Before They Were Stars: Michael Rooker as “Man in Bar” in “Above the Law”

These days, you know Michael Rooker best from his role as Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead, but his breakthrough role was his chilling title performance in one of my personal faves, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. However, even though Henry was made in 1986, it did not receive a wide theatrical release until 1990, so Rooker was pretty much still a complete unknown when he had this bit part as “Man in Bar” in Steven Seagal’s debut film, Above the Law. Rooker only has one line here, but he does manage to get in a zinger on Seagal without getting his ass kicked, so that’s gotta count for something.