Michael Rooker

{{Infobox person

| name = Michael Rooker

| image = Michael Rooker by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg

| caption = Rooker in 2024

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|4|6|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = Jasper, Alabama, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education = DePaul University (BFA)

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1986–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Margot Rooker|1979}}

| children = 2

| signature = Michael Rooker signature.svg

}}

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 Howard Cheney in The Bone Collector (1999), and Buddy in F9 (2021).

Early life

Rooker was born in Jasper, Alabama. He has nine brothers and sisters. His parents divorced when he was 13, and he moved with his mother and siblings to Chicago, where he attended Wells Community Academy High School and studied at the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University.{{cite web|title='They' Command You to Score New TP/HC From Image|date=June 4, 2009|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/133/they-command-you-to-score-new-tphc-from-image/|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=July 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714164947/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/133/they-command-you-to-score-new-tphc-from-image/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800019659/bio |title=Michael Rooker Biography - Yahoo! Movies |access-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522151327/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800019659/bio |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.nerdist.com/2011/12/nerdist-podcast-151-michael-rooker/|title=Nerdist Podcast #151: Michael Rooker|author=Hardwick, Chris|date=December 20, 2011|publisher=Nerdist|access-date=December 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502011642/http://www.nerdist.com/2011/12/nerdist-podcast-151-michael-rooker/|archive-date=May 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}

Career

Rooker made his film debut in 1986, playing the title role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, based on the confessions of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35803/dark-skys-hypothermia-rolling-full-casting-news|title=Dark Sky's Hypothermia is Rolling! Full Casting News|date=February 10, 2010|publisher=Dread Central|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=November 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102045734/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35803/dark-skys-hypothermia-rolling-full-casting-news|url-status=live}} He was acting in a play when the play's director, who was going to do the prosthetics for Henry, told him about the role. Rooker did not care if the script was good or bad; he just wanted to act in a film as it would "challenge" him.{{Cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/michael-rooker-discusses-henry-portrait-serial-8720631.html?cat=40|title=Michael Rooker Discusses 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer'|publisher=Yahoo|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102103603/http://voices.yahoo.com/michael-rooker-discusses-henry-portrait-serial-8720631.html?cat=40|archive-date=November 2, 2013}} Henry was a critical success and Rooker received more film roles.

He was given more dramatic roles in films such as Eight Men Out, Mississippi Burning, and JFK, but he became widely known for his roles in action and thriller films such as Sea of Love, Days of Thunder, Cliffhanger,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38597/a-chat-with-horror-icon-michael-rooker|title=A Chat with Horror Icon Michael Rooker|date=October 18, 2012|publisher=Dread Central|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=November 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102042320/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38597/a-chat-with-horror-icon-michael-rooker|url-status=live}} and Tombstone.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20522|title=TV: Michael Rooker Becomes One of 'The Walking Dead'!|date=June 11, 2010|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307230933/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/20522/|url-status=live}} He also starred in Mallrats, Rosewood, The 6th Day, Slither, Jumper, Super{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19835|title=Blood-Soaked Snow in First Hi-Res Look at 'Hypothermia'|date=April 15, 2010|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308003143/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/19835/|url-status=live}} and Hypothermia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18920|title=Michael Rooker Scores Leading Role in Dark Sky's 'Hypothermia'!|date=February 2, 2010|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308032849/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/18920/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19274|title=First Look at Michael Rooker on the Set of 'Hypothermia'!|date=February 26, 2010|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308005631/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/19274/|url-status=live}}

In June 2010, Rooker revealed via Twitter that he was to appear in the AMC television series The Walking Dead as Merle Dixon, one of the survivors of a zombie apocalypse. He guest-starred in two episodes of the first season and one of the second season before becoming a series regular for the third season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37941/michael-rooker-joining-amcs-the-walking-dead|title=Michael Rooker Joining AMC's The Walking Dead|date=October 2012|publisher=Dread Central|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=November 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102045746/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37941/michael-rooker-joining-amcs-the-walking-dead|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://deskofbrian.com/2010/11/michael-rooker-interview-merle-dixon-on-the-walking-dead|title=Michael Rooker interview (Merle Dixon on "The Walking Dead")|publisher=The Desk of Brian|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103145958/http://deskofbrian.com/2010/11/michael-rooker-interview-merle-dixon-on-the-walking-dead/|archive-date=November 3, 2013}}

Rooker is also known for his roles in video games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops (where he played himself), Mike Harper in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 in November 2012, and as Merle in The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, the video game based on the television series.

