M. Emmet Walsh
Acting
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).
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring M. Emmet Walsh
Knives Out
2019
Filmography
Acting (168)
2025
Green and Goldas Scotty
6.9
2024
Brothersas Judge Farful
5.9
2024
Outlaw Posseas Catfish
4.7
2023
Dotty and Soulas Harold Eichelbaum
4.0
2023
A Little White Lieas Arthur Baldwin
5.6
2022
The Immaculate Roomas Kate's Father
5.2
2021
The Mimicas The Director
4.3
2019
Knives Outas Mr. Proofroc
7.8
2019
South of Bixas Grandpa
5.8
2019
Raising Buchananas Larry Kiesling
5.4
2019
Faith, Hope & Loveas Fr. John
7.5
2019
Sorry, Not Sorryas Harry's Father
5.7
2018
Change in the Airas Walter Lemke
5.7
2018
Totoas Toto
2018
Shifting Gearsas Hank
6.5
2015
Boiling Potas Dean Marison
5.2
2015
5.1
2014
Calvaryas The Writer
7.1
2012
Love Sick Loveas Ed
5.5
2012
Arthur Newmanas Zazek
5.6
2012
The Odd Life of Timothy Greenas Uncle Bub
7.0
2011
Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agencyas Chief Van Owen
4.8
2010
Chasing 3000as Chuck Ireland
6.2
2010
The Assignmentas Mr. Beudreaux
6.5
2009
Youth in Revoltas Mr. Saunders
6.1
2009
Don McKayas Samuel
4.9
2008
Haunted Echoesas Neil
4.2
2008
Your Name Hereas Kroger
3.3
2008
A True Characteras Self
2007
7.8
2007
Big Stanas Lew Popper
6.7
2007
Man in the Chairas Mickey Hopkins
6.5
2005
Greener Mountainsas Muggs
5.3
2005
Racing Stripesas Woodzie
5.9
2004
Christmas with the Kranksas Walt Scheel
6.2
2003
Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Talesas Wally Westland
7.9
2003
Baggageas Sandy Westphall
8.0
2002
Snow Dogsas George
5.6
2001
Eyeball Eddieas Coach Cook
7.0
2001
Christmas in the Cloudsas Stu O'Malley
6.2
2000
Poor White Trashas Judge Pike
4.6
2000
Jack of Heartsas Comissioner Menlo Boyce
2.9
2000
7.7
1999
Random Heartsas Billy (uncredited)
5.6
1999
Monster!as Lloyd Reeves
5.0
1999
The Iron Giantas Earl Stutz (voice)
8.0
1999
Me and Willas Dean
5.4
1999
Wild Wild Westas Coleman
5.3
1998
Nightmare in Big Sky Countryas Marshal Jim Phillips
10.0
1998
Men in Whiteas Stanley
3.8
1998
Erasable Youas Ralph Worth
8.0
1998
Chairman of the Boardas Freemont
3.6
1998
Twilightas Lester Ivar
6.1
1997
My Best Friend's Weddingas Joe O'Neal
6.6
1997
The Killing Jaras Sheriff Foley
4.4
1997
Retroactiveas Sam
6.1
1997
Albino Alligatoras Dino
5.7
1996
Romeo + Julietas Apothecary
6.8
1996
The Lotteryas Chief Davis
6.0
1996
A Time to Killas Willard Tyrell Bass (uncredited)
7.4
1996
Portraits of a Killeras Raymond Garrison
4.2
1996
Criminal Heartsas Martin
4.8
1995
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Homeas Bill Wilcox
5.9
1995
6.8
1995
Pantheras Dorsett
6.3
1995
Dead Badgeas Sergeant Miller Hoskins
6.8
1994
Relative Fearas Earl Ladelle
5.2
1994
Probable Causeas Sadler
4.6
1994
The Glass Shieldas Det. Jesse Hall
5.2
1994
Camp Nowhereas T.R. Polk
5.9
1994
Cops & Robbersonsas Captain Ted Corbett (uncredited)
5.2
1994
Madness of Methodas Rudolph Thorndyke
7.0
1993
Bitter Harvestas Sheriff Bob
4.7
1993
Wilder Napalmas Fire Chief
5.6
1993
The Music of Chanceas Calvin Murks
6.5
1992
Four Eyes and Six-Gunsas Mayor Thornbush
3.5
1992
The Naked Truthas Garcia / Gesundheim
3.1
1992
Equinoxas Pete Petosa
5.7
1992
Wild Cardas Mose
6.0
1992
White Sandsas Bert Gibson
5.9
1992
Killer Imageas John Kane
4.3
1991
6.1
1991
Silverfoxas Charles Blankenship
1991
Fourth Storyas Harry
5.4
1990
The Flashas Henry Allen
6.5
1990
Narrow Marginas Sergeant Dominick Benti
6.4
1990
Chattahoocheeas Morris
5.7
1990
Love and Liesas Clyde Wilson
1989
Catch Me... If You Canas Johnny Phatmun
5.6
1989
Thundergroundas Wedge
4.3
1989
The Mighty Quinnas Fred Miller
6.0
1988
Red Scorpionas Dewey Ferguson
6.0
1988
War Partyas Colin Ditweiler
6.4
1988
Clean and Soberas Richard Dirks
6.4
1988
Sunsetas Chief Marvin Dibner
5.7
1988
The Milagro Beanfield Waras Governor
6.5
1987
No Man's Landas Captain Haun
6.0
1987
Harry and the Hendersonsas George Henderson Sr.
