Block-faced character actor, whose malleable looks helped him segue from menacing characters ("Sea of Love" 1989) to reassuring ones ("The Dark Half" 1993). Rooker began on the Chicago stage, appearing in "Union Boys" and "Moon Children". He made the transition to features playing small character roles. In 1988 alone, he appeared in four films: John Sayles' "Eight Men Out", as a member of the Chicago "Black" Sox; Alan Parker's "Mississippi Burning", as a Klansman; "Rent-A-Cop"; and "Above the Law".

Rooker garnered critical acclaim for his disturbing performance in John McNaughton's "Henry: