Michael Rooker

Born:April 6, 1955

Place of Birth:Jasper, Alabama, USA

Known For:Acting

Biography

Michael Rooker, born on April 6, 1955, is a versatile American actor who has made a name for himself by portraying complex and often antagonistic characters on screen. While he first gained recognition for his chilling performance in "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" in 1986, Rooker's career has been marked by a diverse range of roles that showcase his talent and versatility.

One of Rooker's most memorable roles was as Merle Dixon in the hit AMC series "The Walking Dead" from 2010 to 2013, where he brought depth and nuance to the character of the volatile and unpredictable Merle. His portrayal of Yondu Udonta in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" series further solidified his status as a fan-favorite, earning him acclaim for his portrayal of the complex and morally ambiguous character.

Rooker's collaboration with director James Gunn has been a significant aspect of his career, with the actor appearing in multiple projects helmed by Gunn, including "Slither," "Super," and "The Suicide Squad." This partnership has allowed Rooker to showcase his range as an actor and explore different facets of his craft in a variety of genres.

In addition to his work with Gunn, Rooker has delivered standout performances in a number of acclaimed films, including "Eight Men Out," "Mississippi Burning," "Days of Thunder," and "JFK." His ability to inhabit diverse characters and bring them to life with authenticity and depth has cemented his reputation as a talented and versatile actor in the industry.

Rooker's filmography is a testament to his skill and dedication to his craft, with each role he takes on showcasing his ability to immerse himself in a character and bring a unique perspective to the story. Whether playing a tough-as-nails detective or a conflicted anti-hero, Rooker consistently delivers performances that captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression.

Beyond his on-screen work, Rooker's contributions to the entertainment industry have been lauded by critics and fans alike, earning him a reputation as a respected and admired actor in Hollywood. With his distinctive presence and commanding performances, Rooker continues to be a sought-after talent in the industry, captivating audiences with his memorable portrayals and undeniable charisma.

As he continues to take on new and challenging roles, Michael Rooker remains a force to be reckoned with in the world of film and television, bringing depth, intensity, and authenticity to every character he embodies. His impressive body of work and his ability to inhabit a wide range of characters with skill and nuance have solidified his status as a true talent in the industry, with a legacy that will endure for years to come.

Images

Filmography

Acting

Fast X

Buddy (uncredited)

2023

Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they've ever faced: A terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who's fueled by blood revenge, and who is determined to shatter this family and destroy everything—and everyone—that Dom loves, forever.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Yondu

2023

Peter 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. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

The Suicide Squad

Savant

2021

Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Yondu

2017

The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill's true parentage.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Yondu Udonta

2014

Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser.

Tombstone

Sherman McMasters

1993

Legendary marshal Wyatt Earp, now a weary gunfighter, joins his brothers Morgan and Virgil to pursue their collective fortune in the thriving mining town of Tombstone. But Earp is forced to don a badge again and get help from his notorious pal Doc Holliday when a gang of renegade brigands and rustlers begins terrorizing the town.

F9

Buddy

2021

Dominic Toretto and his crew battle the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they've ever encountered: his forsaken brother.

Love and Monsters

Clyde

2020

Seven years since the Monsterpocalypse began, Joel Dawson has been living underground in order to survive. But after reconnecting over radio with his high school girlfriend Aimee, Joel decides to venture out to reunite with her, despite all the dangerous monsters that stand in his way.

Jumper

William Rice

2008

David Rice is a man who knows no boundaries, a Jumper, born with the uncanny ability to teleport instantly to anywhere on Earth. When he discovers others like himself, David is thrust into a dangerous and bloodthirsty war while being hunted by a sinister and determined group of zealots who have sworn to destroy all Jumpers. Now, David’s extraordinary gift may be his only hope for survival!

JFK

Bill Broussard

1991

Follows the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison.

The Out-Laws

Agent Oldham

2023

A straight-laced bank manager is about to marry the love of his life. When his bank is held up by infamous Ghost Bandits during his wedding week, he believes his future in-laws who just arrived in town, are the infamous Out-Laws.

Undisputed

A.J. Mercker

2002

Monroe Hutchens is the heavyweight champion of Sweetwater, a maximum security prison. He was convicted to a life sentence due to a passionate crime. Iceman Chambers is the heavyweight champion, who lost his title due to a rape conviction to ten years in Sweetwater. When these two giants collide in the same prison, they fight against each other disputing who is the real champion.

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan

2024

In 1859, families discover the lure of the Old West as they settle in territories from Wyoming to Kansas. Meanwhile, a gruff cowboy soon finds himself on the run with a prostitute and a young boy after killing a fellow gunman.

The Bone Collector

Captain Howard Cheney

1999

Lincoln Rhyme was the department's top homicide detective and leading expert in criminal forensics until an injury left him paralyzed, depressed, and incapable of working. But when a gruesome murder in Manhattan leaves detectives baffled, they call on Rhyme to help solve the mystery. Amelia Donaghy, a rookie cop whose quick thinking preserved a gruesome murder scene, is enlisted by Rhyme to be his on-the-scene forensics expert. With Amelia reluctantly acting as Rhyme's able-bodied go-between, the pair piece together cryptic clues the killer leaves behind at the scene of the crime, hoping to catch the grisly serial killer.