6.1
1987
Murder Ordainedas Vern Humphrey
5.0
1987
Raising Arizonaas Machine Shop Ear-Bender
7.1
1987
The Abduction of Kari Swensonas Don Nichols
6.0
1987
Broken Vowsas Detective Mulligan
4.8
1986
Hero in the Familyas General Presser
6.8
1986
Back to Schoolas Coach Turnbull
6.3
1986
The Deliberate Strangeras Det. Sam Davies
6.3
1986
Resting Placeas Sarge
6.3
1986
Crittersas Harv
6.5
1986
Wildcatsas Walt Coes
6.3
1986
The Best of Timesas Charlie
5.7
1986
The Right of the Peopleas Sindaco
5.7
1985
1985
Fletchas Dr. Joseph Dolan
6.8
1985
Blood Simpleas Private Detective
7.2
1984
Missing in Actionas Tuck
5.9
1984
Courageas Colonel Crouse
6.0
1984
Grandview, U.S.A.as Mr. Clark
5.8
1984
The Outlawsas Warden MacDonald
1984
The Pope of Greenwich Villageas Burns
6.3
1984
Scandalousas Simon Reynolds
4.7
1983
Silkwoodas Walt Yarborough
6.9
1983
Night Partnersas Joe Kirby
7.5
1983
The Woman Who Willed a Miracleas Joe Lemke
9.0
1982
Blade Runneras Bryant
7.9
1982
The Escape Artistas Fritz
6.2
1982
Fast-Walkingas Sergeant Sanger
5.8
1982
Cannery Rowas Mack
5.9
1981
Redsas Speaker at Liberal Club
6.9
1981
Back Roadsas Arthur
5.4
1981
Hellinger's Lawas Mr. Graebner
8.8
1980
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kaneas Harold Patton
4.7
1980
Ordinary Peopleas Swim Coach
7.4
1980
Raise the Titanicas Master Chief Vinnie Walker
5.4
1980
Brubakeras C.P. Woodward
7.1
1980
City in Fearas Sheldon Lewis
5.7
1980
Skagas Moran
1979
The Giftas Legion Commander
6.5
1979
The Jerkas Madman
6.9
1979
The Fish That Saved Pittsburghas Wally Cantrell
5.9
1979
Dear Detectiveas Capt. Gorcey
10.0
1979
No Other Loveas DeFranco
8.0
1978
Straight Timeas Earl Frank
7.1
1978
A Question of Guiltas Inspector McCartney
7.0
1978
Superdomeas Whitley
4.5
1977
Red Alertas Sheriff Sweeney
5.3
1977
Airport '77as Dr. Williams
5.6
1977
Slap Shotas Dickie Dunn
6.8
1976
Nickelodeonas "Father" Logan
6.0
1976
Mikey and Nickyas Bus Driver
6.9
1976
Bound for Gloryas Husband
6.9
1976
The Invasion of Johnson Countyas Irvine
6.6
1975
Crime Clubas Jack Doyle
7.0
1975
The Prisoner of Second Avenueas Doorman
6.6
1975
At Long Last Loveas Harold
5.1
1975
Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholicas Mr. Peterson
5.7
1974
The Gambleras Las Vegas Gambler
6.7
1973
Serpicoas Gallagher
7.5
1973
Kid Blueas Barber
7.0
1972
Get to Know Your Rabbitas Mr. Wendel
5.0
1972
What's Up, Doc?as Arresting Officer
7.4
1971
They Might Be Giantsas 1st Sanitation Man
6.9
1971
6.4
1971
Cold Turkeyas Art
6.3
1970
Little Big Manas Shotgun Guard
7.4
1970
The Traveling Executioneras Warden Brodski
5.9
1970
End of the Roadas Crab Man / Tutu Man
5.1
1969
Alice's Restaurantas Group W Sergeant
6.2
1969
Stilettoas Racing Partner (uncredited)
5.3
1969
Midnight Cowboyas Bus Passenger (uncredited)
7.5