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