Biography
An imposingly-built character actor who specialized in intense, often dangerous characters on both sides of the law, Michael Rooker rose to prominence in the late 1980s as a psychotic serial killer in "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" (1986). Outfitted with an unwavering gaze and a granite jaw, Rooker was a natural for physically terrifying villains, but gave equally fine turns as world-weary cops, cowboys and tough patriarchs, all of which …
Michael Rooker SlideShow
1 - 4 of 4
Career Milestones
| Cast as a detective leaving the force in FX's drama "Thief" (lensed 2004) | ||
2003 | Appeared in the TV movie "Saving Jessica Lynch" based on the true story of the rescue of Private Jessica Lynch, by the United States army, in Iraq | |
2000 | Cast opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the futuristic thriller "The 6th Day" | |
1999 | Played Captain Howard Cheney in "The Bone Collector" starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie | |
1998 | Appeared opposite Yun-Fat Chow and Mira Sorvino in "The Replacement Killers" | |
1996 | Cast in Anjelica Huston's directorial debut "Bastard Out of Carolina" | |
1993 | Acted opposite Sylvester Stallone in the thriller "Cliffhanger" directed by Renny Harlin | |
1991 | Cast opposite Kevin Costner in Oliver Stone's "JFK" | |
1990 | Played fellow race car driver Rowdy Burns opposite Tom Cruise in "Days of Thunder" directed by Tony Scott | |
1990 | Feature debut as a lead, "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" filmed in 1986 | |
1989 | TV movie debut, "Sleep Well, Professor Oliver" | |
1986 | TV acting debut, "Lady Blue" | |
1984 | Feature acting debut, "Streets of Fire" | |
| Studied Aikido, a Japanese martial art | ||
| Moved to Chicago at age 12 | ||
Awards
1990 | Seattle International Film Festival for Best Actor Golden Space Needle Award in Henry: Portrait of A Serial Killer |