--- name: "Michael Rooker" canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-rooker" fi1m_id: "michael-rooker" imdb_id: "nm0740264" tmdb_id: 12132 wikidata_id: "Q525065" roles: ["Actor"] born: "6 April 1955" reviewed_on_fi1m: 16 average_fi1m_score: 66 average_as: "actor" average_over: 16 updated: "2026-10-22T03:18:12.152017+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Michael Rooker ## Identity Michael Rooker - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-rooker - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** michael-rooker - **IMDb ID:** nm0740264 - **TMDB ID:** 12132 - **Wikidata ID:** Q525065 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Rooker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q525065, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0740264/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12132 Actor. Born 6 April 1955 in Jasper, Alabama, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 6 April 1955, Jasper, Alabama, USA - **Active:** 1986–present - **Also known as:** 마이클 루커, مایکل روکر - **Frequently works with:** [Kevin Costner](https://film.one/person/kevin-costner.md), [Vin Diesel](https://film.one/person/vin-diesel.md), [Abbey Lee](https://film.one/person/abbey-lee.md), [Bradley Cooper](https://film.one/person/bradley-cooper.md), [Chris Pratt](https://film.one/person/chris-pratt.md), [Clayton Townsend](https://film.one/person/clayton-townsend.md), [Dave Bautista](https://film.one/person/dave-bautista.md), [Howard Kaplan](https://film.one/person/howard-kaplan.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 66, as actor, over 16 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 71 (3), 1990s 72 (3), 2000s 64 (2), 2010s 71 (3), 2020s 59 (5) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 65 across 14 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 11 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 11 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 9, Action 6, Adventure 6, Crime 5, Thriller 4, Action & Adventure 3 - **Screen time:** 27 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $3,785m across 11 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Rooker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q525065, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0740264/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12132 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*Guardians of the Galaxy*](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy.md) (80), [*Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2*](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2.md) (64) - **Apple TV:** [*Mississippi Burning*](https://film.one/film/mississippi-burning.md) (72), [*Days of Thunder*](https://film.one/film/days-of-thunder.md) (61) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Cliffhanger*](https://film.one/film/cliffhanger.md) (74) - **Tubi:** [*Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer*](https://film.one/film/henry-portrait-of-a-serial-killer.md) (65) - **Peacock:** [*F9*](https://film.one/film/f9.md) (64) - **HBO Max:** [*Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1*](https://film.one/film/horizon-an-american-saga-chapter-1.md) (55) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Michael Rooker > Michael Rooker's rasp and imposing presence make him a dependable source of menace. We value the vulnerability he can bring to that toughness, and wish more of his supporting parts let him use it. The rasp in Michael Rooker's voice makes a tough character sound as though he has had plenty of practice. Add the imposing physical presence and it is easy to see why he is repeatedly cast as threatening figures, often in uniform. His lead in *Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer* (1986), his film debut, established the unsettling side of that presence. Dramatic supporting work such as *JFK* (1991) followed, before the action and thriller parts accumulated. Tony Scott's *Days of Thunder* (1990) gives him Rowdy Burns, an early mainstream supporting role built around toughness and competition. The racing is exciting, but we find the writing thin, and it is Robert Duvall who gives the film someone worth listening to. Rooker's toughness is useful here, but the neglected romance is a reminder of how little the film develops away from the track. We would recommend it to racing enthusiasts, rather than make it the starting point for an interest in his work. The wider recognition came with Merle Dixon in *The Walking Dead* (2010–2013), then Yondu Udonta in *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014). Director and recurring collaborator James Gunn makes particularly good use of him as Yondu, allowing sympathy alongside the toughness. We respond to that vulnerability because it does not require Rooker to discard the roughness that made him interesting. It is a welcome development in a career where being convincing as a threat has so often determined the casting. *Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1* (2024), directed by Kevin Costner, shows the limits of another familiar assignment: Sergeant Major Thomas Riordan. We were frustrated by how little it gives him, because Riordan gets one good scene while four stories are spread across three hours without being finished. The film is handsomely built and honestly meant, but Costner has found a suitable actor for the part and then given him too little attention. Start with *Guardians of the Galaxy* for a better sense of what happens when a film gives his toughness some sympathy. ## Biography Michael Rooker is an American actor. Born on 6 April 1955 in Jasper, Alabama, he studied at the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University in Chicago. He first came to prominence for the title role in *Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer* (1986). Subsequent film roles include *Eight Men Out* (1988), *Mississippi Burning* (1988), *Sea of Love* (1989), *Days of Thunder* (1990), *JFK* (1991), *Cliffhanger* (1993), *Tombstone* (1993), *Mallrats* (1995), *The Bone Collector* (1999), *Jumper* (2008) and *F9* (2021). He played Merle Dixon in the AMC series *The Walking Dead* (2010–2013). Rooker is known for portraying Yondu Udonta in *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014), *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* (2017) and *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023), and has appeared in several films directed by James Gunn, including *Slither* (2006), *Super* (2010) and *The Suicide Squad* (2021). He played Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan in *Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1* (2024). