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R. Lee Ermey (1944)

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Background[]

Biography[]

Personal Life[]

Filmography[]

Trivia[]

  • Was one of the few people ever allowed to improvise for notorious perfectionist Stanley Kubrick. A lot of his dialogue lines in Full Metal Jacket (1987) were improvised.
  • When he was 17, he would always get in trouble with the police. During a court hearing, the judge gave him the choice of either facing jail or join the military. He chose the military.
  • Was not intended to be in Full Metal Jacket (1987). He was hired as a technical advisor for the actor who was to play the drill instructor, but he did such a good job at it that Ermey himself was hired for the part.
  • Although he retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1971, Ermey was later awarded the Honorary rank of Gunnery Sergeant.
  • After injuries forced him to retire from military service, he moved to the Philippines and enrolled in the University of Manila, where he studied Criminology and Drama.
  • Despite antagonizing him for the entire film in Full Metal Jacket (1987) he in fact spoke very highly of Vincent D'Onofrio who played Private Pyle, offscreen and said he gave the best performance in the entire film.
  • Was seriously considered for the role of J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man (2002), before J.K. Simmons was cast.
  • Chosen as first celebrity spokesperson for Glock firearms and products in 2004.
  • Served in the United States Marine Corps from April 1961 to October 1971 under the service number 195-60-39. Was retired as a Staff Sergeant on a medical disability.
  • Aside from his early military roles, he often plays authority figures, such as sheriffs, police chiefs and other types of law-enforcement officers.
  • In 2010, he was chosen as new spokesman for SOG Specialty Knives & Tool. SOG's new "Gunny Approved" advertising campaign includes a special edition line of knives and tools developed in conjunction with Ermey.
  • Member of the National Rifle Association Board of Directors.

Quotes[]

  • It's my firm conviction that when Uncle Sam calls, by God we go, and we do the best that we can.
  • Even though I disagree with many of the changes, when I see the privates graduate at the end of the day, when they walk off that drill field at the end of the ceremony, they are still fine privates; outstanding, well motivated privates.
  • I firmly believe that you live and learn, and if you don't learn from past mistakes, then you need to be drug out and shot.
  • The best part about the movie, and everybody seems to rave about it, is the boot camp part.
  • I don't have any respect at all for the scum-bags who went to Canada to avoid the draft or to avoid doing their fair share.
  • Drill instructors worked seven days a week, fifteen to seventeen hours a day in many cases, with no time off in between platoons.
  • I firmly believe that, in order to give a solid performance, an actor's gotta have something he can bring to the table.
  • Every character I've ever played, I always try to take him right to the edge and not allow him to fall over, but directors have a tendency to pull me back a little bit.

External Links[]

IMDb Profile

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