Michael Rooker

Michael Rooker, an accomplished American actor, is widely recognized for his portrayal of Yondu Udonta, the blue-skinned alien from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, as well as Merle Dixon, the fan-favorite antagonist from AMC’s global hit series The Walking Dead.

Renowned for his ability to bring depth to morally complex characters, Rooker has captivated audiences for decades. His film debut came in 1986 with the chilling lead role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, inspired by the real-life confessions of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. Since then, he has featured in a wide range of notable films, including Mississippi Burning, Sea of Love, Days of Thunder, JFK, Cliffhanger, Mallrats, Tombstone, Rosewood, The 6th Day, Jumper, and Bolden!. His long-standing collaboration with writer/director James Gunn has seen him appear in several of Gunn’s projects, such as Slither, Super, Guardians of the Galaxy (Volumes 1 and 2), The Belko Experiment, and The Suicide Squad.

Rooker has also made his mark on television, guest-starring in popular series like Stargate SG-1, CSI: Miami, Las Vegas, JAG, Numb3rs, Law & Order, Chuck, Criminal Minds, Psych, Burn Notice, and Archer. In the realm of video games, his voice acting credits include roles in The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, Mike Harper in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, and Vikke in Lollipop Chainsaw.

In 2019, Rooker appeared in HBO’s acclaimed series True Detective, delivering a surprise performance as the enigmatic billionaire owner of Hoyt Foods during season three’s finale. His recent film roles include the Blumhouse horror reboot Fantasy Island (2020), the action-comedy Monster Problems (later retitled Love and Monsters), and F9 in the Fast & Furious franchise. He also joined Norman Reedus on AMC’s Ride with Norman Reedus during its fourth season.

In 2022, Rooker reunited with his JFK co-star Kevin Costner to begin filming Horizons, an upcoming western series. His dynamic career continues to thrive, spanning film, television, and video games, cementing him as a versatile and enduring talent in the entertainment industry.