Michael Rooker
Known for Acting · 143 credits
- Born
- 1955-04-06 (age 71)
- Place of birth
- Jasper, Alabama, USA
- Also known as
- 마이클 루커 · مایکل روکر
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
TV Shows (35)
The Rookie
2018
as Frank Teska
Law & Order
1990
as Jamie Yost
Criminal Minds
2005
as Chief Carlson
CSI: Miami
2002
as Marty Jones
The Walking Dead
2010
as Merle Dixon
Stargate SG-1
1997
as Colonel Edwards
Psych
2006
as Garth Lawnmore
Crossing Jordan
2001
as Shawn Curaco
SEAL Team
2017
as Big Chief
True Detective
2014
as Edward Hoyt
Burn Notice
2007
as Dale Lawson
Archer
2009
as Sheriff E. Z. Ponder (voice)
Las Vegas
2003
as Marcus Wexler
Chuck
2007
as Mauser
The Equalizer
1985
as Bill Whitaker
What If...?
2021
as Yondu (voice) / Yondu Udonta (voice)
Peacemaker
2022
as Red St. Wild
Shark
2006
as Oscar Riddick
The Outer Limits
1995
as Colonel Beckett
The Righteous Gemstones
2019
as Cobb Milsap
Marvel Studios Legends
2021
as Yondu Udonta (archive footage) (uncredited)
Creepshow
2019
as Beau
Crime Story
1986
as Lieutenant
Talking Dead
2011
as Self
Fallen Angels
1993
as Babe McCloor
Creature Commandos
2024
as Sam (voice)
Tremors
2003
as Kinney
Ride with Norman Reedus
2016
as Self
Meteor
2009
as Calvin Stark
Thief
2006
as Detective John Hayes
Dead Talk Live
2020
as Self - Guest
CelebriD&D
2015
as Arnold
Gideon Oliver
1989
as Detective John Quinn
Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed
2016
as Self
NSFW Show
2009
as Self - Guest
Movies (108)
Superman
2025
as Superman Robot #1 (voice)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
2023
as Yondu
The Suicide Squad
2021
as Savant
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
2017
as Yondu
Guardians of the Galaxy
2014
as Yondu Udonta
F9
2021
as Buddy
Tombstone
1993
as Sherman McMasters
Brightburn
2019
as The Big T
Cliffhanger
1993
as Hal Tucker
Love and Monsters
2020
as Clyde
Mississippi Burning
1988
as Frank Bailey
Jumper
2008
as William Rice
The Bone Collector
1999
as Captain Howard Cheney
Fantasy Island
2020
as Damon
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
2022
as Yondu
JFK
1991
as Bill Broussard
Slither
2006
as Grant Grant
Undisputed
2002
as A.J. Mercker
Days of Thunder
1990
as Rowdy Burns
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
2024
as Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan
Vivo
2021
as Lutador (voice)
The 6th Day
2000
as Robert Marshall
The Belko Experiment
2017
as Bud Melks
Above the Law
1988
as Man in Bar
Sea of Love
1989
as Terry
The Replacement Killers
1998
as Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov
Whisper
2007
as Sydney Braverman
Super
2010
as Abe
The Out-Laws
2023
as Agent Oldham
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
2024
as Sgt. Major Riordan
Mallrats
1995
as Svenning
Replicant
2001
as Jake
Bastard Out of Carolina
1996
as Uncle Earle
Corrective Measures
2022
as Warden Devlin
White Elephant
2022
as Gabriel Tancredi
Rosewood
1997
as Sheriff Walker
Music Box
1989
as Karchy Laszlo
Bolden
2019
as Pat McMurphy
Pig Village
as Steve
Clerk
2021
as Self
The Dark Half
1993
as Sheriff Alan Pangborn
The Trigger Effect
1996
as Gary
The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking
2017
as Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice)
The Marine 2
2009
as Church
Chasing Ghosts
2005
as Mark Spencer
Light of Day
1987
as Oogie
Elwood
2014
as Condello
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
1986
as Henry
Eight Men Out
1988
as Chick Gandil
Deceiver
1997
as Detective Edward Kennesaw
Keys to Tulsa
1997
as Keith Michaels
DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection
2010
as Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)
Super Capers
2009
as Judge / Dark Winged Vesper
The Making of The Walking Dead
2010
as Self
Pennhurst
2012
as Dr. Death
Here on Earth
2000
as Malcolm Arnold
Shadow Builder
1998
as Father Vassey
Skeleton Man
2004
as Captain Leary
Mysteria
2011
as Captain McCarthy
The Edge
1989
as Deputy Sheriff (Indian Poker)
L.A. Takedown
1989
as Bosko
Meet Wally Sparks
1997
as Michael Rooker
Freeway Killer
2009
as Det. St. John
Back to Back
1996
as Bob Malone
Song of Hiawatha
1997
as Bertrand
Hypothermia
2012
as Ray Pelletier
Cell 213
2011
as Ray Clement
Penance
2009
as Mann
Renegade Force
1998
as Matt Cooper
Blood Done Sign My Name
2010
as Defense attorney Billy Watkins
DC Showcase: Jonah Hex
2010
as Red Doc (voice)
Wicked Ways
1999
as Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan
Rent-a-Cop
1987
as Joe
Brown's Requiem
1998
as Fritz Brown
Afterburn
1992
as Casey 'Z' Zankowski
Johnny and Clyde
1995
as Frank Tennant
Lenexa, 1 Mile
2006
as Russ
Rogue River
2012
as Gas Attendent
Life After Flash
2017
as Self
The Hard Truth
1994
as Jonah Mantz
On Thin Ice
2003
as Roger Hopkins
Newsbreak
2000
as John McNamara
The Eliminator
2004
The Dark Tower
2020
as Elred Jonas
Saving Jessica Lynch
2003
as Colonel Curry
The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder
2020
as Self
Brother's Keeper
2013
as Chief Carver
Louis
2010
as Pat McMurphy
The Box
2003
as Detective Stafford
Table One
2000
as Rowdy
The Making of 'Tombstone'
2002
as Self
Erection of an Epic - The Making of Mallrats
2005
as Self
Humanzee!
2008
as Priest
Matadors
2010
as John Canterna
Suspicious
1994
as Attendet
The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity
2002
as Colonel Beckett
Repo! The Genetic Opera
2006
Atlantis Down
2010
as Father / Alien
Retreads
1988
This Man's Life
2008
as Richard Crummly
Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger
as Self
The Sparrows Are Flying Again! - The Making of the Dark Half
2014
as Himself
The Driving Dead
2014
as Trooper
Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR
2021
as Self
Road Rage
as Stony
Portrait: The Making of Henry
2005
as Self
The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow
as The Man with the Answers
Izzi
as Sheriff Blackstone
About Michael Rooker
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, Ja… With 143 credits spanning from 1985 to 2025, Michael Rooker has appeared in 108 films and 35 TV shows.
Fans searching for Michael Rooker movies, Michael Rooker filmography, or the latest projects starring Michael Rooker can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Michael Rooker Movies
- Superman (2025) — as Superman Robot #1 (voice)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) — as Yondu
- The Suicide Squad (2021) — as Savant
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) — as Yondu
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) — as Yondu Udonta
Where to Watch Michael Rooker Films
Most Michael Rooker movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Michael Rooker, check our movies catalogue and browse page.