M. Emmet Walsh
Acting
Born March 22, 1935 · Ogdensburg, New York, USA
Died March 19, 2024
Michael Emmet Walsh (March 22, 1935 – March 19, 2024) was an American character actor who has appeared in over 200 films and television series, including supporting roles in dozens of major studio features of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in Blood Simple (1984), the Coen Brothers' first film for which he won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. He also appeared in The Jerk (1979), Ordinary People (1980), Blade Runner (1982), Wild Wild West (1999), and The Iron Giant (1999). His final films included Knives Out (2019) and Brothers (2024).
Known for
Filmography
Green and Gold
2025 · Scotty
Outlaw Posse
2024 · Catfish
Brothers
2024 · Judge Farful
A Little White Lie
2023 · Arthur Baldwin
The Immaculate Room
2022 · Kate's Father
Faith, Hope & Love
2019 · Fr. John
Knives Out
2019 · Mr. Proofroc
Change in the Air
2018 · Walter Lemke
Shifting Gears
2018 · Hank
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power
2015 · Gorak
Calvary
2014 · The Writer
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
2012 · Uncle Bub
Love Sick Love
2012 · Ed
Arthur Newman
2012 · Zazek
Chasing 3000
2010 · Chuck Ireland
Don McKay
2009 · Samuel
Youth in Revolt
2009 · Mr. Saunders
Big Stan
2007 · Lew Popper
Man in the Chair
2007 · Mickey Hopkins
Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner
2007 · Self
Racing Stripes
2005 · Woodzie
Christmas with the Kranks
2004 · Walt Scheel
Snow Dogs
2002 · George
Christmas in the Clouds
2001 · Stu O'Malley
Poor White Trash
2000 · Judge Pike
On the Edge of 'Blade Runner'
2000 · Self
The Iron Giant
1999 · Earl Stutz (voice)
Wild Wild West
1999 · Coleman
Me and Will
1999 · Dean
Random Hearts
1999 · Billy (uncredited)
Monster!
1999 · Lloyd Reeves
Chairman of the Board
1998 · Freemont
Twilight
1998 · Lester Ivar
Men in White
1998 · Stanley
My Best Friend's Wedding
1997 · Joe O'Neal
Retroactive
1997 · Sam
Albino Alligator
1997 · Dino
A Time to Kill
1996 · Willard Tyrell Bass (uncredited)
Criminal Hearts
1996 · Martin
Romeo + Juliet
1996 · Apothecary
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
1995 · Bill Wilcox
Panther
1995 · Dorsett
Cops & Robbersons
1994 · Captain Ted Corbett (uncredited)
Camp Nowhere
1994 · T.R. Polk
Relative Fear
1994 · Earl Ladelle
The Glass Shield
1994 · Det. Jesse Hall
The Music of Chance
1993 · Calvin Murks
Bitter Harvest
1993 · Sheriff Bob
Wilder Napalm
1993 · Fire Chief
White Sands
1992 · Bert Gibson
The Naked Truth
1992 · Garcia / Gesundheim
Equinox
1992 · Pete Petosa
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
1991 · Mort
Narrow Margin
1990 · Sergeant Dominick Benti
The Flash
1990 · Henry Allen
Chattahoochee
1990 · Morris
The Mighty Quinn
1989 · Fred Miller
Red Scorpion
1988 · Dewey Ferguson
Sunset
1988 · Chief Marvin Dibner
Clean and Sober
1988 · Richard Dirks
The Milagro Beanfield War
1988 · Governor
Harry and the Hendersons
1987 · George Henderson Sr.
No Man's Land
1987 · Captain Haun
Broken Vows
1987 · Detective Mulligan
Raising Arizona
1987 · Machine Shop Ear-Bender
Critters
1986 · Harv
The Best of Times
1986 · Charlie
Back to School
1986 · Coach Turnbull
The Deliberate Stranger
1986 · Det. Sam Davies
Resting Place
1986 · Sarge
Wildcats
1986 · Walt Coes
Blood Simple
1985 · Private Detective
Fletch
1985 · Dr. Joseph Dolan
The Pope of Greenwich Village
1984 · Burns
Missing in Action
1984 · Tuck
Grandview, U.S.A.
1984 · Mr. Clark
Silkwood
1983 · Walt Yarborough
Cannery Row
1982 · Mack
Fast-Walking
1982 · Sergeant Sanger
Blade Runner
1982 · Bryant
The Escape Artist
1982 · Fritz
Back Roads
1981 · Arthur
Reds
1981 · Speaker at Liberal Club
Brubaker
1980 · C.P. Woodward
Raise the Titanic
1980 · Master Chief Vinnie Walker
Ordinary People
1980 · Swim Coach
The Jerk
1979 · Madman
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
1979 · Wally Cantrell
Straight Time
1978 · Earl Frank
Superdome
1978 · Whitley
Slap Shot
1977 · Dickie Dunn
Airport '77
1977 · Dr. Williams
Nickelodeon
1976 · "Father" Logan
Mikey and Nicky
1976 · Bus Driver
Bound for Glory
1976 · Husband
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
1975 · Doorman
At Long Last Love
1975 · Harold
Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic
1975 · Mr. Peterson
The Gambler
1974 · Las Vegas Gambler
Serpico
1973 · Gallagher
Kid Blue
1973 · Barber
What's Up, Doc?
1972 · Arresting Officer
Get to Know Your Rabbit
1972 · Mr. Wendel
Cold Turkey
1971 · Art
They Might Be Giants
1971 · 1st Sanitation Man
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
1971 · Aide
The Traveling Executioner
1970 · Warden Brodski
Little Big Man
1970 · Shotgun Guard
Alice's Restaurant
1969 · Group W Sergeant
Midnight Cowboy
1969 · Bus Passenger (uncredited)