Michael Rooker

Michael Rooker

Acting
Born 1955-04-06Jasper, Alabama, USA

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).

Movies (110)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
7.9

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

2023Movie7.9
Superman
7.3

Superman

2025Movie7.3
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
7.6

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

2017Movie7.6
The Suicide Squad
7.4

The Suicide Squad

2021Movie7.4
Guardians of the Galaxy
7.9

Guardians of the Galaxy

2014Movie7.9
Days of Thunder
6.4

Days of Thunder

1990Movie6.4
Tombstone
7.6

Tombstone

1993Movie7.6
The Bone Collector
6.8

The Bone Collector

1999Movie6.8
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
7.1

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

2022Movie7.1
The 6th Day
6.0

The 6th Day

2000Movie6.0
Jumper
6.2

Jumper

2008Movie6.2
F9
7.0

F9

2021Movie7.0
Brightburn
6.2

Brightburn

2019Movie6.2
The Belko Experiment
6.2

The Belko Experiment

2017Movie6.2
Mississippi Burning
7.7

Mississippi Burning

1988Movie7.7
JFK
7.6

JFK

1991Movie7.6
Cliffhanger
6.5

Cliffhanger

1993Movie6.5
Undisputed
6.5

Undisputed

2002Movie6.5
Fantasy Island
5.7

Fantasy Island

2020Movie5.7
Above the Law
6.1

Above the Law

1988Movie6.1
The Out-Laws
6.0

The Out-Laws

2023Movie6.0
The Replacement Killers
6.3

The Replacement Killers

1998Movie6.3
Love and Monsters
7.3

Love and Monsters

2020Movie7.3
Sea of Love
6.6

Sea of Love

1989Movie6.6
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
6.8

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

2024Movie6.8
Slither
6.5

Slither

2006Movie6.5
Mallrats
6.8

Mallrats

1995Movie6.8
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
7.0

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2

2024Movie7.0
The Dark Half
6.0

The Dark Half

1993Movie6.0
Vivo
7.2

Vivo

2021Movie7.2
Super
6.5

Super

2010Movie6.5
Corrective Measures
5.0

Corrective Measures

2022Movie5.0
Clerk
6.2

Clerk

2021Movie6.2
White Elephant
5.8

White Elephant

2022Movie5.8
Skeleton Man
3.3

Skeleton Man

2004Movie3.3
Music Box
7.1

Music Box

1989Movie7.1
Replicant
5.9

Replicant

2001Movie5.9
Meet Wally Sparks
4.7

Meet Wally Sparks

1997Movie4.7
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
6.7

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

1986Movie6.7
The Trigger Effect
5.9

The Trigger Effect

1996Movie5.9
Bastard Out of Carolina
7.1

Bastard Out of Carolina

1996Movie7.1
Eight Men Out
6.8

Eight Men Out

1988Movie6.8
Whisper
6.3

Whisper

2007Movie6.3
Deceiver
6.0

Deceiver

1997Movie6.0
The Marine 2
5.9

The Marine 2

2009Movie5.9
Afterburn
4.2

Afterburn

1992Movie4.2
L.A. Takedown
5.5

L.A. Takedown

1989Movie5.5
Bolden
4.1

Bolden

2019Movie4.1
Back to Back
5.4

Back to Back

1996Movie5.4
On Thin Ice
4.9

On Thin Ice

2003Movie4.9
Here on Earth
5.9

Here on Earth

2000Movie5.9
Rosewood
6.5

Rosewood

1997Movie6.5
The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking
7.0

The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking

2017Movie7.0
Keys to Tulsa
4.7

Keys to Tulsa

1997Movie4.7
Johnny and Clyde
4.0

Johnny and Clyde

1995Movie4.0
Suspicious
4.3

Suspicious

1994Movie4.3
The Hard Truth
3.8

The Hard Truth

1994Movie3.8
Rent-a-Cop
4.7

Rent-a-Cop

1987Movie4.7
Shadow Builder
4.7

Shadow Builder

1998Movie4.7
Matadors
4.7

Matadors

2010Movie4.7
Light of Day
5.5

Light of Day

1987Movie5.5
The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder
6.2

The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder

2020Movie6.2
The Making of The Walking Dead
7.8

The Making of The Walking Dead

2010Movie7.8
Chasing Ghosts
5.5

Chasing Ghosts

2005Movie5.5
Erection of an Epic - The Making of Mallrats
2.0

Erection of an Epic - The Making of Mallrats

2005Movie2.0
Rogue River
4.7

Rogue River

2012Movie4.7
Saving Jessica Lynch
4.4

Saving Jessica Lynch

2003Movie4.4
DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection
7.0

DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection

2010Movie7.0
DC Showcase: Jonah Hex
6.9

DC Showcase: Jonah Hex

2010Movie6.9
Song of Hiawatha
5.8

Song of Hiawatha

1997Movie5.8
Life After Flash
5.6

Life After Flash

2017Movie5.6
Izzi

Izzi

Movie
Super Capers
3.4

Super Capers

2009Movie3.4
Wicked Ways
5.1

Wicked Ways

1999Movie5.1
Renegade Force
5.4

Renegade Force

1998Movie5.4
The Edge
4.0

The Edge

1989Movie4.0
Mysteria
3.8

Mysteria

2011Movie3.8
The Making of 'Tombstone'
6.7

The Making of 'Tombstone'

