Michael Rooker
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).
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (36)
Superman
as Superman Robot #1 (voice)
2025
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
as Sgt. Major Riordan
2024
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
as Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan
2024
The Out-Laws
as Agent Oldham
2023
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
as Yondu
2023
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
as Yondu
2022
White Elephant
as Gabriel Tancredi
2022
Corrective Measures
as Warden Devlin
2022
Vivo
as Lutador (voice)
2021
The Suicide Squad
as Savant
2021
Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR
as Self
2021
F9
as Buddy
2021
Clerk
as Self
2021
Love and Monsters
as Clyde
2020
The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder
as Self
2020
The Dark Tower
as Elred Jonas
2020
Fantasy Island
as Damon
2020
Brightburn
as The Big T
2019
Bolden
as Pat McMurphy
2019
The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking
as Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice)
2017
Life After Flash
as Self
2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
as Yondu
2017
The Belko Experiment
as Bud Melks
2016
Guide to the Galaxy with James Gunn
as Self
2014
The Sparrows Are Flying Again! - The Making of the Dark Half
as Himself
2014
The Driving Dead
as Trooper
2014
Guardians of the Galaxy
as Yondu Udonta
2014
Elwood
as Condello
2014
Brother's Keeper
as Chief Carver
2013
Pennhurst
as Dr. Death
2012
Hypothermia
as Ray Pelletier
2012
Rogue River
as Gas Attendent
2012
Mysteria
as Captain McCarthy
2011
Cell 213
as Ray Clement
2011
Super
as Abe
2010
DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection
as Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)
2010
TV Shows (14)
Creature Commandos
as Sam (voice)
2024
Peacemaker
as Red St. Wild
2022
What If...?
as Yondu (voice)
2021
Marvel Studios Legends
as Yondu Udonta (archive footage) (uncredited)
2021
Dead Talk Live
as Self - Guest
2020
Creepshow
as Beau
2019
The Righteous Gemstones
as Cobb Milsap
2019
The Rookie
as Frank Teska
2018
SEAL Team
as Big Chief
2017
Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed
as Self
2016
Ride with Norman Reedus
as Self
2016
CelebriD&D
as Arnold
2015
True Detective
as Edward Hoyt
2014
Talking Dead
as Self
2011