He played Yondu Udonta in the Marvel Studios film Guardians of the Galaxy, directed by James Gunn,{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2013/04/michael-rooker-guardians-of-the-galaxy-casting-marvel-movie-476033/ |title=Michael Rooker Joins 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 16, 2013 |access-date=April 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418080150/http://www.deadline.com/2013/04/michael-rooker-guardians-of-the-galaxy-casting-marvel-movie/ |archive-date=April 18, 2013 |url-status=live }} and reprised the role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017){{cite web|title=Michael Rooker Says Yondu Will Return for Guardians of the Galaxy 2|url=http://renegadecinema.com/34665/michael-rooker-yondu-guardians-of-the-galaxy-2|website=Renegade Cinema|date=November 9, 2014 |access-date=November 11, 2014|archive-date=November 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111010759/http://renegadecinema.com/34665/michael-rooker-yondu-guardians-of-the-galaxy-2|url-status=live}} as well as The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022). In 2021 he appeared in the action film F9, directed by Justin Lin.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/fast-and-furious-9-michael-rooker-joins-cast-vin-diesel-1202671669/|title=Michael Rooker Buckles Up For 'Fast & Furious 9'|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-date=August 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819200205/https://deadline.com/2019/08/fast-and-furious-9-michael-rooker-joins-cast-vin-diesel-1202671669/|url-status=live}}

Personal life

Rooker lives in California with his wife Margot. They married in 1979 and have two daughters. He practices the Kyokushin style of karate.{{cite web | url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/michael-rooker/bio/166280 | title= Michael Rooker | work= TV Guide | access-date= July 19, 2014 | archive-date= October 7, 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141007073907/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/michael-rooker/bio/166280 | url-status= live }}{{Cite web|last=Francisco|first=Eric|title=Michael Rooker: A real-life superpower inspired his 'Suicide Squad' role [Exclusive]|url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/michael-rooker-the-suicide-squad-savant-interview|access-date=August 5, 2021|website=Inverse|date=August 3, 2021 |language=en|archive-date=August 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805232728/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/michael-rooker-the-suicide-squad-savant-interview|url-status=live}}

Filmography

File:Michael Rooker by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg, in character as Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy]]

