Michael RookerActor Evolution · YouTube
Michael Rooker
Known for
One of the great character actors in contemporary genre cinema. International breakthrough with Cliffhanger (1993) and Tombstone (1993). Recognition as Merle Dixon in AMC's The Walking Dead (2010-2013) and as Yondu in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy (2014-2017), one of his most beloved roles. Starred in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), Mallrats (1995), and Slither (2006). An American actor identified with action, horror, and science fiction cinema, recognized for his intense character range and presence in high-reach genre productions.
Michael Rooker
76 Movies
29 Series
One of the great character actors in contemporary genre cinema. International breakthrough with Cliffhanger (1993) and Tombstone (1993). Recognition as Merle Dixon in AMC's The Walking Dead (2010-2013) and as Yondu in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy (2014-2017), one of his most beloved roles. Starred in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), Mallrats (1995), and Slither (2006). An American actor identified with action, horror, and science fiction cinema, recognized for his intense character range and presence in high-reach genre productions.
Movies
Plays Superman Robot #1 (voice)
Superman
2025
Plays Savant
The Suicide Squad
2021
Plays Yondu Udonta
Guardians of the Galaxy
2014
Plays Robert Marshall
The 6th Day
2000
Plays Buddy
F9
2021
Plays Rowdy Burns
Days of Thunder
1990
Plays Captain Howard Cheney
The Bone Collector
1999
Plays A.J. Mercker
Undisputed
2002
Plays William Rice
Jumper
2008
Plays Clyde
Love and Monsters
2020
Plays Damon
Fantasy Island
2020
Plays The Big T
Brightburn
2019
Plays Bill Broussard
JFK
1991
Plays Hal Tucker
Cliffhanger
1993
Plays Sherman McMasters
Tombstone
1993
Plays Frank Bailey
Mississippi Burning
1988
Plays Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
2024
Plays Grant Grant
Slither
2006
Plays Man in Bar
Above the Law
1988
Plays Agent Oldham
The Out-Laws
2023
Plays Lutador (voice)
Vivo
2021
Plays Abe
Super
2010
Plays Bud Melks
The Belko Experiment
2017
Plays Jake
Replicant
2001
Plays Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov
The Replacement Killers
1998
Plays Terry
Sea of Love
1989
Plays Svenning
Mallrats
1995
Plays Uncle Earle
Bastard Out of Carolina
1996
Plays Chick Gandil
Eight Men Out
1988
Plays Gabriel Tancredi
White Elephant
2022
Plays Sheriff Alan Pangborn
The Dark Half
1993
Plays Pat McMurphy
Bolden
2019
Plays Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)
DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection
2010
Plays Sgt. Major Riordan
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
2024
Plays Sydney Braverman
Whisper
2007
Plays Detective Edward Kennesaw
Deceiver
1997
Plays Henry
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
1986
Plays Warden Devlin
Corrective Measures
2022
Plays Captain Leary
Skeleton Man
2004
Plays Malcolm Arnold
Here on Earth
2000
Plays Church
The Marine 2
2009
Plays Attendant
Suspicious
1994
Plays Gary
The Trigger Effect
1996
Plays Karchy Laszlo
Music Box
1989
Plays Michael Rooker
Meet Wally Sparks
1997
Plays Sheriff Walker
Rosewood
1997
Plays Red Doc (voice)
DC Showcase: Jonah Hex
2010
Plays Oogie
Light of Day
1987
Plays Bertrand
Song of Hiawatha
1997
Plays Ray Clement
Cell 213
2011
TV Shows
Plays Merle Dixon
The Walking Dead
2010
Plays Detective John Hayes
Thief
2006
Plays Cobb Milsap
The Righteous Gemstones
2019
Plays Yondu (voice)
What If...?
2021
Plays Red St. Wild
Peacemaker
2022
Plays Calvin Stark
Meteor
2009
Plays Lieutenant
Crime Story
1986
Plays Frank Teska
The Rookie
2018
Plays Arnold
CelebriD&D
2015
Plays Sam (voice)
Creature Commandos
2024
Plays Kinney
Tremors
2003
Plays Mauser
Chuck
2007
Plays Oscar Riddick
Shark
2006
Plays Marty Jones
CSI: Miami
2002
Plays Marcus Wexler
Las Vegas
2003
Plays Shawn Curaco
Crossing Jordan
2001
Plays Chief Carlson
Criminal Minds
2005
Plays Bill Whitaker
The Equalizer
1985
Plays Colonel Edwards
Stargate SG-1
1997
Plays Colonel Beckett
The Outer Limits
1995
Plays Garth Lawnmore
Psych
2006
Plays Dale Lawson
Burn Notice
2007
Plays Sheriff E. Z. Ponder (voice)
Archer
2009
Plays Beau
Creepshow
2019
Plays Detective John Quinn
Gideon Oliver
1989
Plays Big Chief
SEAL Team
2017
Plays Babe McCloor
Fallen Angels
1993
Plays Edward Hoyt
True Detective
2014
Plays Jamie Yost
Law & Order
1990
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Superman
Full Filmography
Peacemaker
Red St. Wild · 3 episodes
2025
TV
The Righteous Gemstones
Cobb Milsap · 5 episodes
2025
TV
Superman
Superman Robot #1 (voice)
2025
Film
Creature Commandos
Sam (voice) · 1 episode
2024
TV
What If...?
Yondu (voice) · 3 episodes
2021–2024
TV
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
Sgt. Major Riordan
2024
Film
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan
2024
Film
The Rookie
Frank Teska · 2 episodes
2022–2023
TV
The Out-Laws
Agent Oldham
2023
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Michael Rooker and where are they from?
Michael Rooker is 71 years old, born on April 6, 1955 in Jasper, Alabama, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Michael Rooker?
Michael Rooker is best known for roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, The Suicide Squad.
How many movies has Michael Rooker been in?
Over a 40-year career (since 1986), Michael Rooker has appeared in 76 movies and 29 TV shows.
What was Michael Rooker's first movie?
The career of Michael Rooker began with Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986).
What is Michael Rooker's most recent movie or series?
Michael Rooker's most recent release is Superman, which premiered on July 9, 2025.
What TV shows has Michael Rooker appeared in?
On television, Michael Rooker has appeared in The Walking Dead, What If...?, True Detective, Criminal Minds.
Michael Rooker
1955-04-06 · 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 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).