Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker | |
|---|---|
 Michael Rooker at the 2010 Comic Con | |
| Born | April 6, 1955 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1986-present |
| Spouse | Margot Rooker |
Michael Rooker (born April 6, 1955) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Henry in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and Merle Dixon in the The Walking Dead television series.
Early life
Rooker has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama, and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.[1][2][3]
Movie career
Rooker made his film debut in 1986 playing the title role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, a film based on the confessions of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas.[4] He has since appeared in numerous films over the years including Mississippi Burning, Sea of Love, Days of Thunder, JFK, Cliffhanger,[5] Tombstone,[6] Mallrats, Rosewood, The 6th Day and Jumper.[7] He has also guest starred in the TV series Stargate SG-1 and Crime Story.
In 2010, he starred in James Felix McKenney's horror film Hypothermia,[8] which was co-produced by Larry Fessenden and set in New York.[9] In June 2010, he revealed via Twitter that he was to appear in the AMC television series The Walking Dead.[10] In the series, he portrays Merle Dixon, one of the survivors of a zombie apocalypse.[11]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | 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 |
| 1987 | Light of Day | Oogie | |
| 1987 | Rent-A-Cop | Joe | |
| 1988 | Retreads | ||
| 1988 | Above the Law | Man in Bar | |
| 1988 | Eight Men Out | Arnold 'Chick' Gandil | |
| 1988 | Mississippi Burning | Frank Bailey | |
| 1989 | Sea of Love | Terry | |
| 1989 | Music Box | Karchy Laszio | |
| 1990 | Days of Thunder | Rowdy Burns | |
| 1991 | JFK | Bill Broussard | |
| 1993 | The Dark Half | Sheriff Alan Pangborn | |
| 1993 | Cliffhanger | Hal Tucker | |
| 1993 | Tombstone | Sherman McMasters | |
| 1994 | Suspicious | Attendent | Short film |
| 1994 | The Hard Truth | Jonah Mantz | |
| 1995 | Mallrats | Svenning | |
| 1996 | Bastard Out of Carolina | Uncle Earle | |
| 1996 | The Trigger Effect | Gary | |
| 1996 | Keys to Tulsa | Keith Michaels | |
| 1997 | Song of Hiawatha | Bertrand | |
| 1997 | Meet Wally Sparks | (uncredited) | |
| 1997 | Rosewood | Sheriff Walker | |
| 1997 | Deceiver | Kennesaw | |
| 1998 | The Replacement Killers | Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov | |
| 1998 | Shadow Builder | Father Vassey | |
| 1998 | Brown's Requiem | Fritz Brown | |
| 1998 | Renegade Force | Matt Cooper | |
| 1999 | A Table for One | Matt Draper / Dr. Matthew Swan | |
| 1999 | The Bone Collector | Captain Howard Cheney | |
| 2000 | Table One | Rowdy | |
| 2000 | Here on Earth | Malcolm Arnold | |
| 2000 | NewsBreak | John McNamara | |
| 2000 | The 6th Day | Robert Marshall | |
| 2001 | Replicant | Det. Jake Riley | |
| 2002 | Undisputed | A.J. Mercker | |
| 2003 | The Box | Det. Stafford | |
| 2004 | The Elimnator | Miles Dawson | |
| 2005 | Chasing Ghosts | Mark Spencer | |
| 2006 | Lenexa, 1 Mile | Russ | |
| 2006 | Slither | Grant Grant | |
| 2007 | Whisper | Sidney | |
| 2008 | The Lena Baker Story | Randolph County Sheriff | |
| 2008 | Jumper | William Rice | |
| 2008 | This Man's Life | Richard Crummly | Short film |
| 2009 | Super Capers | Judge / Dark Winged Vesper | |
| 2009 | Penance | Mann | |
| 2009 | The Marine 2 | Church | Video |
| 2010 | Scott's Dead | Mitch | Short film |
| 2010 | Freeway Killer | Det. St. John | |
| 2010 | Blood Done Sign My Name | Defense Attorney Billy Watkins | |
| 2010 | Cell 213 | Ray Clement | |
| 2010 | DC Showcase: Jonah Hex | Red Doc (voice) | Video short |
| 2010 | Louis | Pat McMurphy | |
| 2010 | Super | Abe | |
| 2010 | Atlantis Down | Father / Alien | |
| 2011 | Mysteria | Captain McCarthy | |
| 2011 | Elwood | Condello | Short film |
| 2012 | Pennhurst | Donut Shop Employee | Also Director |
| 2012 | Hypothermia | Ray Pelletier | |
