M. Emmet Walsh

M. Emmet Walsh

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 Carl Reiner's comedy The Jerk (1979), Robert Redford's drama Ordinary People (1980), Ridley Scott's science fiction film Blade Runner (1982), Barry Sonnenfeld's steampunk western Wild Wild West (1999) and Brad Bird's animated film The Iron Giant (1999).

More details

Known For

Filmography

2025

Green and Gold
Green and Gold
as Scotty
Movie - Released: 1/31/2025

2024

Outlaw Posse
Outlaw Posse
as Catfish
Movie - Released: 3/1/2024
Brothers
Brothers
as Judge Farful
Movie - Released: 10/10/2024

2023

A Little White Lie
A Little White Lie
as Arthur Baldwin
Movie - Released: 3/3/2023
Dotty and Soul
Dotty and Soul
as Harold Eichelbaum
Movie - Released: 5/19/2023

2022

The Immaculate Room
The Immaculate Room
as Kate's Father
Movie - Released: 8/19/2022
American Gigolo
American Gigolo
as Coleman
TV - Released: 9/11/2022

2021

The Mimic
The Mimic
as The Director
Movie - Released: 2/5/2021

2019

South of Bix
South of Bix
as Grandpa
Movie - Released: 6/20/2019
Faith, Hope & Love
Faith, Hope & Love
as Fr. John
Movie - Released: 3/15/2019
Knives Out
Knives Out
as Mr. Proofroc
Movie - Released: 11/27/2019
Raising Buchanan
Raising Buchanan
as Larry Kiesling
Movie - Released: 4/12/2019
Sorry, Not Sorry
Sorry, Not Sorry
as Harry's Father
Movie - Released: 3/8/2019
The Righteous Gemstones
The Righteous Gemstones
as Roy Gemstone
TV - Released: 8/18/2019

2018

Change in the Air
Change in the Air
as Walter Lemke
Movie - Released: 10/19/2018
Shifting Gears
Shifting Gears
as Hank
Movie - Released: 3/23/2018
Toto
Toto
as Toto
Movie - Released: 8/1/2018

2015

The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power
as Gorak
Movie - Released: 1/9/2015
Boiling Pot
Boiling Pot
as Dean Marison
Movie - Released: 9/29/2015
Empire
Empire
as Harold Blakeley
TV - Released: 1/7/2015
Sneaky Pete
Sneaky Pete
as Tex Hopkins
TV - Released: 8/7/2015

2014

Calvary
Calvary
as The Writer
Movie - Released: 4/11/2014
Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories
Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories
as Detective
TV - Released: 9/18/2014

2012

The Odd Life of Timothy Green
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
as Uncle Bub
Movie - Released: 8/15/2012
Love Sick Love
Love Sick Love
as Ed
Movie - Released: 11/15/2012
Arthur Newman
Arthur Newman
as Zazek
Movie - Released: 9/7/2012

2011

Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency
as Chief Van Owen
Movie - Released: 1/4/2011

2010

The Assignment
The Assignment
as Mr. Beudreaux
Movie - Released: 6/15/2010
Chasing 3000
Chasing 3000
as Chuck Ireland
Movie - Released: 7/16/2010
Pound Puppies
Pound Puppies
as Olaf (voice)
TV - Released: 10/10/2010
Adventure Time
Adventure Time
as Cosmic Owl
TV - Released: 4/5/2010

2009

Don McKay
Don McKay
as Samuel
Movie - Released: 4/24/2009
Youth in Revolt
Youth in Revolt
as Mr. Saunders
Movie - Released: 9/11/2009

2008

Your Name Here
Your Name Here
as Kroger
Movie - Released: 6/13/2008
Haunted Echoes
Haunted Echoes
as Neil
Movie - Released: 11/20/2008
Movie
A True Character
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/2008

2007

Big Stan
Big Stan
as Lew Popper
Movie - Released: 11/3/2007
Man in the Chair
Man in the Chair
as Mickey Hopkins
Movie - Released: 1/27/2007
Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner
Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner
as Self
Movie - Released: 12/18/2007
Damages
Damages
as Lyle Hewes
TV - Released: 7/24/2007

2005

Racing Stripes
Racing Stripes
as Woodzie
Movie - Released: 1/6/2005
Greener Mountains
Greener Mountains
as Muggs
Movie - Released: 6/25/2005

2004

Christmas with the Kranks
Christmas with the Kranks
as Walt Scheel
Movie - Released: 11/24/2004

2003

Baggage
Baggage
as Sandy Westphall
Movie - Released: 3/1/2003
Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales
Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales
as Wally Westland
Movie - Released: 8/9/2003
TV
Charlie Lawrence
as Cubby
TV - Released: 6/15/2003

2002

Snow Dogs
Snow Dogs
as George
Movie - Released: 1/18/2002
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
as Jeb (voice)
TV - Released: 9/14/2002

2001

Christmas in the Clouds
Christmas in the Clouds
as Stu O'Malley
Movie - Released: 1/21/2001
Eyeball Eddie
Eyeball Eddie
as Coach Cook
Movie - Released: 4/6/2001
Night Visions
Night Visions
as Gus (segment "Reunion")
TV - Released: 7/12/2001

2000

Poor White Trash
Poor White Trash
as Judge Pike
Movie - Released: 12/1/2000
On the Edge of 'Blade Runner'
On the Edge of 'Blade Runner'
as Self
Movie - Released: 7/15/2000
Jack of Hearts
Jack of Hearts
as Comissioner Menlo Boyce
Movie - Released: 11/2/2000
Ed
Ed
as Mayor Wally Kendricks
TV - Released: 10/8/2000

1999

The Iron Giant
The Iron Giant
as Earl Stutz (voice)
Movie - Released: 8/6/1999
Wild Wild West
Wild Wild West
as Coleman
Movie - Released: 6/30/1999
Me and Will
Me and Will
as Dean
Movie - Released: 7/10/1999
Random Hearts
Random Hearts
as Billy (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 10/8/1999
Monster!
Monster!
as Lloyd Reeves
Movie - Released: 9/12/1999
The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot
The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot
as Mack (voice)
TV - Released: 9/18/1999

1998

Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board
as Freemont
Movie - Released: 3/13/1998
Twilight
Twilight
as Lester Ivar
Movie - Released: 3/6/1998
Nightmare in Big Sky Country
Nightmare in Big Sky Country
as Marshal Jim Phillips
Movie - Released: 8/17/1998
Movie
Erasable You
as Ralph Worth
Movie - Released: 6/13/1998
Men in White
Men in White
as Stanley
Movie - Released: 8/16/1998
The Wild Thornberrys
The Wild Thornberrys
as Gemsbok #1 (voice)
TV - Released: 9/1/1998

1997

My Best Friend's Wedding
My Best Friend's Wedding
as Joe O'Neal
Movie - Released: 6/19/1997
Retroactive
Retroactive
as Sam
Movie - Released: 1/1/1997
Albino Alligator
Albino Alligator
as Dino
Movie - Released: 1/17/1997
The Killing Jar
The Killing Jar
as Sheriff Foley
Movie - Released: 5/27/1997

1996

A Time to Kill
A Time to Kill
as Willard Tyrell Bass (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 7/24/1996
Criminal Hearts
Criminal Hearts
as Martin
Movie - Released: 2/15/1996
Portraits of a Killer
Portraits of a Killer
as Raymond Garrison
Movie - Released: 5/21/1996
The Lottery
The Lottery
as Chief Davis
Movie - Released: 9/29/1996
Romeo + Juliet
Romeo + Juliet
as Apothecary
Movie - Released: 11/1/1996
Early Edition
Early Edition
TV - Released: 9/28/1996
Tracey Takes On...
Tracey Takes On...
TV - Released: 1/24/1996
The West
The West
as Self (voice)
TV - Released: 9/15/1996

1995

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
as Morris
Movie - Released: 6/6/1995
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
as Bill Wilcox
Movie - Released: 7/19/1995
Relative Fear
Relative Fear
as Earl Ladelle
Movie - Released: 10/3/1995
Panther
Panther
as Dorsett
Movie - Released: 5/3/1995
Dead Badge
Dead Badge
as Sergeant Miller Hoskins
Movie - Released: 3/28/1995
The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits
as Sanford Vallé
TV - Released: 3/26/1995

