Biography and filmography

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 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).

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Movies (168)

Green and Gold

Green and Gold

2025 · Scotty

Hermanos

Hermanos

2024 · Judge Farful

Outlaw Posse

Outlaw Posse

2024 · Catfish

Dotty and Soul

Dotty and Soul

2023 · Harold Eichelbaum

A Little White Lie

A Little White Lie

2023 · Arthur Baldwin

The Immaculate Room

The Immaculate Room

2022 · Kate's Father

The Mimic

The Mimic

2021 · The Director

Entre Navajas y Secretos

Entre Navajas y Secretos

2019 · Mr. Proofroc

South of Bix

South of Bix

2019 · Grandpa

Raising Buchanan

Raising Buchanan

2019 · Larry Kiesling

En el ritmo del amor

En el ritmo del amor

2019 · Fr. John

Sorry, Not Sorry

Sorry, Not Sorry

2019 · Harry's Father

Vientos De Cambio

Vientos De Cambio

2018 · Walter Lemke

Toto

Toto

2018 · Toto

Shifting Gears

Shifting Gears

2018 · Hank

Boiling Pot

Boiling Pot

2015 · Dean Marison

El Rey Escorpión 4: La Llave del poder

El Rey Escorpión 4: La Llave del poder

2015 · Gorak

Calvario

Calvario

2014 · The Writer

Love Sick Love

Love Sick Love

2012 · Ed

Arthur Newman

Arthur Newman

2012 · Zazek

La vida rara de Timothy Green

La vida rara de Timothy Green

2012 · Uncle Bub

Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency

Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency

2011 · Chief Van Owen

Chasing 3000

Chasing 3000

2010 · Chuck Ireland

The Assignment

The Assignment

2010 · Mr. Beudreaux

Youth in Revolt

Youth in Revolt

2009 · Mr. Saunders

Don McKay

Don McKay

2009 · Samuel

Haunted Echoes

Haunted Echoes

2008 · Neil

Your Name Here

Your Name Here

2008 · Kroger

A True Character

A True Character

2008 · Self

Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner

Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner

2007 · Self

A prueba de hombres

A prueba de hombres

2007 · Lew Popper

Man in the Chair

Man in the Chair

2007 · Mickey Hopkins

Greener Mountains

Greener Mountains

2005 · Muggs

Rayas, una cebra veloz

Rayas, una cebra veloz

2005 · Woodzie

Una Navidad De Locos

Una Navidad De Locos

2004 · Walt Scheel

Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales

Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales

2003 · Wally Westland

Baggage

Baggage

2003 · Sandy Westphall

Frio De Perros

Frio De Perros

2002 · George

Eyeball Eddie

Eyeball Eddie

2001 · Coach Cook

Christmas in the Clouds

Christmas in the Clouds

2001 · Stu O'Malley

Poor White Trash

Poor White Trash

2000 · Judge Pike

Jack of Hearts

Jack of Hearts

2000 · Comissioner Menlo Boyce

On the Edge of 'Blade Runner'

On the Edge of 'Blade Runner'

2000 · Self

Random Hearts

Random Hearts

1999 · Billy (uncredited)

Monster!

Monster!

1999 · Lloyd Reeves

The Iron Giant

The Iron Giant

1999 · Earl Stutz (voice)

Me and Will

Me and Will

1999 · Dean

Wild Wild West

Wild Wild West

1999 · Coleman

Nightmare in Big Sky Country

Nightmare in Big Sky Country

1998 · Marshal Jim Phillips

Men in White

Men in White

1998 · Stanley

Erasable You

Erasable You

1998 · Ralph Worth

Chairman of the Board

Chairman of the Board

1998 · Freemont

Twilight

Twilight

1998 · Lester Ivar

My Best Friend's Wedding

My Best Friend's Wedding

1997 · Joe O'Neal

The Killing Jar

The Killing Jar

1997 · Sheriff Foley

Retroactive

Retroactive

1997 · Sam

Albino Alligator

Albino Alligator

1997 · Dino

Romeo + Juliet

Romeo + Juliet

1996 · Apothecary

The Lottery

The Lottery

1996 · Chief Davis

A Time to Kill

A Time to Kill

1996 · Willard Tyrell Bass (uncredited)

Portraits of a Killer

Portraits of a Killer

1996 · Raymond Garrison

Criminal Hearts

Criminal Hearts

1996 · Martin

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home

1995 · Bill Wilcox

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

1995 · Morris

Panther

Panther

1995 · Dorsett

Dead Badge

Dead Badge

1995 · Sergeant Miller Hoskins

Relative Fear

Relative Fear

1994 · Earl Ladelle

Probable Cause

Probable Cause

1994 · Sadler

The Glass Shield

The Glass Shield

1994 · Det. Jesse Hall

Camp Nowhere

Camp Nowhere

1994 · T.R. Polk

Cops & Robbersons

Cops & Robbersons

1994 · Captain Ted Corbett (uncredited)

