The Las Cruces International Film Festival will honor actor Michael Rooker with its Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment award.
Rooker, known for his roles in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “The Walking Dead,” will accept the award on April 9, 2026, during the festival.
He will screen a film of his choice at 7 p.m. at Allen Theatres Cineport and host a question-and-answer session with the audience. Earlier in the day, he will speak at New Mexico State University about his career.
The festival, now in its 11th year, has previously honored actors such as Helen Hunt, Ron Perlman and Giancarlo Esposito.
Michael Rooker’s career is full of icon characters
Rooker currently stars as Cobb in the final season of HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones” and recently wrapped production on the international thriller “Pig Village” with Korean action star Don Lee. He also appeared in Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga” and the Netflix comedy “The Out-Laws” opposite Adam Devine and Peirce Brosnan.
His other recent credits include “The Suicide Squad,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” “Fast and Furious 9” and “Love and Monsters.”
On television, Rooker has starred in “Peacemaker” opposite John Cena and “Marvel’s What If…?” for Disney+. He also appeared in “The Dark Tower” and Season 3 of “True Detective” opposite Mahershala Ali.
Rooker first gained critical acclaim for his role in “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” in 1986. He has since appeared in films such as “Mississippi Burning,” “Days of Thunder,” “JFK,” “Cliffhanger” and “Tombstone.” He is also known for his work on “The Walking Dead” as Merle Dixon and in the “Call of Duty” video game franchise as Lieutenant Mike Harper.
‘Extraordinary actor with incredible range’
Festival founder Ross Marks called Rooker the ideal choice for this year’s honor.
“Michael Rooker is an extraordinary actor with incredible range,” Marks said. “He has excelled in comedy, drama, and of course, great action movies.”
Marks praised Rooker’s work as Yondu Udonta in the Marvel franchise “Guardians of the Galaxy,” calling him “the perfect honoree to celebrate the film festival’s 11th year.”
“His diverse body of work is impressive,” Marks said. “It is a thrill the Las Cruces International Film Festival can honor him in person.”
When is the Las Cruces International Film Festival?
The festival will take place April 8 through April 12, 2026, at Allen Theatres Cineport. Tickets are available at www.lascrucesfilmfest.com.
VIP passes are $200, all-access passes are $100, day passes are $35 and tickets for the Michael Rooker celebrity screening are $35.
The LCIFF Poster Party will be March 6, 2025, at the Farm & Ranch Museum from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring the 2026 collectible poster designed by artist Asiah Thomas-Mandlman. VIP tickets will be available for sale at the discounted price of $150 at the poster party only. Admission is $30.
For more information, contact Ross Marks at [email protected] or 575-646-6149.
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