Brightburn

The Big T

2019

What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister?

Cliffhanger

Hal Tucker

1993

A year after losing his friend in a tragic 4,000-foot fall, former ranger Gabe Walker and his partner, Hal, are called to return to the same peak to rescue a group of stranded climbers, only to learn the climbers are actually thieving hijackers who are looking for boxes full of money.

Vivo

Lutador (voice)

2021

A music-loving kinkajou named Vivo embarks on the journey of a lifetime to fulfill his destiny and deliver a love song for an old friend.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Yondu

2022

On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Quill, the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present.

Days of Thunder

Rowdy Burns

1990

Talented but unproven stock car driver Cole Trickle gets a break and with the guidance of veteran Harry Hogge turns heads on the track. The young hotshot develops a rivalry with a fellow racer that threatens his career when the two smash their cars. But with the help of his doctor, Cole just might overcome his injuries-- and his fear.

Fantasy Island

Damon

2020

A group of contest winners arrive at an island hotel to live out their dreams, only to find themselves trapped in nightmare scenarios.

Slither

Grant Grant

2006

A small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters.

The Belko Experiment

Bud Melks

2016

A group of eighty American workers are locked in their office and ordered by an unknown voice to participate in a twisted game.

Mississippi Burning

Frank Bailey

1988

Two FBI agents investigating the murder of civil rights workers during the 60s seek to breach the conspiracy of silence in a small Southern town where segregation divides black and white. The younger agent trained in FBI school runs up against the small town ways of his partner, a former sheriff.

The 6th Day

Robert Marshall

2000

A world of the very near future in which cattle, fish, and even the family pet can be cloned. But cloning humans is illegal - that is until family man Adam Gibson comes home from work one day to find a clone has replaced him. Taken from his family and plunged into a sinister world he doesn't understand, Gibson must not only save himself from the assassins who must destroy him to protect their secret, but uncover who and what is behind the horrible things happening to him.

Super

Abe

2010

After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills.

Mallrats

Svenning

1995

Both dumped by their girlfriends, two best friends seek refuge in the local mall. Eventually, they decide to try and win back their significant others and take care of their respective nemeses.

Above the Law

Man in Bar

1988

Nico Toscani is an Italian immigrant, American patriot, ex-CIA agent, aikido specialist and unorthodox Chicago policeman. He is as committed to his job as he is to his personalized brand of justice—expert and thorough bone-crushing.

The Replacement Killers

Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov

1998

Hired assassin John Lee is asked by Chinatown crime boss Terence Wei to murder the young son of policeman Stan Zedkov. Lee has the boy in his sights, but his conscience gets the better of him, and he spares the child's life. Afraid that Wei will take revenge on his family in China, Lee seeks out expert forger Meg Coburn to obtain the passport he needs to get out of the country, but a band of replacement killers is soon on his trail.

Sea of Love

Terry

1989

Seen-it-all New York detective Frank Keller is unsettled - he has done twenty years on the force and could retire, and he hasn't come to terms with his wife leaving him for a colleague. Joining up with an officer from another part of town to investigate a series of murders linked by the lonely hearts columns he finds he is getting seriously and possibly dangerously involved with Helen, one of the main suspects.

Eight Men Out

Chick Gandil

1988

Buck Weaver and Hap Felsch are young idealistic players on the Chicago White Sox, a pennant-winning team owned by Charles Comiskey - a penny-pinching, hands-on manager who underpays his players and treats them with disdain. And when gamblers and hustlers discover that Comiskey's demoralized players are ripe for a money-making scheme, one by one the team members agree to throw the World Series. But when the White Sox are defeated, a couple of sports writers smell a fix and a national scandal explodes, ripping the cover off America's favorite pastime.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

Henry

1986

Arriving in Chicago, Henry moves in with ex-con acquaintance Otis and starts schooling him in the ways of the serial killer.

The Dark Half

Sheriff Alan Pangborn

1993

Thad Beaumont is the author of a highly successful series of violent pulp thrillers written under the pseudonym of ‘George Stark’, but when he decides to ‘kill-off’ his alter-ego in a mock ceremony, it precipitates a string of sadistic murders matching those in his pulp novels, which are soon discovered to be the work of Stark himself. Looking like a maniacal version of his counterpart, Stark is not so willing to quit the writing game – even if it means coming after Thad's wife and their baby.

Corrective Measures

Warden Devlin

2022

Set in San Tiburon, the world's most dangerous maximum-security penitentiary and home to the world's most treacherous superpowered criminals, where tensions among the inmates and staff heighten, leading to anarchy that engulfs the prison and order is turned upside down.

Rosewood

Sheriff Walker

1997

Spurred by a white woman's lie, vigilantes destroy a black Florida town and slay inhabitants in 1923.

The Trigger Effect

Gary

1996

A blackout leaves those affected to consider what is necessary, what is legal, and what is questionable, in order to survive in a predatory environment.