| 2013 | Brother's Keeper | Chief Carver | Completed |
| TBA | Chapo | TBA | Pre-production |
| TBA | Bolden! | Pat McMurphy | In production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Crime Story | Lieutenant | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1988 | The Equalizer | Bill Whitaker | Episode: "No Place Like Home" |
| 1989 | Gideon Oliver | Det. John Quinn | Episode: "Sleep Well, Professor Oliver" |
| 1989 | The Edge | Deputy Sheriff | TV movie |
| 1989 | L.A. Takedown | Bosko | TV movie |
| 1990 | Equal Justice | Wallace 'Wally' Dalton | Episode: "Sugar Blues" |
| 1992 | Afterburn | Casey 'Z' Zankowski | TV movie |
| 1995 | Johnny & Clyde | Frank Tennant | TV movie |
| 1995 | Fallen Angels | Babe McCloor | Episode: "Fly Paper" |
| 1996 | Back to Back | Bob Malone | TV movie |
| 1998 | Honolulu CRU | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 2001 | Hostage Rescue Team | Special Agent Nicholas Roberts | TV movie |
| 2001 | The Outer Limits | Col. Beckett | Episode: "Patient Zero" |
| 2002 | Jeremiah | Major Quantrell | Episode: "Firewall" |
| 2003 | Tremors | Kinney | Episode: "Hit and Run" |
| 2003 | Lucky | Gibby | Episode: "Savant" |
| 2003 | Stargate SG-1 | Col. Edwards | Episode: "Enemy Mine" |
| 2003 | CSI: Miami | Marty Jones | Episode: "Dead Zone" |
| 2003 | On Thin Ice | TV movie | |
| 2003 | Saving Jessica Lynch | Col. Curry | TV movie |
| 2004 | Skeleton Man | Capt. Leary | TV movie |
| 2004 | Las Vegas | Marcus Wexler | Episode: "Degas Away with It" |
| 2005 | Numb3rs | Don's Partner | Episode: "Unaired Pilot" |
| 2005 | JAG | Capt. Jack Ramsey | Episode: "Heart of Darkness" |
| 2006 | Thief | Det. John Hayes | TV miniseries |
| 2007 | Crossing Jordan | Shawn Curaco | Episode: "D.O.A." |
| 2008 | Law & Order | Jamie Yost | Episode: "Executioner" |
| 2008 | Shark | Oscar Riddick | Episode: "Bar Fight" |
| 2008 | Chuck | Mauser | Episode: "Chuck Versus Santa Claus" |
| 2008 | Humanzee! | Priest | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2009 | Meteor | Calvin Stark | TV miniseries |
| 2009 | Criminal Minds | Chief Carlson | Episode: "House on Fire" |
| 2009 | Psych | Garth Longmore | Episode: "Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark" |
| 2010 | Matadors | John Canterna | TV movie |
| 2010 | Burn Notice | Dale Lawson | Episode: "Guilty as Charged" |
| 2010-Present | The Walking Dead | Merle Dixon | Recurring Role(Season 1-2) Main Role(Season 3) Satellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series (2012) |
| 2012 | Archer | Sheriff E.Z. Ponder (voice) | Episode: "Bloody Ferlin" |
| 2012 | Outlaw Country | TV movie |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay | Centurion / Jack (voice) | |
| 2006 | Scarface: The World Is Yours | (voice) | |
| 2010 | Call of Duty: Black Ops | Himself (voice) | |
| 2011 | Days of Thunder | Crew Chief (voice) | |
| 2012 | Lollipop Chainsaw | Vikke (voice) | |
| 2012 | Call of Duty: Black Ops II | Mike Harper (voice) | Also provided motion and facial-capture for Harper |
| 2013 | The Walking Dead | Merle Dixon (voice) | Announced |
References
- ^ http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/feature/133
- ^ Michael Rooker Biography - Yahoo! Movies
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Dark Sky's Hypothermia is Rolling! Full Casting News". DreadCentral.
- ^ "A Chat with Horror Icon Michael Rooker". DreadCentral.
- ^ "TV: Michael Rooker Becomes One of 'The Walking Dead'!". BloodyDisgusting.
- ^ "Blood-Soaked Snow in First Hi-Res Look at 'Hypothermia'". BloodyDisgusting.
- ^ "Michael Rooker Scores Leading Role in Dark Sky's 'Hypothermia'!". BloodyDisgusting.
- ^ "First Look at Michael Rooker on the Set of 'Hypothermia'!". BloodyDisgusting.
- ^ "Michael Rooker Joining AMC's The Walking Dead". DreadCentral.
- ^ "Michael Rooker interview (Merle Dixon on "The Walking Dead")". The Desk of Brian.
External links
- Michael Rooker Official Website
- Michael Rooker at IMDb
- Michael Rooker interview on 'Cell 213'
- Michael Rooker Interview by Susan Karlin
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
