Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
March 22, 1935
Died
March 19, 2024 (age 88)
Place of Birth
Ogdensburg, New York, USA
Also Known As
Michael Emmet Walsh
امت والش
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
TV
Frasier
Rich Koechner
1993
TV
The Waltons
David Fletcher
1972
TV
The X-Files
Arthur Dales
1993
TV
Adventure Time
Cosmic Owl (voice)
2010
TV
Damages
Lyle Hewes
2007
TV
Home Improvement
Colonel
1991
TV
'Til Death
Uncle Rudolph
2006
TV
Bonanza
Mattheson
1959
TV
NYPD Blue
Joe Kroft
1993
TV
Ironside
Telegraph Clerk
1967
TV
Little House on the Prairie
Callahan
1974
TV
The Rockford Files
Edgar Burch
1974
TV
The Twilight Zone
Peter (segment "Dealer's Choice")
1985
TV
The Outer Limits
Sanford Vallé
1995
TV
The Guardian
Ezra Pence
2001
TV
Pound Puppies
Olaf (voice)
2010
TV
Army Wives
Bernie Wallacheck
2007
TV
Amazing Stories
Grandpa
1985
TV
Starsky & Hutch
Freddie
1975
TV
Starsky & Hutch
Lloyd Herman Eckworth
1975
Filmography
2025FilmGreen and Goldas Scotty2024FilmBrothersas Judge Farful2024FilmOutlaw Posseas Catfish2023FilmDotty and Soulas Harold Eichelbaum2023FilmA Little White Lieas Arthur Baldwin2022TVAmerican Gigoloas Coleman2022FilmThe Immaculate Roomas Kate's Father2021FilmThe Mimicas The Director2019FilmKnives Outas Mr. Proofroc2019TVThe Righteous Gemstonesas Roy Gemstone2019FilmSouth of Bixas Grandpa2019FilmRaising Buchananas Larry Kiesling2019FilmFaith, Hope & Loveas Fr. John2019FilmSorry, Not Sorryas Harry's Father2018FilmChange in the Airas Walter Lemke2018FilmTotoas Toto2018FilmShifting Gearsas Hank2015FilmBoiling Potas Dean Marison2015TVSneaky Peteas Tex Hopkins2015FilmThe Scorpion King 4: Quest for Poweras Gorak2015TVEmpireas Harold Blakeley2014TVTim and Eric's Bedtime Storiesas Detective2014FilmCalvaryas The Writer2012FilmLove Sick Loveas Ed2012FilmArthur Newmanas Zazek2012FilmThe Odd Life of Timothy Greenas Uncle Bub2011FilmSam Steele and the Junior Detective Agencyas Chief Van Owen2010TVPound Puppiesas Olaf (voice)2010FilmChasing 3000as Chuck Ireland2010FilmThe Assignmentas Mr. Beudreaux2010TVAdventure Timeas Cosmic Owl (voice)2009FilmYouth in Revoltas Mr. Saunders2009FilmDon McKayas Samuel2008FilmHaunted Echoesas Neil2008FilmYour Name Hereas Kroger2008FilmA True Characteras Self2007FilmDangerous Days: Making Blade Runneras Self2007FilmBig Stanas Lew Popper2007TVDamagesas Lyle Hewes2007TVArmy Wivesas Bernie Wallacheck2007FilmMan in the Chairas Mickey Hopkins2006TV'Til Deathas Uncle Rudolph2005FilmGreener Mountainsas Muggs2005FilmRacing Stripesas Woodzie2004FilmChristmas with the Kranksas Walt Scheel2003FilmTracey Ullman in the Trailer Talesas Wally Westland2003TVCharlie Lawrenceas Cubby2003FilmBaggageas Sandy Westphall2002TVWhat's New, Scooby-Doo?as Jeb (voice)2002FilmSnow Dogsas George2001TVThe Guardianas Ezra Pence2001TVNight Visionsas Gus (segment "Reunion")2001FilmEyeball Eddieas Coach Cook2001FilmChristmas in the Cloudsas Stu O'Malley2000FilmPoor White Trashas Judge Pike2000FilmJack of Heartsas Comissioner Menlo Boyce2000TVEdas Mayor Wally Kendricks2000FilmOn the Edge of 'Blade Runner'as Self1999FilmRandom Heartsas Billy (uncredited)1999TVThe Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robotas Mack (voice)1999FilmMonster!as Lloyd Reeves1999FilmThe Iron Giantas Earl Stutz (voice)1999FilmMe and Willas Dean1999FilmWild Wild Westas Coleman1998TVThe Wild Thornberrysas Gemsbok #1 (voice)1998FilmNightmare in Big Sky Countryas Marshal Jim Phillips1998FilmMen in Whiteas Stanley1998FilmErasable Youas Ralph Worth1998FilmChairman of the Boardas Freemont1998FilmTwilightas Lester Ivar1997FilmMy Best Friend's Weddingas Joe O'Neal1997FilmThe Killing Jaras Sheriff Foley1997FilmRetroactiveas Sam1997FilmAlbino Alligatoras Dino1996FilmRomeo + Julietas Apothecary1996FilmThe Lotteryas Chief Davis1996TVEarly Editionas Santa1996TVThe Westas Self (voice)1996FilmA Time to Killas Willard Tyrell Bass (uncredited)1996FilmPortraits of a Killeras Raymond Garrison1996FilmCriminal Heartsas Martin1996TVTracey Takes On...1995FilmFree Willy 2: The Adventure Homeas Bill Wilcox1995FilmFrom the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweileras Morris1995FilmPantheras Dorsett1995FilmDead Badgeas Sergeant Miller Hoskins1995TVThe Outer Limitsas Sanford Vallé1994FilmRelative Fearas Earl Ladelle1994FilmProbable Causeas Sadler1994TVBaseballas (voice)1994FilmThe Glass Shieldas Det. Jesse Hall1994FilmCamp Nowhereas T.R. Polk1994FilmCops & Robbersonsas Captain Ted Corbett (uncredited)1994FilmMadness of Methodas Rudolph Thorndyke1993FilmBitter Harvestas Sheriff Bob1993TVNYPD Blueas Joe Kroft1993TVFrasieras Rich Koechner1993TVThe X-Filesas Arthur Dales1993FilmWilder Napalmas Fire Chief1993FilmThe Music of Chanceas Calvin Murks1992FilmFour Eyes and Six-Gunsas Mayor Thornbush1992FilmThe Naked Truthas Garcia / Gesundheim1992FilmEquinoxas Pete Petosa1992FilmWild Cardas Mose1992FilmWhite Sandsas Bert Gibson1992FilmKiller Imageas John Kane1991FilmSundown: The Vampire in Retreatas Mort1991TVHome Improvementas Colonel1991FilmSilverfoxas Charles Blankenship1991FilmFourth Storyas Harry1990FilmThe Flashas Henry Allen1990TVThe Civil Waras Various1990FilmNarrow Marginas Sergeant Dominick Benti1990TVThe Flashas Henry Allen1990FilmChattahoocheeas Morris1990FilmLove and Liesas Clyde Wilson1989FilmCatch Me... If You Canas Johnny Phatmun1989FilmThundergroundas Wedge1989TVTales from the Cryptas Jonas1989FilmThe Mighty Quinnas Fred Miller1989TVUnsubas Ned Platt1989TVBrotherhood of the Roseas Hardy1988FilmRed Scorpionas Dewey Ferguson1988FilmWar Partyas Colin Ditweiler1988FilmClean and Soberas Richard Dirks1988FilmSunsetas Chief Marvin Dibner1988FilmThe Milagro Beanfield Waras Governor1987FilmNo Man's Landas Captain Haun1987FilmHarry and the Hendersonsas George Henderson Sr.1987FilmMurder Ordainedas Vern Humphrey1987TVMurder Ordainedas Vern Humphrey1987FilmRaising Arizonaas Machine Shop Ear-Bender1987FilmThe Abduction of Kari Swensonas Don Nichols1987FilmBroken Vowsas Detective Mulligan1986FilmHero in the Familyas General Presser1986FilmBack to Schoolas Coach Turnbull1986FilmThe Deliberate Strangeras Det. Sam Davies1986TVThe Deliberate Strangeras Det. Sam Davies1986FilmResting Placeas Sarge1986FilmCrittersas Harv1986FilmWildcatsas Walt Coes1986FilmThe Best of