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com.* ## On Fi1m (16) - *Superman* (2025), Fi1m 66, as Superman Robot #1 (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/superman.md) - *Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1* (2024), Fi1m 55, as Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan — [page](https://film.one/film/horizon-an-american-saga-chapter-1.md) - *Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2* (2024), Fi1m 48, as Sgt. Major Riordan — [page](https://film.one/film/horizon-an-american-saga-chapter-2.md) - *F9* (2021), Fi1m 64, as Buddy — [page](https://film.one/film/f9.md) - *What If...?* (2021), Fi1m 63, as Yondu Udonta (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/what-if.md) - *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* (2017), Fi1m 64, as Yondu — [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2.md) - *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014), Fi1m 80, as Yondu Udonta — [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy.md) - *The Walking Dead* (2010), Fi1m 68, as Merle Dixon — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-walking-dead.md) - *Chuck* (2007), Fi1m 73, as Mauser — [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md) - *Shark* (2006), Fi1m 55, as Oscar Riddick — [page](https://film.one/tv/shark.md) - *Cliffhanger* (1993), Fi1m 74, as Hal Tucker — [page](https://film.one/film/cliffhanger.md) - *JFK* (1991), Fi1m 80, as Bill Broussard — [page](https://film.one/film/jfk.md) - *Days of Thunder* (1990), Fi1m 61, as Rowdy Burns — [page](https://film.one/film/days-of-thunder.md) - *Sea of Love* (1989), Fi1m 75, as Terry — [page](https://film.one/film/sea-of-love.md) - *Mississippi Burning* (1988), Fi1m 72, as Frank Bailey — [page](https://film.one/film/mississippi-burning.md) - *Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer* (1986), Fi1m 65, as Henry — [page](https://film.one/film/henry-portrait-of-a-serial-killer.md) ## Complete filmography (131) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Superman* (2025), as Superman Robot #1 (voice) — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/superman.md) - *Creature Commandos* (2024), series, as Sam (voice) - *Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2* (2024), as Sgt. Major Riordan — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/horizon-an-american-saga-chapter-2.md) - *Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1* (2024), as Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/horizon-an-american-saga-chapter-1.md) - *The Out-Laws* (2023), as Agent Oldham - *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023), as Yondu — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3.md) - *The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special* (2022), as Yondu - *White Elephant* (2022), as Gabriel Tancredi - *Corrective Measures* (2022), as Warden Devlin - *Peacemaker* (2022), series, as Red St. Wild - *What If...?* (2021), series, as Yondu (voice), Yondu Udonta (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/what-if.md) - *Vivo* (2021), as Lutador (voice) - *The Suicide Squad* (2021), as Savant - *F9* (2021), as Buddy — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/f9.md) - *Marvel Studios Legends* (2021), series, as Yondu Udonta (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Love and Monsters* (2020), as Clyde - *The Dark Tower* (2020), as Elred Jonas - *Fantasy Island* (2020), as Damon - *Creepshow* (2019), series, as Beau - *The Righteous Gemstones* (2019), series, as Cobb Milsap - *Brightburn* (2019), as The Big T - *Bolden* (2019), as Pat McMurphy - *The Rookie* (2018), series, as Frank Teska - *The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking* (2017), as Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice) - *SEAL Team* (2017), series, as Big Chief - *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* (2017), as Yondu — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2.md) - *The Belko Experiment* (2017), as Bud Melks - *CelebriD&D* (2015), series, as Arnold - *The Driving Dead* (2014), as Trooper - *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014), as Yondu Udonta — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy.md) - *Elwood* (2014), as Condello - *True Detective* (2014), series, as Edward Hoyt — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md) - *Brother's Keeper* (2013), as Chief Carver - *Pennhurst* (2012), as Dr. Death · Director - *Hypothermia* (2012), as Ray Pelletier - *Rogue River* (2012), as Gas Attendent - *Mysteria* (2011), as Captain McCarthy - *Cell 213* (2011), as Ray Clement - *Super* (2010), as Abe - *DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection* (2010), as Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice) - *The Walking Dead* (2010), series, as Merle Dixon — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-walking-dead.md) - *Atlantis Down* (2010), as Father / Alien - *DC Showcase: Jonah Hex* (2010), as Red Doc (voice) - *Blood Done Sign My Name* (2010), as Defense attorney Billy Watkins - *Matadors* (2010), as John Canterna - *Louis* (2010), as Pat McMurphy - *The Marine 2* (2009), as Church - *Freeway Killer* (2009), as Det. St. John - *Archer* (2009), series, as Sheriff E. Z. Ponder (voice) - *Meteor* (2009), series, as Calvin Stark - *Penance* (2009), as Mann - *Super Capers* (2009), as Judge / Dark Winged Vesper - *Humanzee!