Madness of Method

Madness of Method

1994 · Rudolph Thorndyke

Bitter Harvest

Bitter Harvest

1993 · Sheriff Bob

Wilder Napalm

Wilder Napalm

1993 · Fire Chief

The Music of Chance

The Music of Chance

1993 · Calvin Murks

Four Eyes and Six-Guns

Four Eyes and Six-Guns

1992 · Mayor Thornbush

The Naked Truth

The Naked Truth

1992 · Garcia / Gesundheim

Equinox

Equinox

1992 · Pete Petosa

Wild Card

Wild Card

1992 · Mose

White Sands

White Sands

1992 · Bert Gibson

Killer Image

Killer Image

1992 · John Kane

Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat

Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat

1991 · Mort

Silverfox

Silverfox

1991 · Charles Blankenship

Fourth Story

Fourth Story

1991 · Harry

The Flash

The Flash

1990 · Henry Allen

Narrow Margin

Narrow Margin

1990 · Sergeant Dominick Benti

Chattahoochee

Chattahoochee

1990 · Morris

Love and Lies

Love and Lies

1990 · Clyde Wilson

Catch Me... If You Can

Catch Me... If You Can

1989 · Johnny Phatmun

Thunderground

Thunderground

1989 · Wedge

The Mighty Quinn

The Mighty Quinn

1989 · Fred Miller

Red Scorpion

Red Scorpion

1988 · Dewey Ferguson

War Party

War Party

1988 · Colin Ditweiler

Clean and Sober

Clean and Sober

1988 · Richard Dirks

Sunset

Sunset

1988 · Chief Marvin Dibner

The Milagro Beanfield War

The Milagro Beanfield War

1988 · Governor

No Man's Land

No Man's Land

1987 · Captain Haun

Harry and the Hendersons

Harry and the Hendersons

1987 · George Henderson Sr.

Murder Ordained

Murder Ordained

1987 · Vern Humphrey

Raising Arizona

Raising Arizona

1987 · Machine Shop Ear-Bender

The Abduction of Kari Swenson

The Abduction of Kari Swenson

1987 · Don Nichols

Broken Vows

Broken Vows

1987 · Detective Mulligan

Hero in the Family

Hero in the Family

1986 · General Presser

Back to School

Back to School

1986 · Coach Turnbull

The Deliberate Stranger

The Deliberate Stranger

1986 · Det. Sam Davies

Resting Place

Resting Place

1986 · Sarge

Critters

Critters

1986 · Harv

Wildcats

Wildcats

1986 · Walt Coes

The Best of Times

The Best of Times

1986 · Charlie

The Right of the People

The Right of the People

1986 · Sindaco

The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn

The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn

1985 · Rocco

Fletch

Fletch

1985 · Dr. Joseph Dolan

Blood Simple

Blood Simple

1985 · Private Detective

Missing in Action

Missing in Action

1984 · Tuck

Courage

Courage

1984 · Colonel Crouse

Grandview, U.S.A.

Grandview, U.S.A.

1984 · Mr. Clark

The Outlaws

The Outlaws

1984 · Warden MacDonald

The Pope of Greenwich Village

The Pope of Greenwich Village

1984 · Burns

Scandalous

Scandalous

1984 · Simon Reynolds

Silkwood

Silkwood

1983 · Walt Yarborough

Night Partners

Night Partners

1983 · Joe Kirby

The Woman Who Willed a Miracle

The Woman Who Willed a Miracle

1983 · Joe Lemke

Blade Runner

Blade Runner

1982 · Bryant

The Escape Artist

The Escape Artist

1982 · Fritz

Fast-Walking

Fast-Walking

1982 · Sergeant Sanger

Cannery Row

Cannery Row

1982 · Mack

Reds

Reds

1981 · Speaker at Liberal Club

Back Roads

Back Roads

1981 · Arthur

Hellinger's Law

Hellinger's Law

1981 · Mr. Graebner

High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane

High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane

1980 · Harold Patton

Ordinary People

Ordinary People

1980 · Swim Coach

Raise the Titanic

Raise the Titanic

1980 · Master Chief Vinnie Walker

Brubaker

Brubaker

1980 · C.P. Woodward

City in Fear

City in Fear

1980 · Sheldon Lewis

Skag

Skag

1980 · Moran

The Gift

The Gift

1979 · Legion Commander

The Jerk

The Jerk

1979 · Madman

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

1979 · Wally Cantrell

Dear Detective

Dear Detective

1979 · Capt. Gorcey

No Other Love

No Other Love

1979 · DeFranco

Straight Time

Straight Time

1978 · Earl Frank

A Question of Guilt

A Question of Guilt

1978 · Inspector McCartney

Superdome

Superdome

1978 · Whitley

Red Alert

Red Alert

1977 · Sheriff Sweeney

Airport '77

Airport '77

1977 · Dr. Williams

Slap Shot

Slap Shot

1977 · Dickie Dunn

Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon

1976 · "Father" Logan

Mikey and Nicky

Mikey and Nicky

1976 · Bus Driver

Bound for Glory

Bound for Glory

1976 · Husband

The Invasion of Johnson County

The Invasion of Johnson County

1976 · Irvine

Crime Club

Crime Club

1975 · Jack Doyle

The Prisoner of Second Avenue

The Prisoner of Second Avenue

1975 · Doorman

At Long Last Love

At Long Last Love

1975 · Harold

Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic

Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic

1975 · Mr. Peterson

The Gambler

The Gambler

1974 · Las Vegas Gambler

Serpico

Serpico

1973 · Gallagher

Kid Blue

Kid Blue

1973 · Barber

Get to Know Your Rabbit

Get to Know Your Rabbit

1972 · Mr. Wendel

What's Up, Doc?

