Michael Rooker

About

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...

Known for

Law & OrderSeries • 1990Criminal MindsSeries • 2005The RookieSeries • 2018CSI: MiamiSeries • 2002Stargate SG-1Series • 1997The Walking DeadSeries • 2010PsychSeries • 2006SEAL TeamSeries • 2017True DetectiveSeries • 2014ArcherSeries • 2009Crossing JordanSeries • 2001Las VegasSeries • 2003Burn NoticeSeries • 2007PeacemakerSeries • 2022What If...?Series • 2021ChuckSeries • 2007Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3Movie • 2023The EqualizerSeries • 1985The Outer LimitsSeries • 1995SupermanMovie • 2025The Suicide SquadMovie • 2021The Righteous GemstonesSeries • 2019Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2Movie • 2017SharkSeries • 2006