Profile photo of Michael Rooker

Michael Rooker

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).

Filmography

2025
Superman

as Superman Robot #1 (voice)

Movie
2022
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

as Yondu

Movie
2021
The Suicide Squad

as Savant

Movie
2021
F9

as Buddy

Movie
2020
Fantasy Island

as Damon

Movie
2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

as Yondu

Movie
2014
Guardians of the Galaxy

as Yondu Udonta

Movie
2010
Super

as Abe

Movie
2008
Jumper

as William Rice

Movie
2006
Slither

as Grant Grant

Movie
2000
The 6th Day

as Robert Marshall

Movie
1999
The Bone Collector

as Captain Howard Cheney

Movie
1995
Mallrats

as Svenning

Movie
1993
Tombstone

as Sherman McMasters

Movie
1993
Cliffhanger

as Hal Tucker

Movie
1988
Above the Law

as Man in Bar

Movie