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