Michael Rooker | |
|---|---|
 Rooker at the 2025GalaxyCon Raleigh | |
| Born | (1955-04-06)April 6, 1955 (age 70) Jasper, Alabama, U.S. |
| Education | DePaul University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Signature | |
 | |
Michael Rooker (born April 6, 1955)[1] is an American actor and voice actor. He first rose to prominence for portraying the titular role inHenry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), and is best known for starring asMerle Dixon in theAMC seriesThe Walking Dead (2010–2013) and asYondu Udonta inGuardians of the Galaxy (2014), and its sequelGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). He is a recurring collaborator ofGuardians of the Galaxy director and co-CEO ofDC StudiosJames Gunn, appearing in all of his films to date includingSlither (2006),Super (2010) andThe Suicide Squad (2021).
Rooker's other notable roles includeChick Gandil inEight Men Out (1988), Frank Bailey inMississippi Burning (1988), Terry Cruger inSea of Love (1989), Rowdy Burns inDays of Thunder (1990), Bill Broussard inJFK (1991), Hal Tucker inCliffhanger (1993),Sherman McMaster inTombstone (1993), Jared Svenning inMallrats (1995), Detective Howard Cheney inThe Bone Collector (1999), and Buddy inF9 (2021).
Rooker was born inJasper,Alabama. He has nine brothers and sisters. His parents divorced when he was 13, and he moved with his mother and siblings toChicago, where he attendedWells Community Academy High School and studied at theGoodman School of Drama atDePaul University.[2][3][4]
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Rooker made his film debut in 1986, playing the title role inHenry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, based on the confessions ofserial killerHenry Lee Lucas.[5] He was acting in a play when the play's director, who was going to do the prosthetics forHenry, told him about the role. Rooker did not care if the script was good or bad; he just wanted to act in a film as it would "challenge" him.[6]Henry was a critical success and Rooker received more film roles.
He was given more dramatic roles in films such asEight Men Out,Mississippi Burning, andJFK, but he became widely known for his roles inaction andthriller films such asSea of Love,Days of Thunder,Cliffhanger,[7] andTombstone.[8] He also starred inMallrats,Rosewood,The 6th Day,Slither,Jumper,Super[9] andHypothermia.[10][11]
In June 2010, Rooker revealed viaTwitter that he was to appear in theAMC television seriesThe Walking Dead asMerle Dixon, one of the survivors of azombie apocalypse. He guest-starred in two episodes of the first season and one of the second season before becoming a series regular for the third season.[12][13]
Rooker is also known for his roles invideo games, such asCall of Duty: Black Ops (where he played himself), Mike Harper inCall of Duty: Black Ops 2 in November 2012, and as Merle inThe Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, the video game based on the television series.
He playedYondu Udonta in theMarvel Studios filmGuardians of the Galaxy, directed byJames Gunn,[14] and reprised the role inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)[15] as well asThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022). In 2021 he appeared in the action filmF9, directed byJustin Lin.[16]
Rooker lives inCalifornia with his wife Margot. They married in 1979 and have two daughters, Alynne and Gillian. He practices theKyokushin style of karate.[1][17]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer | Henry | Fantasporto Award for Best Actor Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actor Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead |
| 1987 | Light of Day | Oogie | |
| Rent-A-Cop | Joe | ||
| 1988 | Above the Law | Man in bar | |
| Eight Men Out | Arnold "Chick" Gandil | ||
| Mississippi Burning | Frank Bailey | ||
| 1989 | Sea of Love | Terry Cruger | |
| Music Box | Karchy Laszlo | ||
| 1990 | Days of Thunder | Rowdy Burns | |
| 1991 | JFK | Bill Broussard | |
| 1993 | The Dark Half | Sheriff Alan Pangborn | |
| Cliffhanger | Ranger Hal Tucker | ||
| Tombstone | Sherman McMasters | ||
| 1994 | Suspicious | Attendant | Short film |
| The Hard Truth | Jonah Mantz | ||
| 1995 | Mallrats | Jared Svenning | |
| 1996 | Bastard Out of Carolina | Uncle Earle | |
| The Trigger Effect | Gary | ||
| 1997 | Song of Hiawatha | Bertrand | |
| Rosewood | Sheriff Walker | ||
| Keys to Tulsa | Keith Michaels | ||
| Deceiver | Kennesaw | ||
| Shadow Builder | Father Vassey | ||
| 1998 | The Replacement Killers | Detective Stan "Zeedo" Zedkov | |
| Brown's Requiem | Fritz Brown | Also associate producer | |
| Renegade Force | Matt Cooper | ||
| 1999 | A Table for One | Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan | Also co-executive producer |
| The Bone Collector | Captain Howard Cheney | ||
| 2000 | Table One | Rowdy | |
| Here on Earth | Malcolm Arnold | ||
| NewsBreak | John McNamara | ||
| The 6th Day | Robert Marshall | ||
| 2001 | Replicant | Detective Jake Riley | |
| 2002 | Undisputed | Captain A.J. Mercker | |
| 2003 | The Box | Detective Stafford | |
| 2004 | The Eliminator | Miles Dawson | |
| 2005 | Chasing Ghosts | Mark Spencer | |
| 2006 | Repo! The Genetic Opera | Repo Man | Unreleased short film[18] |
| Lenexa, 1 Mile | Russ | ||
| Slither | Grant Grant | ||
| 2007 | Whisper | Sidney | |
| 2008 | The Lena Baker Story | Randolph County Sheriff | |
| Jumper | William Rice | ||
| This Man's Life | Richard Crummly | Short film | |
| 2009 | Super Capers | Judge / Dark Winged Vesper | |
| Penance | Mann | ||
| The Marine 2 | Church | Direct-to-DVD | |
| 2010 | Scott's Dead | Mitch | Short film |
| Freeway Killer | Detective St. John | ||
| Blood Done Sign My Name | Defense Attorney Billy Watkins | ||
| Cell 213 | Ray Clement | ||
| DC Showcase: Jonah Hex | Red Doc | Voice, short film | |
| Louis | Pat McMurphy | ||
| Super | Abe | ||
| 2011 | Atlantis Down | Father / Alien | |
| Mysteria | Captain McCarthy | ||
| Elwood | Condello | Short film | |
| 2012 | The Lost Episode | Chris / Dr. Death | Also director |
| Hypothermia | Ray Pelletier | ||
| 2013 | Brother's Keeper | Chief Carver | |
| 2014 | Guardians of the Galaxy | Yondu Udonta | |
| 2016 | The Belko Experiment | Bud Melks | |
| 2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Yondu Udonta | Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2019 | Bolden | Pat McMurphy | |
| Brightburn | The Big T | Cameo | |
| 2020 | Fantasy Island | Damon | |
| Love and Monsters | Clyde | ||
| 2021 | F9 | Buddy | |
| The Suicide Squad | Brian Durlin / Savant | ||
| Vivo | Lutador | Voice | |
| 2022 | Corrective Measures | Overseer Warden Devlin | |
| White Elephant | Gabriel Tancredi | ||
| 2023 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Yondu Udonta | Cameo |
| The Out-Laws | Agent Oldham | [19] | |
| 2024 | Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 | Sgt. Major Riordan | |
| Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 | |||
| 2025 | Superman | Superman Robot 1 | Voice |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Crime Story | Lieutenant | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 1988 | The Equalizer | Bill Whitaker | Episode: "No Place Like Home" | |
