Michael Rooker (born April 6, 1955) is an American actor known for his roles as Henry in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), Chick Gandil in Eight Men Out (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), Jared Svenning in Mallrats (1995), Detective Howard Cheney in The Bone Collector (1999), Grant Grant in Slither (2006), Merle Dixon in AMC's The Walking Dead (2010–2013) and Yondu Udonta in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), its sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), and the animated TV series What If...? (2021).
Since 2006, he has been a frequent collaborator of filmmaker James Gunn.
Known For
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
(2023)
Yondu Udonta
The Suicide Squad
(2021)
Brian Durlin / Savant
Brightburn
(2019)
The Big T
The Belko Experiment
(2016)
Bud Melks
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
(2017)
Yondu Udonta
F9
(2021)
Buddy
Jumper
(2008)
William Rice
Cliffhanger
(1993)
Hal Tucker
Tombstone
(1993)
Sherman McMasters
Guardians of the Galaxy
(2014)
Yondu Udonta
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
(2022)
Yondu
Love and Monsters
(2020)
Clyde
The Out-Laws
(2023)
Agent Oldham
Undisputed
(2002)
A.J. Mercker
Mallrats
(1995)
Svenning
The Bone Collector
(1999)
Captain Howard Cheney
Full Filmography
Acting
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
(1986)
Henry
Rent-a-Cop
(1987)
Joe
Light of Day
(1987)
Oogie
Mississippi Burning
(1988)
Frank Bailey
Eight Men Out
(1988)
Chick Gandil
Above the Law
(1988)
Man in Bar
Retreads
(1988)
Music Box
(1989)
Karchy Laszlo
Sea of Love
(1989)
Terry
L.A. Takedown
(1989)
Bosko
Days of Thunder
(1990)
Rowdy Burns
JFK
(1991)
Bill Broussard
Afterburn
(1992)
Casey 'Z' Zankowski
The Dark Half
(1993)
Sheriff Alan Pangborn
Tombstone
(1993)
Sherman McMasters
Cliffhanger
(1993)
Hal Tucker
The Hard Truth
(1994)
Jonah Mantz
Suspicious
(1994)
Attendet
Mallrats
(1995)
Svenning
Johnny and Clyde
(1995)
Frank Tennant
Back to Back
(1996)
Bob Malone
The Trigger Effect
(1996)
Gary
Bastard Out of Carolina
(1996)
Uncle Earle
Rosewood
(1997)
Sheriff Walker
Deceiver
(1997)
Detective Edward Kennesaw
Keys to Tulsa
(1997)
Keith Michaels
Song of Hiawatha
(1997)
Bertrand
Meet Wally Sparks
(1997)
Michael Rooker
The Replacement Killers
(1998)
Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov
Renegade Force
(1998)
Matt Cooper
Brown's Requiem
(1998)
Fritz Brown
Shadow Builder
(1998)
Father Vassey
The Bone Collector
(1999)
Captain Howard Cheney
Wicked Ways
(1999)
Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan
The 6th Day
(2000)
Robert Marshall
Here on Earth
(2000)
Malcolm Arnold
Table One
(2000)
Rowdy
Newsbreak
(2000)
John McNamara
Replicant
(2001)
Jake
Undisputed
(2002)
A.J. Mercker
The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity
(2002)
Colonel Beckett
Saving Jessica Lynch
(2003)
Colonel Curry
The Box
(2003)
Detective Stafford
On Thin Ice
(2003)
Skeleton Man
(2004)
Captain Leary
The Eliminator
(2004)
Chasing Ghosts
(2005)
Mark Spencer
Erection of an Epic - The Making of Mallrats
(2005)
Self
Portrait: The Making of Henry
(2005)
Self
Slither
(2006)
Grant Grant
Lenexa, 1 Mile
(2006)
Russ
Whisper
(2007)
Sydney Braverman
Jumper
(2008)
William Rice
This Man's Life
(2008)
Richard Crummly
Humanzee!
(2008)
Priest
Super Capers
(2009)
Judge / Dark Winged Vesper
Penance
(2009)
Mann
Freeway Killer
(2009)
Det. St. John
The Marine 2
(2009)
Church
DC Showcase: Jonah Hex
(2010)
Red Doc (voice)
Super
(2010)
Abe
Louis
(2010)
Pat McMurphy
Blood Done Sign My Name
(2010)
Defense attorney Billy Watkins
Atlantis Down
(2010)
Father / Alien
DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection
(2010)
Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice)
The Making of The Walking Dead
(2010)
Self
Cell 213
(2011)
Ray Clement
Mysteria
(2011)
Captain McCarthy
Rogue River
(2012)
Gas Attendent
Hypothermia
(2012)
Ray Pelletier
Pennhurst
(2012)
Dr. Death
Brother's Keeper
(2013)
Chief Carver
Guardians of the Galaxy
(2014)
Yondu Udonta
Guide to the Galaxy with James Gunn
(2014)
Himself
The Sparrows Are Flying Again! - The Making of the Dark Half
(2014)
Himself
The Driving Dead
(2014)
Trooper
The Belko Experiment
(2016)
Bud Melks
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
(2017)
Yondu Udonta
The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking
(2017)
Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice)
Life After Flash
(2017)
Self
Bolden
(2019)
Pat McMurphy
Brightburn
(2019)
The Big T
Fantasy Island
(2020)
Damon
Love and Monsters
(2020)
Clyde
The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder
(2020)
Self
F9
(2021)
Buddy
Vivo
(2021)
Lutador (voice)
Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR
(2021)
Self
Clerk
(2021)
Self
The Suicide Squad
(2021)
Brian Durlin / Savant
White Elephant
(2022)
Gabriel Tancredi
Corrective Measures
(2022)
Warden Devlin
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
(2022)
Yondu
The Out-Laws
(2023)
Agent Oldham
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
(2023)
Yondu Udonta
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
(2024)
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
(2024)
Production
Directing