Michael Rooker: biography and filmography

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Michael Rooker is a Hollywood actor known for his roles in both feature films and TV series. He has been filming for thirty years and has a lot of serious work in his luggage. How did he become successful and what films of the actor should be watched first of all?

Childhood

On April 6, 1955, in the city of Jasper, located in the US state of Alabama, there was a replenishment in the Rucker family. Michael, the future famous actor, was born in a family that has nothing to do with cinema. A few years after his birth, his parents divorced, and the boy went with his mother to Chicago. Even in the first school years, he became interested in performing on stage, and he began to take part in student performances. After graduation, he entered the Goodman School of Acting. Having successfully completed it, Michael Rooker began his career in the theater.

Appearing on the silver screen

Theatrical career was quite successful. But Michael Rooker did not want to stop only at her and decided to act in films. He got his first role at the age of thirty-one, when he played a cameo role in a TV series called The Equalizer, which aired from 1985 to 1989. After that, Michael Rooker received an offer toparticipation in the television film "Crime Story", which was shot by Abel Ferrara. The role was small, but still became an important step towards future fame. The next work in the film directed by John McNaughton, which was called "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer", became a triumph. She was released in 1986 and brought the actor real popularity. This was the start of his film career.

New roles

Having successfully portrayed the serial killer Henry, whose story was based on true events, Michael Rooker, whose filmography at that time was quite modest, received a warm reception from critics and his first award - a prize from the International Fantastic Film Festival called Fantasporto. Impressive fame brought the actor new offers, however, these were not always the main roles. Michael Rooker landed a small role in Daylight, directed by Paul Schroeder, in 1987. Then, in the same season, Jerry London's action movie called "Cop for Hire" appeared on the screens. The next work of the actor was a thriller with Steven Seagal - the film "Above the Law" was released in 1988. At just 175 centimeters tall, Michael Rooker has landed an unexpected role as a baseball team athlete in John Sayles' film Eight Quits.

Oscar-winning tapes

After a number of episodic and minor roles in the career of an actor, it's time for a new breakthrough. For the roleone of the main characters, Frank Bailey, Rooker was chosen to be directed by Alan Parker. Michael starred in his film "Mississippi on Fire", which was released in 1988 and received the highest award - a statuette from film academics. In 1989, the actor shared the stage with the world famous Al Pacino and John Goodman, with whom he starred in Becker's drama Sea of Love. No less successful work was the role in the film directed by Tony Scott "Days of Thunder". The film, which premiered in 1990, was dedicated to car racing. Together with Rooker, Tom Cruise took part in the filming. This tape blew up the film distribution, collecting more than one hundred and fifty-seven million dollars in the world. The world of big-budget Hollywood films opened up for the actor, and Days of Thunder went to the Oscars.

Stable operation

After another tape sent to the Academy Award, Michael Rooker starred exclusively in successful projects. So, he took part in the filming of the detective John F. Kennedy: Shots in Dallas, filmed in 1991 by director Oliver Stone. In the first film of the Fast and the Furious franchise, which was released in 1992, he also played a prominent role. The next work was the thriller "Cliffhanger", which became the premiere in 1993. In addition, Michael continued to participate in television series. "Military Legal Service", "Perfect Crimes" and "Beyond the Possible" replenished his filmography in the early nineties. In 1995, director Kevin Smith offered the actor a role in the movie Supermarket Party People. In 1997, the film "Lie Detector" was released. Michael Rooker photoswhich were placed on posters for this film, played one of the main roles there. The tape received many prestigious awards and performed well at the box office. The next job was the role of a police officer named Stan Zidkov in the film "Replacement Killers".

Recent years

In 2004, Michael Rooker, who at that time was already forty-nine years old, received a role in the action movie directed by Ken Barbet called "Liquidator". The plot of the film was dedicated to survival games. The actor has formed a certain role in which he periodically appears on the screens, often in supporting roles, but always successful and loved by the audience. In recent years, he could be seen in the science fiction film Slug, released in 2006. The main role of 2009 was the tape "Repentance" from Jake Kennedy. The Walking Dead series, which began in 2010 and attracts new viewers every season, enjoys tremendous success. In the same year, the comedy "Super", the drama "Louis", the thriller "Road Killer" and the horror film "Camera 213" were released. Michael constantly receives new offers and does not plan to leave his job in Hollywood, despite the fact that he recently celebrated his sixtieth birthday. On the contrary, new horizons lie ahead. For example, the role in Guardians of the Galaxy, where the actor had to work in an unusual blue make-up, was a real discovery.