1994

Cops & Robbersons
Cops & Robbersons
as Captain Ted Corbett (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 4/15/1994
Camp Nowhere
Camp Nowhere
as T.R. Polk
Movie - Released: 8/26/1994
Probable Cause
Probable Cause
as Sadler
Movie - Released: 11/20/1994
The Glass Shield
The Glass Shield
as Det. Jesse Hall
Movie - Released: 9/16/1994
Baseball
Baseball
as Various (voice)
TV - Released: 9/18/1994
Baseball
Baseball
as (voice)
TV - Released: 9/18/1994

1993

The Music of Chance
The Music of Chance
as Calvin Murks
Movie - Released: 6/23/1993
Bitter Harvest
Bitter Harvest
as Sheriff Bob
Movie - Released: 11/3/1993
Wilder Napalm
Wilder Napalm
as Fire Chief
Movie - Released: 8/20/1993
Frasier
Frasier
as Rich Koechner
TV - Released: 9/16/1993
The X-Files
The X-Files
as Arthur Dales
TV - Released: 9/10/1993
NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
as Joe Kroft
TV - Released: 9/21/1993

1992

White Sands
White Sands
as Bert Gibson
Movie - Released: 4/24/1992
Killer Image
Killer Image
as John Kane
Movie - Released: 3/1/1992
The Naked Truth
The Naked Truth
as Garcia / Gesundheim
Movie - Released: 9/29/1992
Four Eyes and Six-Guns
Four Eyes and Six-Guns
Movie - Released: 12/7/1992
Wild Card
Wild Card
as Mose
Movie - Released: 8/3/1992
Equinox
Equinox
as Pete Petosa
Movie - Released: 9/18/1992

1991

Fourth Story
Fourth Story
as Harry
Movie - Released: 1/19/1991
Home Improvement
Home Improvement
as Colonel
TV - Released: 9/17/1991

1990

Narrow Margin
Narrow Margin
as Sergeant Dominick Benti
Movie - Released: 9/21/1990
The Flash
The Flash
as Henry Allen
Movie - Released: 11/4/1990
Chattahoochee
Chattahoochee
as Morris
Movie - Released: 4/20/1990
Love and Lies
Love and Lies
as Clyde Wilson
Movie - Released: 3/18/1990
The Flash
The Flash
as Henry Allen
TV - Released: 9/20/1990
The Civil War
The Civil War
as Various
TV - Released: 9/23/1990

1989

The Mighty Quinn
The Mighty Quinn
as Fred Miller
Movie - Released: 2/17/1989
Catch Me If You Can
Catch Me If You Can
as Johnny Phatmun
Movie - Released: 10/14/1989
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
as Mort
Movie - Released: 5/18/1989
Thunderground
Thunderground
as Wedge
Movie - Released: 9/1/1989
Tales from the Crypt
Tales from the Crypt
as Jonas
TV - Released: 6/10/1989
Unsub
Unsub
as Ned Platt
TV - Released: 2/3/1989
Brotherhood of the Rose
Brotherhood of the Rose
as Hardy
TV - Released: 1/22/1989

1988

Red Scorpion
Red Scorpion
as Dewey Ferguson
Movie - Released: 12/24/1988
War Party
War Party
as Colin Ditweiler
Movie - Released: 9/15/1988
Sunset
Sunset
as Chief Marvin Dibner
Movie - Released: 4/29/1988
Clean and Sober
Clean and Sober
as Richard Dirks
Movie - Released: 8/10/1988
The Milagro Beanfield War
The Milagro Beanfield War
as Governor
Movie - Released: 3/18/1988

1987

Harry and the Hendersons
Harry and the Hendersons
as George Henderson Sr.
Movie - Released: 6/5/1987
No Man's Land
No Man's Land
as Captain Haun
Movie - Released: 10/23/1987
Broken Vows
Broken Vows
as Detective Mulligan
Movie - Released: 1/28/1987
Abduction
Abduction
as Don Nichols
Movie - Released: 3/8/1987
Murder Ordained
Murder Ordained
as Vern Humphrey
Movie - Released: 5/3/1987
Raising Arizona
Raising Arizona
as Machine Shop Ear-Bender
Movie - Released: 3/13/1987
Murder Ordained
Murder Ordained
as Vern Humphrey
TV - Released: 5/3/1987

