994
The Glass Shield poster

The Glass Shield

Movie · as Det. Jesse Hall

1994
Baseball poster

Baseball

TV · as (voice) · 2 eps

1993
The Music of Chance poster

The Music of Chance

Movie · as Calvin Murks

1993
Bitter Harvest poster

Bitter Harvest

Movie · as Sheriff Bob

1993
Wilder Napalm poster

Wilder Napalm

Movie · as Fire Chief

1993
Frasier poster

Frasier

TV · as Rich Koechner · 1 ep

1993
The X-Files poster

The X-Files

TV · as Arthur Dales · 1 ep

1993
NYPD Blue poster

NYPD Blue

TV · as Joe Kroft · 1 ep

1992
White Sands poster

White Sands

Movie · as Bert Gibson

1992
Killer Image poster

Killer Image

Movie · as John Kane

1992
The Naked Truth poster

The Naked Truth

Movie · as Garcia / Gesundheim

1992
Four Eyes and Six-Guns poster

Four Eyes and Six-Guns

Movie · as Mayor Thornbush

1992
Wild Card poster

Wild Card

Movie · as Mose

1992
Equinox poster

Equinox

Movie · as Pete Petosa

1991
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat poster

Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat

Movie · as Mort

1991
Fourth Story poster

Fourth Story

Movie · as Harry

1991
Silverfox

Silverfox

Movie · as Charles Blankenship

1991
Home Improvement poster

Home Improvement

TV · as Colonel · 2 eps

1990
Narrow Margin poster

Narrow Margin

Movie · as Sergeant Dominick Benti

1990
The Flash poster

The Flash

Movie · as Henry Allen

1990
Chattahoochee poster

Chattahoochee

Movie · as Morris

1990
Love and Lies poster

Love and Lies

Movie · as Clyde Wilson

1990
The Flash poster

The Flash

TV · as Henry Allen · 2 eps

1990
The Civil War poster

The Civil War

TV · as Various (voice) · 9 eps

1989
The Mighty Quinn poster

The Mighty Quinn

Movie · as Fred Miller

1989
Catch Me... If You Can poster

Catch Me... If You Can

Movie · as Johnny Phatmun

1989
Thunderground poster

Thunderground

Movie · as Wedge

1989
Tales from the Crypt poster

Tales from the Crypt

TV · as Jonas · 1 ep

1989
Unsub poster

Unsub

TV · as Ned Platt · 8 eps

1989
Brotherhood of the Rose poster

Brotherhood of the Rose

TV · as Hardy · 2 eps

1988
Red Scorpion poster

Red Scorpion

Movie · as Dewey Ferguson

1988
War Party poster

War Party

Movie · as Colin Ditweiler

1988
Sunset poster

Sunset

Movie · as Chief Marvin Dibner

1988
Clean and Sober poster

Clean and Sober

Movie · as Richard Dirks

1988
The Milagro Beanfield War poster

The Milagro Beanfield War

Movie · as Governor

1987
Harry and the Hendersons poster

Harry and the Hendersons

Movie · as George Henderson Sr.

1987
No Man's Land poster

No Man's Land

Movie · as Captain Haun

1987
Broken Vows poster

Broken Vows

Movie · as Detective Mulligan

1987
The Abduction of Kari Swenson poster

The Abduction of Kari Swenson

Movie · as Don Nichols

1987
Murder Ordained poster

Murder Ordained

Movie · as Vern Humphrey

1987
Raising Arizona poster

Raising Arizona

Movie · as Machine Shop Ear-Bender

1987
Murder Ordained poster

Murder Ordained

TV · as Vern Humphrey · 2 eps

1986
Critters poster

Critters

Movie · as Harv

1986
The Best of Times poster

The Best of Times

Movie · as Charlie

1986
Back to School poster

Back to School

Movie · as Coach Turnbull

1986
The Deliberate Stranger poster

The Deliberate Stranger

Movie · as Det. Sam Davies

1986
Resting Place poster

Resting Place

Movie · as Sarge

1986
Wildcats poster

Wildcats

Movie · as Walt Coes

1986
The Right of the People poster

The Right of the People

Movie · as Sindaco

1986
Hero in the Family poster

Hero in the Family

Movie · as General Presser

1986
The Deliberate Stranger poster

The Deliberate Stranger

TV · as Det. Sam Davies · 2 eps

1985
Blood Simple poster

Blood Simple

Movie · as Private Detective

1985
Fletch poster

Fletch

Movie · as Dr. Joseph Dolan

1985
The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn poster

The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn

Movie · as Rocco

1985
The Twilight Zone poster

The Twilight Zone

TV · as Peter (segment "Dealer's Choice") · 1 ep

1985
Amazing Stories poster

Amazing Stories

TV · as Grandpa · 1 ep

1984
The Pope of Greenwich Village poster

The Pope of Greenwich Village

Movie · as Burns

1984
The Outlaws poster

The Outlaws

Movie · as Warden MacDonald

1984
Missing in Action poster

Missing in Action

Movie · as Tuck

1984
Grandview, U.S.A. poster

Grandview, U.S.A.

