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Michael Rooker

Actor

Michael Rooker

Born April 6, 1955 in Jasper, Alabama, USA100 films

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).

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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).

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The best way into Michael Rooker's work
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 posterFirst watchGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 320237.9as YonduPeter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Guardians of the Galaxy poster7.9Guardians of the Galaxy2014Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 poster7.6Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 22017The Suicide Squad poster7.4The Suicide Squad2021Superman poster7.3Superman2025F9 poster7.0F92021Love and Monsters poster7.3Love and Monsters2020Tombstone poster7.6Tombstone1993JFK poster7.6JFK1991

Filmography

100 films as actor
  1. TBARoad RageStony
  2. TBAThe Underneath: In Fortune's ShadowThe Man with the Answers
  3. TBAPig VillageSteve
  4. TBAIzziSheriff Blackstone
  5. TBASurvive the Night
  6. TBAScott's DeadMitch
  7. 2025SupermanSuperman Robot #1 (voice)
  8. 2024Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2Sgt. Major Riordan
  9. 2024Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan
  10. 2023The Out-LawsAgent Oldham
  11. 2023Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3Yondu
  12. 2022The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday SpecialYondu
  13. 2022White ElephantGabriel Tancredi
  14. 2022Corrective MeasuresWarden Devlin
  15. 2021VivoLutador (voice)
  16. 2021The Suicide SquadSavant
  17. 2021F9Buddy
  18. 2020Love and MonstersClyde
  19. 2020The Dark TowerElred Jonas
  20. 2020Fantasy IslandDamon
  21. 2019BrightburnThe Big T
  22. 2019BoldenPat McMurphy
  23. 2017The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's WalkingMerle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice)
  24. 2017Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2Yondu
  25. 2017The Belko ExperimentBud Melks
  26. 2014The Driving DeadTrooper
  27. 2014Guardians of the GalaxyYondu Udonta
  28. 2014ElwoodCondello
  29. 2013Brother's KeeperChief Carver
  30. 2012PennhurstDr. Death
  31. 2012HypothermiaRay Pelletier
  32. 2012Rogue RiverGas Attendent
  33. 2011MysteriaCaptain McCarthy
  34. 2011Cell 213Ray Clement
  35. 2010SuperAbe
  36. 2010DC Showcase Original Shorts CollectionRed Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)
  37. 2010Atlantis DownFather / Alien
  38. 2010DC Showcase: Jonah HexRed Doc (voice)
  39. 2010Blood Done Sign My NameDefense attorney Billy Watkins
  40. 2010MatadorsJohn Canterna
  41. 2010LouisPat McMurphy
  42. 2009The Marine 2Church
  43. 2009Freeway KillerDet. St. John
  44. 2009PenanceMann
  45. 2009Super CapersJudge / Dark Winged Vesper
  46. 2008Humanzee!Priest
  47. 2008This Man's LifeRichard Crummly
  48. 2008JumperWilliam Rice
  49. 2007WhisperSydney Braverman
  50. 2006SlitherGrant Grant
  51. 2006Lenexa, 1 MileRuss
  52. 2006Repo! The Genetic Opera
  53. 2005Chasing GhostsMark Spencer
  54. 2004The Eliminator
  55. 2004Skeleton ManCaptain Leary
  56. 2003Saving Jessica LynchColonel Curry
  57. 2003On Thin IceRoger Hopkins
  58. 2003The BoxDetective Stafford
  59. 2002The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and InfinityColonel Beckett
  60. 2002UndisputedA.J. Mercker
  61. 2001ReplicantJake
  62. 2000The 6th DayRobert Marshall
  63. 2000NewsbreakJohn McNamara
  64. 2000Table OneRowdy
  65. 2000Here on EarthMalcolm Arnold
  66. 1999Wicked WaysMatt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan
  67. 1999The Bone CollectorCaptain Howard Cheney
  68. 1998Renegade ForceMatt Cooper
  69. 1998Brown's RequiemFritz Brown
  70. 1998Shadow BuilderFather Vassey
  71. 1998The Replacement KillersStan 'Zeedo' Zedkov
  72. 1997DeceiverDetective Edward Kennesaw
  73. 1997Song of HiawathaBertrand
  74. 1997Keys to TulsaKeith Michaels
  75. 1997RosewoodSheriff Walker
  76. 1997Meet Wally SparksMichael Rooker
  77. 1996Bastard Out of CarolinaUncle Earle
  78. 1996The Trigger EffectGary
  79. 1996Back to BackBob Malone
  80. 1995MallratsSvenning
  81. 1995Johnny and ClydeFrank Tennant
  82. 1994The Hard TruthJonah Mantz
  83. 1994SuspiciousAttendant
  84. 1993TombstoneSherman McMasters
  85. 1993CliffhangerHal Tucker
  86. 1993The Dark HalfSheriff Alan Pangborn
  87. 1992AfterburnCasey 'Z' Zankowski
  88. 1991JFKBill Broussard
  89. 1990Days of ThunderRowdy Burns
  90. 1989Music BoxKarchy Laszlo
  91. 1989Sea of LoveTerry
  92. 1989L.A. TakedownBosko
  93. 1989The EdgeDeputy Sheriff (Indian Poker)
  94. 1988Mississippi BurningFrank Bailey
  95. 1988Eight Men OutChick Gandil
  96. 1988Above the LawMan in Bar
  97. 1988Retreads
  98. 1987Rent-a-CopJoe
  99. 1987Light of DayOogie
  100. 1986Henry: Portrait of a Serial KillerHenry