1986

Critters
Critters
as Harv
Movie - Released: 4/11/1986
The Best of Times
The Best of Times
as Charlie
Movie - Released: 1/31/1986
Back to School
Back to School
as Coach Turnbull
Movie - Released: 6/13/1986
The Deliberate Stranger
The Deliberate Stranger
as Det. Sam Davies
Movie - Released: 5/4/1986
Resting Place
Resting Place
as Sarge
Movie - Released: 4/27/1986
Wildcats
Wildcats
as Walt Coes
Movie - Released: 2/14/1986
The Right of the People
The Right of the People
as Sindaco
Movie - Released: 1/13/1986
Hero in the Family
Hero in the Family
as General Presser
Movie - Released: 9/28/1986

1985

Fletch
Fletch
as Dr. Joseph Dolan
Movie - Released: 5/31/1985
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
as Peter (segment "Dealer's Choice")
TV - Released: 9/27/1985
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
as Grandpa
TV - Released: 9/29/1985

1984

Blood Simple
Blood Simple
as Loren Visser
Movie - Released: 3/26/1984
The Pope of Greenwich Village
The Pope of Greenwich Village
as Burns
Movie - Released: 6/22/1984
The Outlaws
The Outlaws
as Warden MacDonald
Movie - Released: 7/9/1984
Missing in Action
Missing in Action
as Tuck
Movie - Released: 11/16/1984
Grandview, U.S.A.
Grandview, U.S.A.
as Mr. Clark
Movie - Released: 8/3/1984
Scandalous
Scandalous
as Simon Reynolds
Movie - Released: 1/29/1984
Courage
Courage
as Colonel Crouse
Movie - Released: 11/16/1984

1983

Silkwood
Silkwood
as Walt Yarborough
Movie - Released: 12/14/1983
The Woman Who Willed a Miracle
The Woman Who Willed a Miracle
as Joe Lemke
Movie - Released: 2/9/1983
Night Partners
Night Partners
as Joe Kirby
Movie - Released: 10/11/1983
The Hitchhiker
The Hitchhiker
as Detective Underhill
TV - Released: 11/1/1983
AfterMASH
AfterMASH
as Reverend Horn
TV - Released: 9/26/1983

1982

Cannery Row
Cannery Row
as Mack
Movie - Released: 2/12/1982
Fast-Walking
Fast-Walking
as Sergeant Sanger
Movie - Released: 5/11/1982
Blade Runner
Blade Runner
as Bryant
Movie - Released: 6/25/1982
The Escape Artist
The Escape Artist
as Fritz
Movie - Released: 5/28/1982

1981

Back Roads
Back Roads
as Arthur
Movie - Released: 3/13/1981
Reds
Reds
as Speaker at Liberal Club
Movie - Released: 12/25/1981
Hellinger's Law
Hellinger's Law
as Mr. Graebner
Movie - Released: 3/10/1981
East of Eden
East of Eden
as Sheriff Horace Quinn
TV - Released: 2/8/1981

1980

Brubaker
Brubaker
as C.P. Woodward
Movie - Released: 6/20/1980
Raise the Titanic
Raise the Titanic
as Master Chief Vinnie Walker
Movie - Released: 8/1/1980
Ordinary People
Ordinary People
as Swim Coach
Movie - Released: 9/19/1980
City in Fear
City in Fear
as Sheldon Lewis
Movie - Released: 3/30/1980
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane
as Harold Patton
Movie - Released: 11/15/1980
Skag
Skag
as Moran
Movie - Released: 1/6/1980

1979

The Jerk
The Jerk
as Madman
Movie - Released: 12/14/1979
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
as Wally Cantrell
Movie - Released: 11/6/1979
The Gift
The Gift
as Legion Commander
Movie - Released: 12/15/1979
Dear Detective
Dear Detective
as Capt. Gorcey
Movie - Released: 3/27/1979
No Other Love
No Other Love
as DeFranco
Movie - Released: 3/24/1979
The French Atlantic Affair
The French Atlantic Affair
as Harry
TV - Released: 11/15/1979

