R. Lee Ermey

Ronald Lee Ermey (born March 24, 1944) is a retired U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor who later made a career as an actor playing the roles of military or authority figures, such as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. He currently hosts Mail Call, a military history program on The History Channel.

Biography

Born in Emporia, Kansas, Ermey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1961. Ermey was arrested several times as a teenager and the judge gave him a choice of the military or jail. He later joked that the Marine Corps "put a screeching halt to my unconventional manner". He spent two years as a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in San Diego, California from 1965 to 1967. In 1968, Ermey arrived in Vietnam where he served for 14 months with the Marine Wing Support Group 17. He then served two tours of duty in Okinawa, Japan. During that time, Ermey rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and was medically discharged in 1972 for several injuries received during his tours (yet has not been awarded The Purple Heart). Ermey has admitted that he still has nightmares about his combat experiences.

Related Topics:
Emporia - Kansas - United States Marine Corps - 1961 - Drill instructor - Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego - San Diego - California - 1965 - 1967 - 1968 - Vietnam - Marine Wing Support Group 17 - Okinawa - Japan - Staff Sergeant - Medically discharged - Purple Heart - Nightmare

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Ermey's Marine Corps awards and decorations are as follows:

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• Meritorious Unit Commendation
• Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star
• Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
• Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar
• Sharpshooter Badge with Pistol Bar

Ermey was cast in his first movie while he studied at the University of Manila in the Philippines, using his G.I. Bill benefits. He played a helicopter pilot in Apocalypse Now; he also served as a technical advisor to director Francis Ford Coppola on that film. He played minor roles in films until 1987, when he was cast as the tough drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket; Ermey also served as the technical advisor on the film. He was originally supposed to be just the technical advisor to the film, but Kubrick changed his mind after hearing Ermey's hair raising DI tirades, and even let him write some of his dialogue and improvise on set. Kubrick later acknowledged Ermey was one of the best people he's ever worked with, needing just two or three takes per scene. The performance won critical raves and Ermey was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best Supporting Actor.

Related Topics:
University of Manila - Philippines - G.I. Bill - Apocalypse Now - Francis Ford Coppola - 1987 - Gunnery Sergeant Hartman - Stanley Kubrick's - Full Metal Jacket - Golden Globe Award - Best Supporting Actor

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He has since appeared in approximately sixty films, including Mississippi Burning, Dead Man Walking, Se7en, Leaving Las Vegas, Prefontaine, Saving Silverman, and the remakes of Willard and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Ermey also lent his voice for Toy Story, Toy Story 2. He has appeared on television in shows including the Simpsons and Family Guy.

Related Topics:
Mississippi Burning - Dead Man Walking - Se7en - Leaving Las Vegas - Saving Silverman - Willard - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - Toy Story - Toy Story 2 - Simpsons - Family Guy

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