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1986 \| Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer \| Henry \| Fantasporto Award for Best Actor Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actor Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead
rowspan="2" \| 1987 \| Light of Day \| Oogie \|
Rent-A-Cop \| Joe \|
rowspan="3" \| 1988 \| Above the Law \| Man in bar \|
Eight Men Out \| Arnold "Chick" Gandil \|
Mississippi Burning \| Frank Bailey \|
rowspan="2" \| 1989 \| Sea of Love \| Terry Cruger \|
Music Box \| Karchy Laszlo \|
1990 \| Days of Thunder \| Rowdy Burns \|
1991 \| JFK \| Bill Broussard \|
rowspan="3" \| 1993 \| The Dark Half \| Sheriff Alan Pangborn \|
Cliffhanger \| Ranger Hal Tucker \|
Tombstone \| Sherman McMasters \|
rowspan="2" \| 1994 \| Suspicious \| Attendant \| Short film
The Hard Truth \| Jonah Mantz \|
1995 \| Mallrats \| Jared Svenning \|
rowspan="2" \| 1996 \| Bastard Out of Carolina \| Uncle Earle \|
The Trigger Effect \| Gary \|
rowspan="5" \| 1997 \| Song of Hiawatha \| Bertrand \|
Rosewood \| Sheriff Walker \|
Keys to Tulsa \| Keith Michaels \|
Deceiver \| Kennesaw \|
Shadow Builder \| Father Vassey \|
rowspan="3" \| 1998 \| The Replacement Killers \| Detective Stan "Zeedo" Zedkov \|
Brown's Requiem \| Fritz Brown \| Also associate producer
Renegade Force \| Matt Cooper \|
rowspan="2" \| 1999 \| A Table for One \| Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan \| Also co-executive producer
{{sortname\|The\|Bone Collector}} \| Captain Howard Cheney \|
rowspan="4" \| 2000 \| Table One \| Rowdy \|
Here on Earth \| Malcolm Arnold \|
NewsBreak \| John McNamara \|
The 6th Day \| Robert Marshall \|
2001 \| Replicant \| Detective Jake Riley \|
2002 \| Undisputed \| Captain A.J. Mercker \|
2003 \| The Box \| Detective Stafford \|
2004 \| The Eliminator \| Miles Dawson \|
2005 \| Chasing Ghosts \| Mark Spencer \|
rowspan="3" \| 2006 \| Repo! The Genetic Opera \| Repo Man \| Unreleased short film{{Cite web\|url=http://www.michaelrookeronline.com/trulydisturbing-com-horror-icon-of-the-month-michael-rooker\|title=Truly Disturbing: Horror Icon of the Month: Michael Rooker {{!}} Michael Rooker Online\|website=www.michaelrookeronline.com\|date=December 2011\|language=en-US\|access-date=May 23, 2017\|archive-date=January 6, 2022\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106123417/https://michaelrookeronline.com/trulydisturbing-com-horror-icon-of-the-month-michael-rooker\|url-status=live}}
Lenexa, 1 Mile \| Russ \|
Slither \| Grant Grant \|
2007 \| Whisper \| Sidney \|
rowspan="3" \| 2008 \| The Lena Baker Story \| Randolph County Sheriff \|
Jumper \| William Rice \|
This Man's Life \| Richard Crummly \| Short film
rowspan="3" \| 2009 \| Super Capers \| Judge / Dark Winged Vesper \|
Penance \| Mann \|
The Marine 2 \| Church \| Direct-to-DVD
rowspan="7" \| 2010 \| Scott's Dead \| Mitch \| Short film
Freeway Killer \| Detective St. John \|
Blood Done Sign My Name \| Defense Attorney Billy Watkins \|
Cell 213 \| Ray Clement \|
DC Showcase: Jonah Hex \| Red Doc \| Voice, short film
Louis \| Pat McMurphy \|
Super \| Abe \|
rowspan="3" \| 2011 \| Atlantis Down \| Father / Alien \|
Mysteria \| Captain McCarthy \|
Elwood \| Condello \| Short film
rowspan="2" \| 2012 \| The Lost Episode \| Chris / Dr. Death \| Also director
Hypothermia \| Ray Pelletier \|
2013 \| Brother's Keeper \| Chief Carver \|
2014 \| Guardians of the Galaxy \| Yondu Udonta \|
2016 \| The Belko Experiment \| Bud Melks \|
2017 \| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 \| Yondu Udonta \| Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
rowspan="2" \| 2019 \| Bolden \| Pat McMurphy \|
Brightburn \| The Big T \|Cameo
rowspan=2 \| 2020 \| Fantasy Island \| Damon \|
Love and Monsters \| Clyde \|
rowspan=3 \| 2021 \| F9 \| Buddy \|
The Suicide Squad \| Brian Durlin / Savant \|
Vivo \| Lutador \| Voice
rowspan=2\| 2022 \| Corrective Measures \| Overseer Warden Devlin \|
White Elephant \| Gabriel Tancredi \|
rowspan=2\| 2023 \| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 \| Yondu Udonta \| Cameo
The Out-Laws \| Agent Oldham \| {{Cite web \|last=Grobar \|first=Matt \|date=October 28, 2021 \|title='The Out-Laws': Ellen Barkin, Nina Dobrev, Michael Rooker, Lil Rel Howery & More Round Out Cast Of Netflix Action Comedy \|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/the-out-laws-ellen-barkin-lil-rel-howery-more-join-netflix-film-1234864201/ \|access-date=March 7, 2022 \|website=Deadline \|language=en-US \|archive-date=October 28, 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028192330/https://deadline.com/2021/10/the-out-laws-ellen-barkin-lil-rel-howery-more-join-netflix-film-1234864201/ \|url-status=live }}
rowspan=2\| 2024 \| Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 \| rowspan="2" \| Sgt. Major Riordan \|
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 \|
2025 \| Superman \| Five \| Voice