What's Up, Doc?

1972 · Arresting Officer

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants

1971 · 1st Sanitation Man

Escape from the Planet of the Apes

Escape from the Planet of the Apes

1971 · Aide

Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey

1971 · Art

Little Big Man

Little Big Man

1970 · Shotgun Guard

The Traveling Executioner

The Traveling Executioner

1970 · Warden Brodski

End of the Road

End of the Road

1970 · Crab Man / Tutu Man

Alice's Restaurant

Alice's Restaurant

1969 · Group W Sergeant

Stiletto

Stiletto

1969 · Racing Partner (uncredited)

Midnight Cowboy

Midnight Cowboy

1969 · Bus Passenger (uncredited)

TV shows (54)

Gigoló americano

Gigoló americano

2022 · Coleman

Los honestos Gemstones

Los honestos Gemstones

2019 · Roy Gemstone

Sneaky Pete

Sneaky Pete

2015 · Tex Hopkins

Empire

Empire

2015 · Harold Blakeley

Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories

Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories

2014 · Detective

Pound Puppies

Pound Puppies

2010 · Olaf (voice)

Hora de Aventura

Hora de Aventura

2010 · Cosmic Owl (voice)

Damages

Damages

2007 · Lyle Hewes

Army Wives

Army Wives

2007 · Bernie Wallacheck

'Til Death

'Til Death

2006 · Uncle Rudolph

Charlie Lawrence

Charlie Lawrence

2003 · Cubby

¿Qué Hay De Nuevo, Scooby-Doo?

¿Qué Hay De Nuevo, Scooby-Doo?

2002 · Jeb (voice)

The Guardian

The Guardian

2001 · Ezra Pence

Night Visions

Night Visions

2001 · Gus (segment "Reunion")

Ed

Ed

2000 · Mayor Wally Kendricks

The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot

The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot

1999 · Mack (voice)

The Wild Thornberrys

The Wild Thornberrys

1998 · Gemsbok #1 (voice)

Early Edition

Early Edition

1996 · Santa

The West

The West

1996 · Self (voice)

Tracey Takes On...

Tracey Takes On...

1996

The Outer Limits

The Outer Limits

1995 · Sanford Vallé

Baseball

Baseball

1994 · (voice)

NYPD Blue

NYPD Blue

1993 · Joe Kroft

Frasier

Frasier

1993 · Rich Koechner

The X-Files

The X-Files

1993 · Arthur Dales

Home Improvement

Home Improvement

1991 · Colonel

The Civil War

The Civil War

1990 · Various (voice)

The Flash

The Flash

1990 · Henry Allen

Tales from the Crypt

Tales from the Crypt

1989 · Jonas

Unsub

Unsub

1989 · Ned Platt

Brotherhood of the Rose

Brotherhood of the Rose

1989 · Hardy

Murder Ordained

Murder Ordained

1987 · Vern Humphrey

The Deliberate Stranger

The Deliberate Stranger

1986 · Det. Sam Davies

Amazing Stories

Amazing Stories

1985 · Grandpa

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

1985 · Peter (segment "Dealer's Choice")

The Hitchhiker

The Hitchhiker

1983 · Detective Underhill

AfterMASH

AfterMASH

1983 · Reverend Horn

East of Eden

East of Eden

1981 · Sheriff Horace Quinn

The French Atlantic Affair

The French Atlantic Affair

1979 · Harry

Starsky & Hutch

Starsky & Hutch

1975 · Freddie, Lloyd Herman Eckworth

Baretta

Baretta

1975

The Rockford Files

The Rockford Files

1974 · Edgar Burch

Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie

1974 · Callahan

The Sandy Duncan Show

The Sandy Duncan Show

1972

The Bob Newhart Show

The Bob Newhart Show

1972 · Jack Hoover

The Waltons

The Waltons

1972 · David Fletcher

McMillan & Wife

McMillan & Wife

1971 · Officer Ames

Nichols

Nichols

1971 · Gabe McCutcheon

All in the Family

All in the Family

1971 · Billy Hartfield

Arnie

Arnie

1970

Ironside

Ironside

1967 · Telegraph Clerk

Bonanza

Bonanza

1959 · Mattheson

The Wonderful World of Disney

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954 · General Presser

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951 · Sarge