The Walking Dead, a horror show turned pop culture phenomenon, has turned many non-genre fans on to the zombie sub-genre. One would assume this would be an amazing thing for the horror community but it has sadly ruined zombies and many horror veterans that have made appearances on the show. We now have film after film attempting to duplicate what makes the show so enjoyable. We also get horror “noobs” watching a show and assuming this the first big role many of the cast members have had and this is far from the case.
Before today I took a look at the careers of Daryl, Herschell, and Andrea. Now, we will take a look at Merle Dixon portrayed the talented Michael Rooker. Rooker, the Alabama born actor, started his career way back in 1986 when he had a role in Crime Stories. It wasn’t until later in 1986 that he got his big break as the title character in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. He has gone on to star in multiple films that I watch several times a year. So sit back and take a look at 5 of his more memorable roles!
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
This 1986 film that follows a serial killer named Henry (Rooker) is a very raw and real film that shows you just how much talent Rooker has. It may also be the cause of Rooker always getting typcasted as the asshole in pretty much every film he has been in since. This is one of his strongest performances.
The Dark Half (1993)
In this 1993 film adaption of the Stephen King novel directed by George A. Romero, Rooker plays a small town sheriff with a small chip on his shoulder and a bit of a superiority complex. The film is often bashed by horror fans but I personally enjoy it and Rooker does an outstanding job in his role. Fans of Romero and King need to check this one out for sure.
Tombstone (1993)
1993 was a busy year for Rooker. He appeared in The Dark Half, followed that up with Cliffhanger, and then finished the year out by having a role in one if the best films to come out of that year. The film, Tombstone, is one of my favorite movies of all time. Though his role is not that memorable he still delivers a solid performance which only solidifies what I am trying to prove here.
Mallrats (1995)
In 1995 Rooker appeared in the Kevin Smith film Mallrats in what I would say is one of his most iconic performances. He once again plays an asshole who feels his daughter is too good to be dating the film’s main antagonist. This is a must watch for any movie buff.
Slither (2006)
1996 saw Rooker appear in several memorable films like Repo! The Genetic Opera but the film from that year that stands out, and what I consider my favorite role of his, was the James Gunn flick Slither. Rooker is once again a major asshole that gets whats coming to him. This films receives a lot of hate but I fucking love it and urge everyone to check it out. It may not be your favorite film but I bet you will enjoy it.