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1986

| Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

| Henry

| Fantasporto Award for Best Actor
Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead

rowspan="2" | 1987

| Light of Day

| Oogie

Rent-A-Cop

| Joe

rowspan="3" | 1988

| Above the Law

| Man in bar

Eight Men Out

| Arnold "Chick" Gandil

Mississippi Burning

| Frank Bailey

rowspan="2" | 1989

| Sea of Love

| Terry Cruger

Music Box

| Karchy Laszlo

1990

| Days of Thunder

| Rowdy Burns

1991

| JFK

| Bill Broussard

rowspan="3" | 1993

| The Dark Half

| Sheriff Alan Pangborn

Cliffhanger

| Ranger Hal Tucker

Tombstone

| Sherman McMasters

rowspan="2" | 1994

| Suspicious

| Attendant

| Short film

The Hard Truth

| Jonah Mantz

1995

| Mallrats

| Jared Svenning

rowspan="2" | 1996

| Bastard Out of Carolina

| Uncle Earle

The Trigger Effect

| Gary

rowspan="5" | 1997

| Song of Hiawatha

| Bertrand

Rosewood

| Sheriff Walker

Keys to Tulsa

| Keith Michaels

Deceiver

| Kennesaw

Shadow Builder

| Father Vassey

rowspan="3" | 1998

| The Replacement Killers

| Detective Stan "Zeedo" Zedkov

Brown's Requiem

| Fritz Brown

| Also associate producer

Renegade Force

| Matt Cooper

rowspan="2" | 1999

| A Table for One

| Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan

| Also co-executive producer

{{sortname|The|Bone Collector}}

| Captain Howard Cheney

rowspan="4" | 2000

| Table One

| Rowdy

Here on Earth

| Malcolm Arnold

NewsBreak

| John McNamara

The 6th Day

| Robert Marshall

2001

| Replicant

| Detective Jake Riley

2002

| Undisputed

| Captain A.J. Mercker

2003

| The Box

| Detective Stafford

2004

| The Eliminator

| Miles Dawson

2005

| Chasing Ghosts

| Mark Spencer

rowspan="3" | 2006

| Repo! The Genetic Opera

| Repo Man

| Unreleased short film{{Cite web|url=http://www.michaelrookeronline.com/trulydisturbing-com-horror-icon-of-the-month-michael-rooker|title=Truly Disturbing: Horror Icon of the Month: Michael Rooker {{!}} Michael Rooker Online|website=www.michaelrookeronline.com|date=December 2011|language=en-US|access-date=May 23, 2017|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106123417/https://michaelrookeronline.com/trulydisturbing-com-horror-icon-of-the-month-michael-rooker|url-status=live}}

Lenexa, 1 Mile

| Russ

Slither

| Grant Grant

2007

| Whisper

| Sidney

rowspan="3" | 2008

| The Lena Baker Story

| Randolph County Sheriff

Jumper

| William Rice

This Man's Life

| Richard Crummly

| Short film

rowspan="3" | 2009

| Super Capers

| Judge / Dark Winged Vesper

Penance

| Mann

The Marine 2

| Church

| Direct-to-DVD

rowspan="7" | 2010

| Scott's Dead

| Mitch

| Short film

Freeway Killer

| Detective St. John

Blood Done Sign My Name

| Defense Attorney Billy Watkins

Cell 213

| Ray Clement

DC Showcase: Jonah Hex

| Red Doc

| Voice, short film

Louis

| Pat McMurphy

Super

| Abe

rowspan="3" | 2011

| Atlantis Down

| Father / Alien

Mysteria

| Captain McCarthy

Elwood

| Condello

| Short film

rowspan="2" | 2012

| The Lost Episode

| Chris / Dr. Death

| Also director

Hypothermia

| Ray Pelletier

2013

| Brother's Keeper

| Chief Carver

2014

| Guardians of the Galaxy

| Yondu Udonta

2016

| The Belko Experiment

| Bud Melks

2017

| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

| Yondu Udonta

| Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor

rowspan="2" | 2019

| Bolden

| Pat McMurphy

Brightburn

| The Big T

|Cameo

rowspan=2 | 2020

| Fantasy Island

| Damon

Love and Monsters

| Clyde

rowspan=3 | 2021

| F9

| Buddy

The Suicide Squad

| Brian Durlin / Savant

Vivo

| Lutador

| Voice

rowspan=2| 2022

| Corrective Measures

| Overseer Warden Devlin

White Elephant

| Gabriel Tancredi

rowspan=2| 2023

| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

| Yondu Udonta

| Cameo

The Out-Laws

| Agent Oldham

| {{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=October 28, 2021 |title='The Out-Laws': Ellen Barkin, Nina Dobrev, Michael Rooker, Lil Rel Howery & More Round Out Cast Of Netflix Action Comedy |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/the-out-laws-ellen-barkin-lil-rel-howery-more-join-netflix-film-1234864201/ |access-date=March 7, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028192330/https://deadline.com/2021/10/the-out-laws-ellen-barkin-lil-rel-howery-more-join-netflix-film-1234864201/ |url-status=live }}