* (2008), as Priest - *Repo! The Genetic Opera* (2008), Thanks - *This Man's Life* (2008), as Richard Crummly - *Jumper* (2008), as William Rice - *Whisper* (2007), as Sydney Braverman - *Chuck* (2007), series, as Mauser — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md) - *Burn Notice* (2007), series, as Dale Lawson - *Shark* (2006), series, as Oscar Riddick — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/shark.md) - *Psych* (2006), series, as Garth Lawnmore - *Slither* (2006), as Grant Grant - *Thief* (2006), series, as Detective John Hayes - *Lenexa, 1 Mile* (2006), as Russ - *Repo! The Genetic Opera* (2006), Actor - *Criminal Minds* (2005), series, as Chief Carlson — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-minds.md) - *Chasing Ghosts* (2005), as Mark Spencer - *The Eliminator* (2004), Actor - *Skeleton Man* (2004), as Captain Leary - *Saving Jessica Lynch* (2003), as Colonel Curry - *On Thin Ice* (2003), as Roger Hopkins - *Las Vegas* (2003), series, as Marcus Wexler - *The Box* (2003), as Detective Stafford - *Tremors* (2003), series, as Kinney - *CSI: Miami* (2002), series, as Marty Jones - *The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity* (2002), as Colonel Beckett - *Undisputed* (2002), as A.J. Mercker - *Crossing Jordan* (2001), series, as Shawn Curaco - *Replicant* (2001), as Jake - *The 6th Day* (2000), as Robert Marshall - *Newsbreak* (2000), as John McNamara - *Table One* (2000), as Rowdy - *Here on Earth* (2000), as Malcolm Arnold - *Wicked Ways* (1999), as Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan · Co-Executive Producer - *The Bone Collector* (1999), as Captain Howard Cheney - *Renegade Force* (1998), as Matt Cooper - *Shadow Builder* (1998), as Father Vassey - *Brown's Requiem* (1998), as Fritz Brown · Associate Producer - *The Replacement Killers* (1998), as Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov - *Deceiver* (1997), as Detective Edward Kennesaw - *Stargate SG-1* (1997), series, as Colonel Edwards - *Song of Hiawatha* (1997), as Bertrand - *Keys to Tulsa* (1997), as Keith Michaels - *Rosewood* (1997), as Sheriff Walker - *Meet Wally Sparks* (1997), as Michael Rooker - *Bastard Out of Carolina* (1996), as Uncle Earle - *The Trigger Effect* (1996), as Gary - *Back to Back* (1996), as Bob Malone - *Mallrats* (1995), as Svenning - *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Colonel Beckett - *Johnny and Clyde* (1995), as Frank Tennant - *The Hard Truth* (1994), as Jonah Mantz - *Suspicious* (1994), as Attendant - *Tombstone* (1993), as Sherman McMasters - *Fallen Angels* (1993), series, as Babe McCloor — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md) - *Cliffhanger* (1993), as Hal Tucker — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/cliffhanger.md) - *The Dark Half* (1993), as Sheriff Alan Pangborn - *Afterburn* (1992), as Casey 'Z' Zankowski - *JFK* (1991), as Bill Broussard — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/jfk.md) - *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Jamie Yost — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md) - *Days of Thunder* (1990), as Rowdy Burns — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/days-of-thunder.md) - *Music Box* (1989), as Karchy Laszlo - *Sea of Love* (1989), as Terry — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/sea-of-love.md) - *L.A. Takedown* (1989), as Bosko - *The Edge* (1989), as Deputy Sheriff (Indian Poker) - *Gideon Oliver* (1989), series, as Detective John Quinn - *Mississippi Burning* (1988), as Frank Bailey — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/mississippi-burning.md) - *Eight Men Out* (1988), as Chick Gandil - *Above the Law* (1988), as Man in Bar - *Retreads* (1988), Actor - *Rent-a-Cop* (1987), as Joe - *Light of Day* (1987), as Oogie - *Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer* (1986), as Henry — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/henry-portrait-of-a-serial-killer.md) - *Crime Story* (1986), series, as Lieutenant - *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Bill Whitaker - *Izzi*, as Sheriff Blackstone - *Survive the Night*, Actor - *Road Rage*, as Stony - *Scott's Dead*, as Mitch - *The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow*, as The Man with the Answers - *Pig Village*, as Steve ## Gallery - ![Michael Rooker at the 2023 New York Comic-Con](https://film.one/media/person/11357/gallery-958afaf6d3af.jpg) Michael Rooker at the 2023 New York Comic-Con — Philip Romano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/MichaelRooker2023.jpg/1280px-MichaelRooker2023.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael Rooker](https://film.one/media/person/11357/gallery-e56c63a1a654.jpg) Michael Rooker — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Michael_Rooker_2013_02_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Michael Rooker at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2020 (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/11357/gallery-7d1821630624.jpg) Michael Rooker at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2020 (2019) — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Michael_Rooker_%2849644777728%29.jpg/1280px-Michael_Rooker_%2849644777728%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael Rooker at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2020 (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/11357/gallery-de2b7c4d8ce6.jpg) Michael Rooker at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2020 (2019) — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Michael_Rooker_%2849645284846%29.jpg/1280px-Michael_Rooker_%2849645284846%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael Rooker](https://film.one/media/person/11357/gallery-29a7901b25d4.jpg) Michael Rooker — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Rooker at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2020 (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/11357/gallery-3df393db026e.jpg) Michael Rooker at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2020 (2019) — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Michael_Rooker_%2849644794038%29.jpg/1280px-Michael_Rooker_%2849644794038%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-rooker