M. Emmet Walsh
Acting • Born 1935-03-22 – Died 2024-03-19
Biography
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).
Filmography
224 credits
South of Bix
Movie • 2019
Grandpa
Brubaker
Movie • 1980
C.P. Woodward
The Iron Giant
Movie • 1999
Earl Stutz (voice)
Critters
Movie • 1986
Harv
Alice's Restaurant
Movie • 1969
Group W Sergeant
The Best of Times
Movie • 1986
Charlie
The Mighty Quinn
Movie • 1989
Fred Miller
Blood Simple
Movie • 1985
Private Detective
The Jerk
Movie • 1979
Madman
Slap Shot
Movie • 1977
Dickie Dunn
Chairman of the Board
Movie • 1998
Freemont
Straight Time
Movie • 1978
Earl Frank
Narrow Margin
Movie • 1990
Sergeant Dominick Benti
Wild Wild West
Movie • 1999
Coleman
Cold Turkey
Movie • 1971
Art
Raise the Titanic
Movie • 1980
Master Chief Vinnie Walker
The Pope of Greenwich Village
Movie • 1984
Burns
Cannery Row
Movie • 1982
Mack
My Best Friend's Wedding
Movie • 1997
Joe O'Neal
Harry and the Hendersons
Movie • 1987
George Henderson Sr.
Twilight
Movie • 1998
Lester Ivar
Fletch
Movie • 1985
Dr. Joseph Dolan
Red Scorpion
Movie • 1988
Dewey Ferguson
Silkwood
Movie • 1983
Walt Yarborough
Retroactive
Movie • 1997
Sam
Christmas in the Clouds
Movie • 2001
Stu O'Malley
No Man's Land
Movie • 1987
Captain Haun
Big Stan
Movie • 2007
Lew Popper
Catch Me... If You Can
Movie • 1989
Johnny Phatmun
Christmas with the Kranks
Movie • 2004
Walt Scheel
Don McKay
Movie • 2009
Samuel
The Outlaws
Movie • 1984
Warden MacDonald
Cops & Robbersons
Movie • 1994
Captain Ted Corbett (uncredited)
Man in the Chair
Movie • 2007
Mickey Hopkins
Missing in Action
Movie • 1984
Tuck
Back to School
Movie • 1986
Coach Turnbull
Back Roads
Movie • 1981
Arthur
The Gambler
Movie • 1974
Las Vegas Gambler
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
Movie • 1991
Mort
Poor White Trash
Movie • 2000
Judge Pike
Me and Will
Movie • 1999
Dean
Fast-Walking
Movie • 1982
Sergeant Sanger
Ordinary People
Movie • 1980
Swim Coach
The Music of Chance
Movie • 1993
Calvin Murks
Camp Nowhere
Movie • 1994
T.R. Polk
Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner
Movie • 2007
Self
Reds
Movie • 1981
Speaker at Liberal Club
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
Movie • 1979
Wally Cantrell
White Sands
Movie • 1992
Bert Gibson
Killer Image
Movie • 1992
John Kane
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
Movie • 1975
Doorman
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
Movie • 2012
Uncle Bub
War Party
Movie • 1988
Colin Ditweiler
The Traveling Executioner
Movie • 1970
Warden Brodski
The Deliberate Stranger
Movie • 1986
Det. Sam Davies
Grandview, U.S.A.
Movie • 1984
Mr. Clark
City in Fear
Movie • 1980
Sheldon Lewis
Thunderground
Movie • 1989
Wedge
Random Hearts
Movie • 1999
Billy (uncredited)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Movie • 1995
Morris
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency
Movie • 2011
Chief Van Owen
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane
Movie • 1980
Harold Patton
Red Alert
Movie • 1977
Sheriff Sweeney
A Question of Guilt
Movie • 1978
Inspector McCartney
Your Name Here
Movie • 2008
Kroger
Scandalous
Movie • 1984
Simon Reynolds
Broken Vows
Movie • 1987
Detective Mulligan
At Long Last Love
Movie • 1975
Harold
Nickelodeon
Movie • 1976
"Father" Logan
Love Sick Love
Movie • 2012
Ed
Monster!
