Michael Rooker

**Michael Rooker**, born April 6, 1955, is a prolific American actor renowned for his portrayals of antagonistic characters. His breakthrough came with his performance in the titular role in 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer' in 1986. He gained international recognition for playing Merle Dixon in AMC's 'The Walking Dead' from 2010–2013 and Yondu Udonta in 'Guardians of the Galaxy' starting from 2014. A frequent collaborator of director James Gunn, Rooker has appeared in all of Gunn's films so far, including 'Slither' (2006), 'Super' (2010), and 'The Suicide Squad' (2021). Apart from the above, he has contributed significantly to a diverse range of film and television roles. Some of his most notable film roles include those in 'Eight Men Out' (1988), 'Mississippi Burning' (1988), 'Sea of Love' (1989), 'Days of Thunder' (1990), 'JFK' (1991), 'Cliffhanger' (1993), 'Tombstone' (1993), 'Mallrats' (1995), 'The Bone Collector' (1999), 'Replicant' (2001), and 'F9' (2021). Rooker has also lent his voice to characters in video games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. He now resides in California with his wife, and they have two daughters.