1978

Straight Time
Straight Time
as Earl Frank
Movie - Released: 3/18/1978
A Question of Guilt
A Question of Guilt
as Inspector McCartney
Movie - Released: 2/21/1978
Superdome
Superdome
as Whitley
Movie - Released: 1/9/1978

1977

Slap Shot
Slap Shot
as Dickie Dunn
Movie - Released: 2/25/1977
Red Alert
Red Alert
as Sheriff Sweeney
Movie - Released: 5/18/1977
Airport '77
Airport '77
as Dr. Williams
Movie - Released: 3/11/1977

1976

Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon
as "Father" Logan
Movie - Released: 12/21/1976
Mikey and Nicky
Mikey and Nicky
as Bus Driver
Movie - Released: 12/21/1976
The Invasion of Johnson County
The Invasion of Johnson County
as Irvine
Movie - Released: 7/31/1976
Bound for Glory
Bound for Glory
as Husband
Movie - Released: 12/5/1976
Gibbsville
Gibbsville
as Yostie
TV - Released: 11/11/1976

1975

The Prisoner of Second Avenue
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
as Doorman
Movie - Released: 3/14/1975
At Long Last Love
At Long Last Love
as Harold
Movie - Released: 3/1/1975
Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic
Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic
as Mr. Peterson
Movie - Released: 2/11/1975
Crime Club
Crime Club
as Jack Doyle
Movie - Released: 4/3/1975
Starsky & Hutch
Starsky & Hutch
as Freddie
TV - Released: 9/10/1975
Baretta
Baretta
TV - Released: 1/17/1975
Starsky & Hutch
Starsky & Hutch
as Lloyd Herman Eckworth
TV - Released: 9/10/1975

1974

The Gambler
The Gambler
as Las Vegas Gambler
Movie - Released: 10/2/1974
Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
TV - Released: 9/11/1974
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
as Edgar Burch
TV - Released: 9/13/1974

1973

Serpico
Serpico
as Gallagher
Movie - Released: 12/18/1973
Kid Blue
Kid Blue
as Barber
Movie - Released: 1/31/1973

1972

What's Up, Doc?
What's Up, Doc?
as Arresting Officer
Movie - Released: 3/9/1972
Get to Know Your Rabbit
Get to Know Your Rabbit
as Mr. Wendel
Movie - Released: 6/7/1972
The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show
as Jack Hoover
TV - Released: 9/16/1972
TV
The Sandy Duncan Show
TV - Released: 9/17/1972
The Waltons
The Waltons
as David Fletcher
TV - Released: 9/14/1972

1971

Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey
as Art
Movie - Released: 2/19/1971
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
as 1st Sanitation Man
Movie - Released: 6/9/1971
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
as Aide
Movie - Released: 5/20/1971
All in the Family
All in the Family
as Billy Hartfield
TV - Released: 1/12/1971
McMillan & Wife
McMillan & Wife
as Officer Ames
TV - Released: 9/29/1971
Nichols
Nichols
as Gabe McCutcheon
TV - Released: 9/16/1971

1970

The Traveling Executioner
The Traveling Executioner
as Warden Brodski
Movie - Released: 10/1/1970
Little Big Man
Little Big Man
as Shotgun Guard
Movie - Released: 12/23/1970
End of the Road
End of the Road
as Crab Man / Tutu Man
Movie - Released: 2/10/1970
Arnie
Arnie
TV - Released: 9/19/1970

1969

Alice's Restaurant
Alice's Restaurant
as Group W Sergeant
Movie - Released: 8/20/1969
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy
as Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 5/25/1969
Stiletto
Stiletto
as Racing Partner (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 7/30/1969

1967

Ironside
Ironside
as Telegraph Clerk
TV - Released: 3/28/1967

1959

Bonanza
Bonanza
as Mattheson
TV - Released: 9/12/1959

1954

The Wonderful World of Disney
The Wonderful World of Disney
as General Presser
TV - Released: 10/27/1954

1951

Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Sarge
TV - Released: 12/24/1951

Unknown

Movie
Roney's Point
as Lance McKyle
Movie
Movie
Madness of Method
as Rudolph Thorndyke
Movie
Movie
Silverfox
as Charles Blankenship
Movie