2002Movie6.7
Pennhurst
3.1

Pennhurst

2012Movie3.1
Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger
6.0

Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger

1993Movie6.0
Blood Done Sign My Name
5.4

Blood Done Sign My Name

2010Movie5.4
Brown's Requiem
4.5

Brown's Requiem

1998Movie4.5
Retreads
4.7

Retreads

1988Movie4.7
Cell 213
5.0

Cell 213

2011Movie5.0
Hypothermia
3.9

Hypothermia

2012Movie3.9
Brother's Keeper
4.9

Brother's Keeper

2013Movie4.9
Lenexa, 1 Mile
4.0

Lenexa, 1 Mile

2006Movie4.0
Elwood
2.3

Elwood

2014Movie2.3
The Eliminator
4.2

The Eliminator

2004Movie4.2
Newsbreak
4.3

Newsbreak

2000Movie4.3
The Dark Tower
4.0

The Dark Tower

2020Movie4.0
Road Rage

Road Rage

Movie
Penance
3.6

Penance

2009Movie3.6
Pig Village

Pig Village

Movie
Freeway Killer
4.6

Freeway Killer

2009Movie4.6
The Box
4.3

The Box

2003Movie4.3
Survive the Night

Survive the Night

Movie
Humanzee!
4.5

Humanzee!

2008Movie4.5
Portrait: The Making of Henry
6.2

Portrait: The Making of Henry

2005Movie6.2
Louis
3.0

Louis

2010Movie3.0
Scott's Dead

Scott's Dead

Movie
Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR
2.0

Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR

2021Movie2.0
Atlantis Down
2.6

Atlantis Down

2010Movie2.6
The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow

The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow

Movie
Table One
3.6

Table One

2000Movie3.6
This Man's Life
2.0

This Man's Life

2008Movie2.0
Repo! The Genetic Opera
3.0

Repo! The Genetic Opera

2006Movie3.0
The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity
4.7

The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity

2002Movie4.7
The Driving Dead
2.0

The Driving Dead

2014Movie2.0
The Sparrows Are Flying Again! - The Making of the Dark Half
2.0

The Sparrows Are Flying Again! - The Making of the Dark Half

2014Movie2.0

TV Shows (35)

The Rookie
8.5

The Rookie

2018Series8.5
Criminal Minds
8.3

Criminal Minds

2005Series8.3
Law & Order
7.3

Law & Order

1990Series7.3
The Walking Dead
8.1

The Walking Dead

2010Series8.1
SEAL Team
8.0

SEAL Team

2017Series8.0
CSI: Miami
7.7

CSI: Miami

2002Series7.7
Stargate SG-1
8.3

Stargate SG-1

1997Series8.3
Psych
7.9

Psych

2006Series7.9
True Detective
8.3

True Detective

2014Series8.3
Crossing Jordan
7.2

Crossing Jordan

2001Series7.2
Las Vegas
7.0

Las Vegas

2003Series7.0
Burn Notice
7.5

Burn Notice

2007Series7.5
Peacemaker
8.2

Peacemaker

2022Series8.2
Archer
7.9

Archer

2009Series7.9
What If...?
8.0

What If...?

2021Series8.0
The Righteous Gemstones
7.5

The Righteous Gemstones

2019Series7.5
Chuck
7.7

Chuck

2007Series7.7
The Outer Limits
7.7

The Outer Limits

1995Series7.7
Creature Commandos
7.8

Creature Commandos

2024Series7.8
The Equalizer
7.1

The Equalizer

1985Series7.1
Marvel Studios Legends
7.4

Marvel Studios Legends

2021Series7.4
Talking Dead
7.2

Talking Dead

2011Series7.2
Crime Story
8.0

Crime Story

1986Series8.0
Shark
6.7

Shark

2006Series6.7
Creepshow
7.4

Creepshow

2019Series7.4
Fallen Angels
6.6

Fallen Angels

1993Series6.6
Tremors
6.2

Tremors

2003Series6.2
NSFW Show

NSFW Show

2009Series
Thief
6.6

Thief

2006Series6.6
Ride with Norman Reedus
7.4

Ride with Norman Reedus

2016Series7.4
Meteor
6.1

Meteor

2009Series6.1
Dead Talk Live
9.0

Dead Talk Live

2020Series9.0
Gideon Oliver
7.0

Gideon Oliver

1989Series7.0
CelebriD&D
1.0

CelebriD&D

2015Series1.0
Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed

Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed

2016Series