rowspan=2| 2024

| Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1

| rowspan="2" | Sgt. Major Riordan

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2

2025

| Superman

| Five

| Voice

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes ! class="unsortable" \| Source
1986 \| Crime Story \| Lieutenant \| Episode: "Pilot" \|
1988 \| The Equalizer \| Bill Whitaker \| Episode: "No Place Like Home" \|
rowspan="3" \| 1989 \| Gideon Oliver \| Det. John Quinn \| Episode: "Sleep Well, Professor Oliver" \|
The Edge \| Deputy Sheriff \| Television film \|
L.A. Takedown \| Bosko \| Television film \|
1990 \| Equal Justice \| Wallace "Wally" Dalton \| Episode: "Sugar Blues" \|
1992 \| Afterburn \| Casey "Z" Zankowski \| Television film \|
rowspan="2" \| 1995 \| Fallen Angels \| Babe McCloor \| Episode: "Fly Paper" \|
Johnny & Clyde \| Frank Tennant \| Television film \|
1996 \| Back to Back \| Bob Malone \| Television film \|
rowspan="2" \| 2001 \| {{sortname\|The\|Outer Limits\|The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)}} \| Col. Beckett \| Episode: "Patient Zero" \|
Hostage Rescue Team \| Special Agent Nicholas Roberts \| Pilot \|
2002 \| Jeremiah \| Major Quantrell \| Episode: "Firewall" \|
rowspan="6" \| 2003 \| Tremors \| Kinney \| Episode: "Hit and Run" \|
Lucky \| Gibby \| Episode: "Savant" \|
Stargate SG-1 \| Col. Edwards \| Episode: "Enemy Mine" \|
CSI: Miami \| Marty Jones \| Episode: "Dead Zone" \|
On Thin Ice \| Hopkins \| Television film \|
Saving Jessica Lynch \| Col. Curry \| Television film \|
rowspan="2" \| 2004 \| Skeleton Man \| Capt. Leary \| Television film \|
Las Vegas \| Marcus Wexler \| Episode: "Degas Away with It" \|
rowspan="2" \| 2005 \| Numb3rs \| Don's Partner \| Unaired pilot \|
JAG \| Capt. Jack Ramsey \| Episode: "Heart of Darkness" \|
2006 \| Thief \| Det. John Hayes \| 5 episodes \|
2007 \| Crossing Jordan \| Shawn Curaco \| Episode: "D.O.A." \|
rowspan="4" \| 2008 \| Law & Order \| Jamie Yost \| Episode: "Executioner" \|
Shark \| Oscar Riddick \| Episode: "Bar Fight" \|
Chuck \| Frank Mauser \| Episode: "Chuck Versus Santa Claus" \|
Humanzee! \| Priest \| Episode: "Pilot" \|
rowspan="3" \| 2009 \| Meteor \| Calvin Stark \| 2 episodes \|
Criminal Minds \| Chief Carlson \| Episode: "House on Fire" \|
Psych \| Garth Longmore \| Episode: "Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark" \|
rowspan="2" \| 2010 \| Burn Notice \| Dale Lawson \| Episode: "Guilty as Charged" \|
Matadors \| John Canterna \| Pilot \|
2010–2013 \| The Walking Dead \| Merle Dixon \| 14 episodes Satellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series (2012) \|
rowspan="2" \| 2012 \| Outlaw Country \| Larkin's Henchman \| Television film \|
Archer \| Sheriff E.Z. Ponder \| Voice, episode: "Bloody Ferlin" \|
{{dts\|2016\|12\|14\|format=y}}	Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed	Himself	Documentary	{{Cite web \|url=https://www.amazon.com/Unlocked-World-Games-Revealed/dp/B01MSPIDBP \|title=Amazon.com: Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed: Sean Astin, Tom Arnold, Michael Rooker, Penn Jillette, Zelda Williams, Matt Walsh, Alison Haislip, Meghan Camarena, William Shatner, Kevin Smith, Tony Hawk, Jeremy Snead: Amazon Digital Services LLC \|website=Amazon.com \|access-date=July 24, 2017 \|archive-date=June 1, 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601134008/https://www.amazon.com/Unlocked-World-Games-Revealed/dp/B01MSPIDBP \|url-status=live }}{{Cite web \|url=http://unlockedtvshow.com/cast-crew/ \|title=Cast & Crew - Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed \|website=unlockedtvshow.com (Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed official website) \|access-date=July 24, 2017 \|archive-date=March 15, 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315194033/https://unlockedtvshow.com/cast-crew/ \|url-status=live }}{{Cite web \|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/this-week-in-trailers-i-am-not-your-negro-the-new-man-detour-unlocked-the-world-of-games-revealed-the-salesman/ \|title=This Week In Trailers: I Am Not Your Negro, The New Man, Detour, Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed, The Salesman \|last=Stipp \|first=Christopher \|date=November 19, 2016 \|website=Slashfilm \|access-date=July 24, 2017 \|archive-date=June 21, 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621204218/https://www.slashfilm.com/this-week-in-trailers-i-am-not-your-negro-the-new-man-detour-unlocked-the-world-of-games-revealed-the-salesman/ \|url-status=live }}
rowspan=2\|2017 \| SEAL Team \| Big Chief \| Episode: "Tip of the Spear" \|
Robot Chicken \| Merle Dixon \| Voice, episode: "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking" \|
rowspan=2\|2019 \| True Detective \| Edward Hoyt \| 2 episodes \|
The Dark Tower \| Eldred Jonas \| Pilot \|
2021–2024 \| What If...? \| Yondu Udonta \| Voice, 3 episodes \|
2021 \| Creepshow \| Beau \| Episode: "Drug Traffic" \|
2022 \| The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special \| Yondu Udonta \| Voice, Disney+ special \|
2023 \| The Rookie \| Frank Tesca \| 2 episodes \|
2024 \| Creature Commandos \| Sam Fitzgibbon \| Voice, episode: "Cheers to the Tin Man" \|
rowspan="2" \|2025 \|The Righteous Gemstones \|Cobb Milsap \|5 episodes \|
Peacemaker \| \|Season 2 \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

