Michael Rooker
ActingAbout 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).
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Michael Rooker reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Action
The majority of Michael Rooker's filmography leans towards the Action genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 62% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Michael Rooker remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Michael Rooker Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Michael Rooker's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Michael Rooker.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Superman | Superman Robot #1 (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2024 | Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 | Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan | Hit | Similar → |
| 2023 | The Out-Laws | Agent Oldham | Average | Similar → |
| 2023 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Yondu | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2022 | The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special | Yondu | Hit | Similar → |
| 2021 | Vivo | Lutador (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2021 | The Suicide Squad | Savant | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2021 | F9 | Buddy | Hit | Similar → |
| 2021 | Clerk | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 2020 | Love and Monsters | Clyde | Hit | Similar → |
| 2020 | The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | Brightburn | The Big T | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking | Merle Dixon / Lucille's Father (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Yondu | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | The Belko Experiment | Bud Melks | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | Guide to the Galaxy with James Gunn | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Guardians of the Galaxy | Yondu Udonta | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Super | Abe | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection | Red Doc (segment "Jonah Hex") (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | The Making of The Walking Dead | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | DC Showcase: Jonah Hex | Red Doc (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Matadors | John Canterna | Average | Similar → |
| 2009 | The Marine 2 | Church | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | Jumper | William Rice | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | Whisper | Sydney Braverman | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | Slither | Grant Grant | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Portrait: The Making of Henry | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | The Outer Limits: The New Series - Time Travel and Infinity | Colonel Beckett | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Undisputed | A.J. Mercker | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Replicant | Jake | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | The 6th Day | Robert Marshall | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | Here on Earth | Malcolm Arnold | Average | Similar → |
| 1999 | The Bone Collector | Captain Howard Cheney | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Replacement Killers | Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Deceiver | Detective Edward Kennesaw | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Song of Hiawatha | Bertrand | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Rosewood | Sheriff Walker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Bastard Out of Carolina | Uncle Earle | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Mallrats | Svenning | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Tombstone | Sherman McMasters | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Cliffhanger | Hal Tucker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | The Dark Half | Sheriff Alan Pangborn | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | JFK | Bill Broussard | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Days of Thunder | Rowdy Burns | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | Music Box | Karchy Laszlo | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Sea of Love | Terry | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Mississippi Burning | Frank Bailey | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Eight Men Out | Chick Gandil | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Above the Law | Man in Bar | Average | Similar → |
| 1986 | Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer | Henry | Hit | Similar → |
Michael Rooker - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Michael Rooker?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Michael Rooker is "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" with a rating of 7.9/10.
How many movies has Michael Rooker acted in?
Michael Rooker has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Michael Rooker?
Other notable films include "Guardians of the Galaxy", "The Making of The Walking Dead", and "Mississippi Burning".