Timesas Charlie1986FilmThe Right of the Peopleas Sindaco1985TVAmazing Storiesas Grandpa1985TVThe Twilight Zoneas Peter (segment "Dealer's Choice")1985FilmThe Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finnas Rocco1985FilmFletchas Dr. Joseph Dolan1985FilmBlood Simpleas Private Detective1984FilmMissing in Actionas Tuck1984FilmCourageas Colonel Crouse1984FilmGrandview, U.S.A.as Mr. Clark1984FilmThe Outlawsas Warden MacDonald1984FilmThe Pope of Greenwich Villageas Burns1984FilmScandalousas Simon Reynolds1983FilmSilkwoodas Walt Yarborough1983TVThe Hitchhikeras Detective Underhill1983FilmNight Partnersas Joe Kirby1983TVAfterMASHas Reverend Horn1983FilmThe Woman Who Willed a Miracleas Joe Lemke1982FilmBlade Runneras Bryant1982FilmThe Escape Artistas Fritz1982FilmFast-Walkingas Sergeant Sanger1982FilmCannery Rowas Mack1981FilmRedsas Speaker at Liberal Club1981FilmBack Roadsas Arthur1981FilmHellinger's Lawas Mr. Graebner1981TVEast of Edenas Sheriff Horace Quinn1980FilmHigh Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kaneas Harold Patton1980FilmOrdinary Peopleas Swim Coach1980FilmRaise the Titanicas Master Chief Vinnie Walker1980FilmBrubakeras C.P. Woodward1980FilmCity in Fearas Sheldon Lewis1980FilmSkagas Moran1979FilmThe Giftas Legion Commander1979FilmThe Jerkas Madman1979TVThe French Atlantic Affairas Harry1979FilmThe Fish That Saved Pittsburghas Wally Cantrell1979FilmDear Detectiveas Capt. Gorcey1979FilmNo Other Loveas DeFranco1978FilmStraight Timeas Earl Frank1978FilmA Question of Guiltas Inspector McCartney1978FilmSuperdomeas Whitley1977FilmRed Alertas Sheriff Sweeney1977FilmAirport '77as Dr. Williams1977FilmSlap Shotas Dickie Dunn1976FilmNickelodeonas "Father" Logan1976FilmMikey and Nickyas Bus Driver1976FilmBound for Gloryas Husband1976TVGibbsvilleas Yostie1976FilmThe Invasion of Johnson Countyas Irvine1975TVStarsky & Hutchas Freddie1975FilmCrime Clubas Jack Doyle1975FilmThe Prisoner of Second Avenueas Doorman1975FilmAt Long Last Loveas Harold1975FilmSarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholicas Mr. Peterson1975TVBaretta1974FilmThe Gambleras Las Vegas Gambler1974TVThe Rockford Filesas Edgar Burch1974TVLittle House on the Prairieas Callahan1973FilmSerpicoas Gallagher1973FilmKid Blueas Barber1972TVThe Sandy Duncan Show1972TVThe Bob Newhart Showas Jack Hoover1972TVThe Waltonsas David Fletcher1972FilmGet to Know Your Rabbitas Mr. Wendel1972FilmWhat's Up, Doc?as Arresting Officer1971TVMcMillan & Wifeas Officer Ames1971TVNicholsas Gabe McCutcheon1971FilmThey Might Be Giantsas 1st Sanitation Man1971FilmEscape from the Planet of the Apesas Aide1971FilmCold Turkeyas Art1971TVAll in the Familyas Billy Hartfield1970FilmLittle Big Manas Shotgun Guard1970FilmThe Traveling Executioneras Warden Brodski1970TVArnie1970FilmEnd of the Roadas Crab Man / Tutu Man1969FilmAlice's Restaurantas Group W Sergeant1969FilmStilettoas Racing Partner (uncredited)1969FilmMidnight Cowboyas Bus Passenger (uncredited)1967TVIronsideas Telegraph Clerk1959TVBonanzaas Mattheson1954TVThe Wonderful World of Disneyas General Presser1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Sarge