R. Lee Ermey Dies

[martinfan5]

R. Lee Ermey, who made an acting career out of his ability to bring stern military careerists to life, has died at age 74. His death was announced on Twitter by his manager, Bill Rogin.

Ermey was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor his role as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, but that was only one of his many military roles. Owning to his background as a former Marine Corps. staff sergeant and drill instructor, Ermey was able to project authority and resolute leadership in a number of roles.

Among his many film roles was Mayor Tilman in Mississippi Burning; Bill Bowerman in Prefontaine; Sheriff Hoyt in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, plastic army leader Sarge in the Toy Story films, and Lt. “Tice” Ryan in Rocket Power.

He also hosted the History Channel programs Mail Call, answering questions about military issues; and Lock N’ Load with R. Lee Ermey, which focused on weapons. He also hosted Gunny Time on the Outdoor Channel.

Born in Emporia, Kansas in 1944 as Ronald Lee Ermey, he grew up as a bit of a hell-raiser. Having been arrested for criminal mischief twice by age 17, he was given a choice of jail time or the military. He chose the Marine Corps. and served as a drill instructor in San Diego in the mid 1960s. He was eventually sent to Vietnam and served 14 months in that country. He was later a staff sergeant in Okinawa, but was medically discharged in 1972 because of injuries during his service. He later received an honorary promotion to gunnery sergeant by the Marines.

While in the Philippines attending college, Ermey got his first taste of show business, playing a chopper pilot in Apocalypse Now while serving as a technical advisor on the film to director Francis Ford Coppola. He later appeared as a Marine drill instructor in the film The Boys in Company C before landing his role in 1987 in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. Kubrick was impressed with Ermey, allowing him to make up his own dialogue on the set.

That performance, plus his Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor, led to a bit of typecasting, but steady work for Ermey. He appeared in more than 55 films and was used as a voice actor in many others, including Roughnecks and X-men 3.  He also appeared in video games and numerous TV commercials.

No immediate information on survivors or a memorial service was available.

[Snake45]

9 hours ago, martinfan5 said:

While in the Philippines attending college, Ermey got his first taste of show business, playing a chopper pilot in Apocalypse Now while serving as a technical advisor on the film to director Francis Ford Coppola. He later appeared as a Marine drill instructor in the film The Boys in Company C....

Boys in Company C came out a good 18 months before Apocalypse Now. I distinctly remember seeing BiCC on HBO long before AN hit the theaters.

Of course, I guess RLE could have filmed his part in AN long before it came out, making the sentence accurate if misleading.

Whatever. He was a great guy who dominated the screen no matter what his role. How many remember that he played House's father on TV?

[Lunajammer]

Full Metal Jacket was his big attention getting role, but his role in Boys In Company C I thought was a much more carefully crafted and honest bit of acting that really made an impression on me. Sad news.

Edited April 16, 2018 by Lunajammer

[crazyjim]

No such thing as a former Marine.  Once a Marine, always a Marine.  Semper Fi Gunny.

[cobraman]

He was a no BS man and I really liked him . Rest in Peace .

[10thumbs]

I'm saddened of this news as well.  What a real character!  He always made me grin.

 

 

[NYLIBUD]

Dam,oh that really sucks.He seemed like a real colorful character.He was outstanding in Full Metal Jacket.I also remember his sinister role in one of the versions of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies where he played a sadistic,and bizarre local sheriff...Among a lot of other roles..RIP Sarge.

[Jim N]

This is really sad.  When my son was quite young, he used to watch Mail Call every week.  I remember on one of the episodes, the question was asked why it looks like the American flag is flying backwards on the military uniforms.  Ermy's answer was that if it flew the other way, it would look like we were retreating.  He followed that comment up by stating in his over the top manner that the U.S. military never retreats.  My son pulled his backpack out that he had a pin of the U.S. flag on and he turned it like the flag on the military uniforms.  A few weeks later my sister was at our house and she told my son that his pin was on backwards.  He promptly told my sister that if he pinned it the other way he would be retreating.  He further said that the U.S. military does not retreat and neither does he.  My sister never understood that comment. My wife and I almost died laughing.

When he was out of character, he appeared to be a very humble man.  His message to young people in particular was how the military probably saved his life by keeping him out of prison.  From what I recall him speaking, his life was not on a good path and joining the Marines straightened him out and gave him a sense of purpose.

[Khils]

42 minutes ago, Jim N said:

American flag is flying backwards on the military uniforms.  

Thank you! for sharing that!    (humbled)   I did not know that.

[Dragline]

R.I.P. Gunny

[NYLIBUD]

So I watched Full Metal Jacket last night..I haven't seen it in a long time.To me,it was,and still is my favorite war movie.Of course Platoon being second....RIP Sarge.?

[Snake45]

Let's not forget that RLE was responsible for bringing the term "jackwagon" into widespread use, via his GEICO (IIRC) commercial. (And probably some other words too that I can't mention here.)

Put on heading two-seven-zero, Eagle Thrust....

(Let's see who gets that one....)