! class="unsortable" | Source

1986

| Crime Story

| Lieutenant

| Episode: "Pilot"

1988

| The Equalizer

| Bill Whitaker

| Episode: "No Place Like Home"

rowspan="3" | 1989

| Gideon Oliver

| Det. John Quinn

| Episode: "Sleep Well, Professor Oliver"

The Edge

| Deputy Sheriff

| Television film

L.A. Takedown

| Bosko

| Television film

1990

| Equal Justice

| Wallace "Wally" Dalton

| Episode: "Sugar Blues"

1992

| Afterburn

| Casey "Z" Zankowski

| Television film

rowspan="2" | 1995

| Fallen Angels

| Babe McCloor

| Episode: "Fly Paper"

Johnny & Clyde

| Frank Tennant

| Television film

1996

| Back to Back

| Bob Malone

| Television film

rowspan="2" | 2001

| {{sortname|The|Outer Limits|The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)}}

| Col. Beckett

| Episode: "Patient Zero"

Hostage Rescue Team

| Special Agent Nicholas Roberts

| Pilot

2002

| Jeremiah

| Major Quantrell

| Episode: "Firewall"

rowspan="6" | 2003

| Tremors

| Kinney

| Episode: "Hit and Run"

Lucky

| Gibby

| Episode: "Savant"

Stargate SG-1

| Col. Edwards

| Episode: "Enemy Mine"

CSI: Miami

| Marty Jones

| Episode: "Dead Zone"

On Thin Ice

| Hopkins

| Television film

Saving Jessica Lynch

| Col. Curry

| Television film

rowspan="2" | 2004

| Skeleton Man

| Capt. Leary

| Television film

Las Vegas

| Marcus Wexler

| Episode: "Degas Away with It"

rowspan="2" | 2005

| Numb3rs

| Don's Partner

| Unaired pilot

JAG

| Capt. Jack Ramsey

| Episode: "Heart of Darkness"