Movie · as Mr. Clark

1984
Scandalous poster

Scandalous

Movie · as Simon Reynolds

1984
Courage poster

Courage

Movie · as Colonel Crouse

1983
Silkwood poster

Silkwood

Movie · as Walt Yarborough

1983
The Woman Who Willed a Miracle poster

The Woman Who Willed a Miracle

Movie · as Joe Lemke

1983
Night Partners poster

Night Partners

Movie · as Joe Kirby

1983
The Hitchhiker poster

The Hitchhiker

TV · as Detective Underhill · 1 ep

1983
AfterMASH poster

AfterMASH

TV · as Reverend Horn · 1 ep

1982
Cannery Row poster

Cannery Row

Movie · as Mack

1982
Fast-Walking poster

Fast-Walking

Movie · as Sergeant Sanger

1982
Blade Runner poster

Blade Runner

Movie · as Bryant

1982
The Escape Artist poster

The Escape Artist

Movie · as Fritz

1981
Back Roads poster

Back Roads

Movie · as Arthur

1981
Reds poster

Reds

Movie · as Speaker at Liberal Club

1981
Hellinger's Law poster

Hellinger's Law

Movie · as Mr. Graebner

1981
East of Eden poster

East of Eden

TV · as Sheriff Horace Quinn · 3 eps

1980
Brubaker poster

Brubaker

Movie · as C.P. Woodward

1980
Raise the Titanic poster

Raise the Titanic

Movie · as Master Chief Vinnie Walker

1980
Ordinary People poster

Ordinary People

Movie · as Swim Coach

1980
City in Fear poster

City in Fear

Movie · as Sheldon Lewis

1980
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane poster

High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane

Movie · as Harold Patton

1980
Skag poster

Skag

Movie · as Moran

1979
The Jerk poster

The Jerk

Movie · as Madman

1979
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh poster

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

Movie · as Wally Cantrell

1979
The Gift poster

The Gift

Movie · as Legion Commander

1979
Dear Detective poster

Dear Detective

Movie · as Capt. Gorcey

1979
No Other Love poster

No Other Love

Movie · as DeFranco

1979
The French Atlantic Affair poster

The French Atlantic Affair

TV · as Harry · 3 eps

1978
Straight Time poster

Straight Time

Movie · as Earl Frank

1978
A Question of Guilt poster

A Question of Guilt

Movie · as Inspector McCartney

1978
Superdome poster

Superdome

Movie · as Whitley

1977
Slap Shot poster

Slap Shot

Movie · as Dickie Dunn

1977
Red Alert poster

Red Alert

Movie · as Sheriff Sweeney

1977
Airport '77 poster

Airport '77

Movie · as Dr. Williams

1976
Nickelodeon poster

Nickelodeon

Movie · as "Father" Logan

1976
Mikey and Nicky poster

Mikey and Nicky

Movie · as Bus Driver

1976
The Invasion of Johnson County poster

The Invasion of Johnson County

Movie · as Irvine

1976
Bound for Glory poster

Bound for Glory

Movie · as Husband

1975
The Prisoner of Second Avenue poster

The Prisoner of Second Avenue

Movie · as Doorman

1975
At Long Last Love poster

At Long Last Love

Movie · as Harold

1975
Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic poster

Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic

Movie · as Mr. Peterson

1975
Crime Club poster

Crime Club

Movie · as Jack Doyle

1975
Starsky & Hutch poster

Starsky & Hutch

TV · as Freddie, Lloyd Herman Eckworth · 1 ep

1975
Baretta poster

Baretta

TV · 2 eps

1974
The Gambler poster

The Gambler

Movie · as Las Vegas Gambler

1974
Little House on the Prairie poster

Little House on the Prairie

TV · as Callahan · 1 ep

1974
The Rockford Files poster

The Rockford Files

TV · as Edgar Burch · 1 ep

1973
Serpico poster

Serpico

Movie · as Gallagher

1973
Kid Blue poster

Kid Blue

Movie · as Barber

1972
What's Up, Doc? poster

What's Up, Doc?

Movie · as Arresting Officer

1972
Get to Know Your Rabbit poster

Get to Know Your Rabbit

Movie · as Mr. Wendel

1972
The Bob Newhart Show poster

The Bob Newhart Show

TV · as Jack Hoover · 1 ep

1972
The Sandy Duncan Show

The Sandy Duncan Show

TV · 13 eps

1972
The Waltons poster

The Waltons

TV · as David Fletcher · 1 ep

1971
Cold Turkey poster

Cold Turkey

Movie · as Art

1971
They Might Be Giants poster

They Might Be Giants

Movie · as 1st Sanitation Man

1971
Escape from the Planet of the Apes poster

Escape from the Planet of the Apes

Movie · as Aide

1971
All in the Family poster

All in the Family

TV · as Billy Hartfield · 1 ep

1971
McMillan & Wife poster

McMillan & Wife

TV · as Officer Ames · 1 ep

1971
Nichols poster

Nichols

TV · as Gabe McCutcheon · 5 eps

1970
The Traveling Executioner poster

The Traveling Executioner

Movie · as Warden Brodski

1970
Little Big Man poster

Little Big Man

Movie · as Shotgun Guard

1970
End of the Road poster

End of the Road

Movie · as Crab Man / Tutu Man

1970
Arnie poster

Arnie

TV · 1 ep

1969
Alice's Restaurant poster

Alice's Restaurant

Movie · as Group W Sergeant

1969
Midnight Cowboy poster

Midnight Cowboy

Movie · as Bus Passenger (uncredited)

1969
Stiletto poster

Stiletto

Movie · as Racing Partner (uncredited)

1967
Ironside poster

Ironside

TV · as Telegraph Clerk · 1 ep

1959
Bonanza poster

Bonanza

TV · as Mattheson · 1 ep

1954
The Wonderful World of Disney poster

The Wonderful World of Disney

TV · as General Presser · 1 ep

1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame poster

Hallmark Hall of Fame

TV · as Sarge · 1 ep