Line #27 Creator/MichaelRooker


1	[[quoteright:336:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/michael_rooker_by_gage_skidmore_957.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:336:''"I don't approach a role by saying I'll be unsavory or unlikable. I think all the roles I've done have been very passionate people who go to absolute extremes to make their points."'']]
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4	Michael Rooker (born April 6, 1955) is an American actor born in Jasper, Alabama.
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6	He is best known for his roles as Henry in ''Film/HenryPortraitOfASerialKiller'', Merle Dixon in ''Series/{{The Walking Dead\|2010}}'', Frank Bailey in ''Film/MississippiBurning'', Hal Tucker in ''Film/{{Cliffhanger}}'', Rowdy Burns in ''Film/DaysOfThunder'', and [[Characters/MCUYonduUdonta Yondu Udonta]] in the ''Franchise/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' films. He is originally from Jasper, Alabama.
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8	On first breaking into film, his intensity and "don't-mess-with-me" good looks were highlighted to chilling effect as the title character in ''Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer'', filmed in 1986 but not released until 1990 due to its controversial nature. Since that widely noticed and highly praised performance, much of his career has been spent playing brutes, villains and psychopaths. His occasional turns as a "good guy", however, are always well-acted and a welcome change for a talented actor too often typecast.
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10	!!Film Roles
11	* 1986 ''Film/HenryPortraitOfASerialKiller'' as [[StarMakingRole Henry]]
12	* 1988 ''Film/MississippiBurning'' as Frank Bailey
13	* 1988 ''Film/EightMenOut'' as [[{{Schemer}} Chick Gandil]]
14	* 1989 ''Film/SeaOfLove'' as [[TheDogWasTheMastermind Terry Cruger]]
15	* 1990 ''Film/DaysOfThunder'' as Rowdy Burns
16	* 1991 ''Film/{{JFK}}'' as Bill Broussard
17	* 1993 ''Film/{{Cliffhanger}}'' as Hal Tucker
18	* 1993 ''Film/TheDarkHalf'' as Sheriff Alan Pengborne
19	* 1993 ''Film/{{Tombstone}}'' as Sherman [=McMaster=]
20	* 1995 ''Film/{{Mallrats}}'' as Jared Svenning
21	* 1998 ''Film/TheReplacementKillers'' as Stan "Zeedo" Zedkov
22	* 1998 ''Film/RenegadeForce'' as Matt Cooper
23	* 1999 ''Film/TheBoneCollector'' as [[DaChief Captain Howard Cheney]]
24	* 2000 ''Film/The6thDay'' as [[TheDragon Robert Marshall]]
25	* 2001 ''Film/{{Replicant}}'' as Detective Jake Riley
26	* 2006 ''Film/{{Slither}}'' as [[BodyHorror Grant Grant]]
27	* 2008 ''Film/{{Jumper}}'' as [[AbusiveParents William Rice]]
28	* 2010 ''Film/FreewayKiller'' as Det. St. John
29	* 2010 ''Film/{{Super}}'' as [[TheDragon Abe]]
30	* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse as [[Characters/MCUYonduUdonta Yondu Udonta]]
31	** ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy\|2014}}'' (2014)
32	** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'' (2017)
33	** ''[[WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021 What If...?]]'' (2021)
34	** ''Film/TheGuardiansOfTheGalaxyHolidaySpecial'' (2022)
35	** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3'' (2023)
36	* 2016 ''Film/TheBelkoExperiment'' as Bud Melks
37	* 2020 ''Film/FantasyIsland2020'' as Damon
38	* 2020 ''Film/LoveAndMonsters'' as Clyde Dutton
39	* ''Franchise/TheFastAndTheFurious'' franchise as Buddy
40	** 2021 ''Film/{{F9}}''
41	** 2023 ''Film/FastX''
42	* 2021 ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'' as Savant
43	* 2023 ''[[Film/TheOutLaws2023 The Out-Laws]]'' as Roger Oldham
44	* 2024 ''Film/HorizonAnAmericanSaga''
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46	!!TV Roles
47	* 1988 ''Series/TheEqualizer'' as Bill Whitaker
48	* 2001 ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'' as Col. Beckett
49	* 2002 ''Series/{{Jeremiah}}'' as Major Quantrell
50	* 2003 ''Series/{{Tremors}}'' as Kinney
51	* 2003 ''Series/CSIMiami'' as Marty Jones
52	* 2004 ''Series/LasVegas'' as Marcus Wexler
53	* 2005 ''Series/Numb3rs'' as Don's partner (unaired pilot)
54	* 2005 ''Series/{{JAG}}'' as Capt. Jack Ramsey
55	* 2007 ''Series/CrossingJordan'' as Shawn Curaco
56	* 2008 ''Series/LawAndOrder'' as Jamie Yost
57	* 2008 ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' as [[KnightOfCerebus Mauser]]
58	* 2009 ''Series/CriminalMinds'' as Chief Carlson
59	* 2010–13 ''Series/{{The Walking Dead\|2010}}'' as [[TokenEvilTeammate Merle Dixon]]
60	* 2012 ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'' as [[StraightGay Sheriff EZ Ponder]]
61	* 2019 ''Series/TrueDetective'' as Edward Hoyt
62	!Video Game Roles
63	* 2011 ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyZombies'' {{DLC}} in ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' AsHimself
64	* 2012 ''VideoGame/LollipopChainsaw'' as Vikke
65	* 2012 ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'' as [[TheDanza Mike Harper]]
66	* 2023 ''VideoGame/CrimeBossRockayCity'' as Touchdown
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68
69	!!Tropes in hos works:
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71	* ProductionPosse: If you're watching a Creator/JamesGunn movie, you can bet good money he's gonna be in it in some way, shape, or form.
72	* StarMakingRole: ''Film/HenryPortraitOfASerialKiller'', widely regarded as one of the best, most realistic and chilling performances of a serial killer in film.
73	* {{Typecasting}}: Due to his raspy voice and memorable performance as Henry Lee Lucas, Michael is often cast as sinister villains (even in comedic flicks like ''Mallrats''). However, he has (and does) play good guys.
74	** Regardless of moral alignment, his characters tend to fit [[DeepSouth redneck, white trash stereotypes]] to varying degrees.

Context Creator / MichaelRooker