2006

| Thief

| Det. John Hayes

| 5 episodes

2007

| Crossing Jordan

| Shawn Curaco

| Episode: "D.O.A."

rowspan="4" | 2008

| Law & Order

| Jamie Yost

| Episode: "Executioner"

Shark

| Oscar Riddick

| Episode: "Bar Fight"

Chuck

| Frank Mauser

| Episode: "Chuck Versus Santa Claus"

Humanzee!

| Priest

| Episode: "Pilot"

rowspan="3" | 2009

| Meteor

| Calvin Stark

| 2 episodes

Criminal Minds

| Chief Carlson

| Episode: "House on Fire"

Psych

| Garth Longmore

| Episode: "Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark"

rowspan="2" | 2010

| Burn Notice

| Dale Lawson

| Episode: "Guilty as Charged"

Matadors

| John Canterna

| Pilot

2010–2013

| The Walking Dead

| Merle Dixon

| 14 episodes
Satellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series (2012)

rowspan="2" | 2012

| Outlaw Country

| Larkin's Henchman

| Television film

Archer

| Sheriff E.Z. Ponder

| Voice, episode: "Bloody Ferlin"

Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed

Himself

Documentary

{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Unlocked-World-Games-Revealed/dp/B01MSPIDBP |title=Amazon.com: Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed: Sean Astin, Tom Arnold, Michael Rooker, Penn Jillette, Zelda Williams, Matt Walsh, Alison Haislip, Meghan Camarena, William Shatner, Kevin Smith, Tony Hawk, Jeremy Snead: Amazon Digital Services LLC |website=Amazon.com |access-date=July 24, 2017 |archive-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601134008/https://www.amazon.com/Unlocked-World-Games-Revealed/dp/B01MSPIDBP |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://unlockedtvshow.com/cast-crew/ |title=Cast & Crew - Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed |website=unlockedtvshow.com (Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed official website) |access-date=July 24, 2017 |archive-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315194033/https://unlockedtvshow.com/cast-crew/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/this-week-in-trailers-i-am-not-your-negro-the-new-man-detour-unlocked-the-world-of-games-revealed-the-salesman/ |title=This Week In Trailers: I Am Not Your Negro, The New Man, Detour, Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed, The Salesman |last=Stipp |first=Christopher |date=November 19, 2016 |website=Slashfilm |access-date=July 24, 2017 |archive-date=June 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621204218/https://www.slashfilm.com/this-week-in-trailers-i-am-not-your-negro-the-new-man-detour-unlocked-the-world-of-games-revealed-the-salesman/ |url-status=live }}

rowspan=2|2017

| SEAL Team

| Big Chief

| Episode: "Tip of the Spear"

Robot Chicken

| Merle Dixon

| Voice, episode: "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking"

rowspan=2|2019

| True Detective

| Edward Hoyt

| 2 episodes

The Dark Tower

| Eldred Jonas

| Pilot

2021–2024

| What If...?

| Yondu Udonta

| Voice, 3 episodes

2021

| Creepshow

| Beau

| Episode: "Drug Traffic"

2022

| The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

| Yondu Udonta

| Voice, Disney+ special

2023

| The Rookie

| Frank Tesca

| 2 episodes

2024

| Creature Commandos

| Sam Fitzgibbon

| Voice, episode: "Cheers to the Tin Man"

rowspan="2" |2025

|The Righteous Gemstones

|Cobb Milsap

|5 episodes

Peacemaker

|Season 2

=Video games=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Voice role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2004 \| The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay \| Centurion, Jack \|
rowspan="2" \| 2011 \| Call of Duty: Black Ops \| Himself \| Appears in Call of the Dead
Days of Thunder \| Rowdy Burns \|
rowspan="2" \| 2012 \| Lollipop Chainsaw \| Vikke \|
Call of Duty: Black Ops II \| Mike Harper \| Also motion capture
2013 \| The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct \| Merle Dixon \|
2023 \|Crime Boss: Rockay City \|Touchdown \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Voice role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2004

| The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay

| Centurion, Jack

rowspan="2" | 2011

| Call of Duty: Black Ops

| Himself

| Appears in Call of the Dead