Movie • 1999
Lloyd Reeves
Skag
Movie • 1980
Moran
The Naked Truth
Movie • 1992
Garcia / Gesundheim
Bitter Harvest
Movie • 1993
Sheriff Bob
The Flash
Movie • 1990
Henry Allen
The Abduction of Kari Swenson
Movie • 1987
Don Nichols
Baggage
Movie • 2003
Sandy Westphall
Haunted Echoes
Movie • 2008
Neil
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Movie • 1995
Bill Wilcox
Calvary
Movie • 2014
The Writer
Probable Cause
Movie • 1994
Sadler
Racing Stripes
Movie • 2005
Woodzie
Four Eyes and Six-Guns
Movie • 1992
Mayor Thornbush
They Might Be Giants
Movie • 1971
1st Sanitation Man
Youth in Revolt
Movie • 2009
Mr. Saunders
Mikey and Nicky
Movie • 1976
Bus Driver
Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic
Movie • 1975
Mr. Peterson
Little Big Man
Movie • 1970
Shotgun Guard
Superdome
Movie • 1978
Whitley
A Time to Kill
Movie • 1996
Willard Tyrell Bass (uncredited)
Airport '77
Movie • 1977
Dr. Williams
On the Edge of 'Blade Runner'
Movie • 2000
Self
Snow Dogs
Movie • 2002
George
Blade Runner
Movie • 1982
Bryant
Relative Fear
Movie • 1994
Earl Ladelle
Criminal Hearts
Movie • 1996
Martin
Nightmare in Big Sky Country
Movie • 1998
Marshal Jim Phillips
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Movie • 1971
Aide
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power
Movie • 2015
Gorak
Albino Alligator
Movie • 1997
Dino
Resting Place
Movie • 1986
Sarge
Greener Mountains
Movie • 2005
Muggs
Courage
Movie • 1984
Colonel Crouse
Serpico
Movie • 1973
Gallagher
Madness of Method
Movie • 1994
Rudolph Thorndyke
Outlaw Posse
Movie • 2024
Catfish
Fourth Story
Movie • 1991
Harry
The Assignment
Movie • 2010
Mr. Beudreaux
Murder Ordained
Movie • 1987
Vern Humphrey
Boiling Pot
Movie • 2015
Dean Marison
Chattahoochee
Movie • 1990
Morris
Wildcats
Movie • 1986
Walt Coes
Brothers
Movie • 2024
Judge Farful
Panther
Movie • 1995
Dorsett
Sunset
Movie • 1988
Chief Marvin Dibner
Erasable You
Movie • 1998
Ralph Worth
The Glass Shield
Movie • 1994
Det. Jesse Hall
What's Up, Doc?
Movie • 1972
Arresting Officer
Portraits of a Killer
Movie • 1996
Raymond Garrison
Wilder Napalm
Movie • 1993
Fire Chief
Men in White
Movie • 1998
Stanley
Silverfox
Movie • 1991
Charles Blankenship
Raising Arizona
Movie • 1987
Machine Shop Ear-Bender
The Escape Artist
Movie • 1982
Fritz
Get to Know Your Rabbit
Movie • 1972
Mr. Wendel
End of the Road
Movie • 1970
Crab Man / Tutu Man
Chasing 3000
Movie • 2010
Chuck Ireland
The Gift
Movie • 1979
Legion Commander
Midnight Cowboy
Movie • 1969
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Hellinger's Law
Movie • 1981
Mr. Graebner
Wild Card
Movie • 1992
Mose
Dear Detective
Movie • 1979
Capt. Gorcey
Change in the Air
Movie • 2018
Walter Lemke
The Right of the People
Movie • 1986
Sindaco
Clean and Sober
Movie • 1988
Richard Dirks
Shifting Gears
Movie • 2018
Hank
The Invasion of Johnson County
Movie • 1976
Irvine
The Lottery
Movie • 1996
Chief Davis
Toto
Movie • 2018
Toto
The Killing Jar
Movie • 1997
Sheriff Foley
Faith, Hope & Love
Movie • 2019
Fr. John
Bound for Glory
Movie • 1976
Husband
Eyeball Eddie
Movie • 2001
Coach Cook
Knives Out
Movie • 2019
Mr. Proofroc
Raising Buchanan
Movie • 2019
Larry Kiesling
Dead Badge
Movie • 1995
Sergeant Miller Hoskins
The Woman Who Willed a Miracle
