Person
Michael Rooker
Jasper, Alabama, USA
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…
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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).
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
-
2025
Superman
Movie Superman Robot #1 (voice)
-
2024
Creature Commandos
TV show Sam (voice)
-
2024
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
Movie Sgt. Major Riordan
-
2024
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
Movie Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan
-
2023
The Out-Laws
Movie Agent Oldham
-
2023
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Movie Yondu
-
2022
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Movie Yondu
-
2022
White Elephant
Movie Gabriel Tancredi
-
2022
Corrective Measures
Movie Warden Devlin
-
2022
Peacemaker
TV show Red St. Wild
-
2021
What If...?
TV show Yondu (voice)
-
2021
Vivo
Movie Lutador (voice)
-
2021
The Suicide Squad
Movie Savant
-
2021
Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR
Movie Self
-
2021
F9
Movie Buddy
-
2021
Clerk
Movie Self
More credits
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2021
Marvel Studios Legends
TV show Yondu Udonta (archive footage) (uncredited)
-
2020
Love and Monsters
Movie Clyde
-
2020
The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder
Movie Self
-
2020
Dead Talk Live
TV show Self - Guest
-
2020
The Dark Tower
Movie Elred Jonas
-
2020
Fantasy Island
Movie Damon
-
2019
Creepshow
TV show Beau
-
2019
The Righteous Gemstones
TV show Cobb Milsap
-
2019
Brightburn
Movie The Big T
-
2019
Bolden
Movie Pat McMurphy
-
2018
The Rookie
TV show Frank Teska
-
2017
The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking
Movie Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice)
-
2017
Life After Flash
Movie Self
-
2017
SEAL Team
TV show Big Chief
-
2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Movie Yondu
-
2017
The Belko Experiment
Movie Bud Melks
-
2016
Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed
TV show Self
-
2016
Ride with Norman Reedus
TV show Self
-
2015
CelebriD&D
TV show Arnold
- 2014
-
2014
The Driving Dead
Movie Trooper
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2014
Guardians of the Galaxy
Movie Yondu Udonta
-
2014
Elwood
Movie Condello
-
2014
True Detective
TV show Edward Hoyt