| 1989 | Gideon Oliver | Det. John Quinn | Episode: "Sleep Well, Professor Oliver" | |
| The Edge | Deputy Sheriff | Television film | ||
| L.A. Takedown | Bosko | Television film | ||
| 1990 | Equal Justice | Wallace "Wally" Dalton | Episode: "Sugar Blues" | |
| 1992 | Afterburn | Casey "Z" Zankowski | Television film | |
| 1995 | Fallen Angels | Babe McCloor | Episode: "Fly Paper" | |
| Johnny & Clyde | Frank Tennant | Television film | ||
| 1996 | Back to Back | Bob Malone | Television film | |
| 2001 | The Outer Limits | Col. Beckett | Episode: "Patient Zero" | |
| Hostage Rescue Team | Special Agent Nicholas Roberts | Pilot | ||
| 2002 | Jeremiah | Major Quantrell | Episode: "Firewall" | |
| 2003 | Tremors | Kinney | Episode: "Hit and Run" | |
| Lucky | Gibby | Episode: "Savant" | ||
| Stargate SG-1 | Col. Edwards | Episode: "Enemy Mine" | ||
| CSI: Miami | Marty Jones | Episode: "Dead Zone" | ||
| On Thin Ice | Hopkins | Television film | ||
| Saving Jessica Lynch | Col. Curry | Television film | ||
| 2004 | Skeleton Man | Capt. Leary | Television film | |
| Las Vegas | Marcus Wexler | Episode: "Degas Away with It" | ||
| 2005 | Numb3rs | Don's Partner | Unaired pilot | |
| JAG | Capt. Jack Ramsey | Episode: "Heart of Darkness" | ||
| 2006 | Thief | Det. John Hayes | 5 episodes | |
| 2007 | Crossing Jordan | Shawn Curaco | Episode: "D.O.A." | |
| 2008 | Law & Order | Jamie Yost | Episode: "Executioner" | |
| Shark | Oscar Riddick | Episode: "Bar Fight" | ||
| Chuck | Frank Mauser | Episode: "Chuck Versus Santa Claus" | ||
| Humanzee! | Priest | Episode: "Pilot" | ||
| 2009 | Meteor | Calvin Stark | 2 episodes | |
| Criminal Minds | Chief Carlson | Episode: "House on Fire" | ||
| Psych | Garth Longmore | Episode: "Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark" | ||
| 2010 | Burn Notice | Dale Lawson | Episode: "Guilty as Charged" | |
| Matadors | John Canterna | Pilot | ||
| 2010–2013 | The Walking Dead | Merle Dixon | 14 episodes Satellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series(2012) | |
| 2012 | Outlaw Country | Larkin's Henchman | Television film | |
| Archer | Sheriff E.Z. Ponder | Voice, episode: "Bloody Ferlin" | ||
| 2016 | Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed | Himself | Documentary | [20][21][22] |
| 2017 | SEAL Team | Big Chief | Episode: "Tip of the Spear" | |
| Robot Chicken | Merle Dixon | Voice, episode: "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking" | ||
| 2019 | True Detective | Edward Hoyt | 2 episodes | |
| The Dark Tower | Eldred Jonas | Pilot | ||
| 2021–2024 | What If...? | Yondu Udonta | Voice, 3 episodes | |
| 2021 | Creepshow | Beau | Episode: "Drug Traffic" | |
| 2022 | The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special | Yondu Udonta | Voice,Disney+ special | |
| 2023 | The Rookie | Frank Tesca | 2 episodes | |
| 2024 | Creature Commandos | Sam Fitzgibbon | Voice, episode: "Cheers to the Tin Man" | |
| 2025 | The Righteous Gemstones | Cobb Milsap | 5 episodes | |
| Peacemaker | Red St. Wild | 3 episodes |
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay | Centurion, Jack | |
| 2011 | Call of Duty: Black Ops | Himself | Appears inCall of the Dead |
| Days of Thunder | Rowdy Burns | ||
| 2012 | Lollipop Chainsaw | Vikke | |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops II | Mike Harper | Alsomotion capture | |
| 2013 | The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct | Merle Dixon | |
| 2023 | Crime Boss: Rockay City | Touchdown | |
| 2025 | Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 | Mike Harper | Also motion capture |