Movie • 1983
Joe Lemke
Night Partners
Movie • 1983
Joe Kirby
Love and Lies
Movie • 1990
Clyde Wilson
Romeo + Juliet
Movie • 1996
Apothecary
Equinox
Movie • 1992
Pete Petosa
Jack of Hearts
Movie • 2000
Comissioner Menlo Boyce
No Other Love
Movie • 1979
DeFranco
Arthur Newman
Movie • 2012
Zazek
Crime Club
Movie • 1975
Jack Doyle
Sorry, Not Sorry
Movie • 2019
Harry's Father
The Mimic
Movie • 2021
The Director
Stiletto
Movie • 1969
Racing Partner (uncredited)
The Immaculate Room
Movie • 2022
Kate's Father
Kid Blue
Movie • 1973
Barber
A Little White Lie
Movie • 2023
Arthur Baldwin
The Milagro Beanfield War
Movie • 1988
Governor
Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales
Movie • 2003
Wally Westland
Dotty and Soul
Movie • 2023
Harold Eichelbaum
Green and Gold
Movie • 2025
Scotty
A True Character
Movie • 2008
Self
Hero in the Family
Movie • 1986
General Presser
The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn
Movie • 1985
Rocco
The Flash
TV • 1990
Henry Allen
Arnie
TV • 1970
Starsky & Hutch
TV • 1975
Freddie
Home Improvement
TV • 1991
Colonel
Little House on the Prairie
TV • 1974
Callahan
Early Edition
TV • 1996
Santa
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1985
Peter (segment "Dealer's Choice")
All in the Family
TV • 1971
Billy Hartfield
Ed
TV • 2000
Mayor Wally Kendricks
Tales from the Crypt
TV • 1989
Jonas
The Bob Newhart Show
TV • 1972
Jack Hoover
Tracey Takes On...
TV • 1996
Baretta
TV • 1975
The Civil War
TV • 1990
Various
Frasier
TV • 1993
Rich Koechner
The X-Files
TV • 1993
Arthur Dales
Night Visions
TV • 2001
Gus (segment "Reunion")
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Sarge
The Sandy Duncan Show
TV • 1972
The Hitchhiker
TV • 1983
Detective Underhill
Unsub
TV • 1989
Ned Platt
The Outer Limits
TV • 1995
Sanford Vallé
The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot
TV • 1999
Mack (voice)
The Wild Thornberrys
TV • 1998
Gemsbok #1 (voice)
Empire
TV • 2015
Harold Blakeley
Amazing Stories
TV • 1985
Grandpa
The Righteous Gemstones
TV • 2019
Roy Gemstone
McMillan & Wife
TV • 1971
Officer Ames
Nichols
TV • 1971
Gabe McCutcheon
Pound Puppies
TV • 2010
Olaf (voice)
The French Atlantic Affair
TV • 1979
Harry
Charlie Lawrence
TV • 2003
Cubby
Brotherhood of the Rose
TV • 1989
Hardy
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Mattheson
The Rockford Files
TV • 1974
Edgar Burch
East of Eden
TV • 1981
Sheriff Horace Quinn
Murder Ordained
TV • 1987
Vern Humphrey
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
TV • 2002
Jeb (voice)
American Gigolo
TV • 2022
Coleman
Damages
TV • 2007
Lyle Hewes
The West
TV • 1996
Self (voice)
NYPD Blue
TV • 1993
Joe Kroft
Starsky & Hutch
TV • 1975
Lloyd Herman Eckworth
The Waltons
TV • 1972
David Fletcher
Ironside
TV • 1967
Telegraph Clerk
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
General Presser
Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories
TV • 2014
Detective
AfterMASH
TV • 1983
Reverend Horn
Adventure Time
TV • 2010
Cosmic Owl (voice)
Sneaky Pete
TV • 2015
Tex Hopkins
Gibbsville
TV • 1976
Yostie
The Guardian
TV • 2001
Ezra Pence
Baseball
TV • 1994
(voice)
The Deliberate Stranger
TV • 1986
Det. Sam Davies
'Til Death
TV • 2006
Uncle Rudolph
Army Wives
TV • 2007
Bernie Wallacheck