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).
Acting
Movie
Guardians of the Galaxy
as Yondu Udonta
2014
Movie
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
as Yondu
2017
TV
The Walking Dead
as Merle Dixon
2010
Movie
The Suicide Squad
as Savant
2021
Movie
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
as Yondu
2023
Movie
F9
as Buddy
2021
Movie
Jumper
as William Rice
2008
Movie
Superman
as Superman Robot #1 (voice)
2025
TV
What If...?
as Yondu (voice)
2021
TV
What If...?
as Yondu Udonta (voice)
2021
Movie
Love and Monsters
as Clyde
2020
TV
True Detective
as Edward Hoyt
2014
TV
Criminal Minds
as Chief Carlson
2005
Movie
The Bone Collector
as Captain Howard Cheney
1999
Movie
Brightburn
as The Big T
2019
TV
Peacemaker
as Red St. Wild
2022
TV
The Rookie
as Frank Teska
2018
Movie
Fantasy Island
as Damon
2020
Movie
Cliffhanger
as Hal Tucker
1993
Movie
Tombstone
as Sherman McMasters
1993
Movie
JFK
as Bill Broussard
1991
Movie
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
as Yondu
2022
Movie
The 6th Day
as Robert Marshall
2000
Movie
Mississippi Burning
as Frank Bailey
1988
