R. Lee Ermey
Birthday:
24 March 1944, Emporia, Kansas, USA
Birth Name:
Ronald Lee Ermey
Height:
183 cm
A talented character actor known for his military roles, Ronald Lee Ermey was in the United States Marine Corps for 11 years. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, and later was bestowed the honorary rank of Gunnery Sergeant by the Marine Corps, after he served 14 months in Vietnam and later did two tours in Okinawa, Japan. After injuries forced h...
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A talented character actor known for his military roles, Ronald Lee Ermey was in the United States Marine Corps for 11 years. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, and later was bestowed the honorary rank of Gunnery Sergeant by the Marine Corps, after he served 14 months in Vietnam and later did two tours in Okinawa, Japan. After injuries forced him to retire from the Corps, he moved to the Phillipines, enrolling in the University of Manila, where he studied Criminology and Drama. He appeared in several Filipino films before being cast as a helicopter pilot in Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979). Due to his Vietnam experiences, Coppola also utilized him as a technical adviser. He got a featured role in Sidney J. Furie's The Boys in Company C (1978), playing a drill instructor. Ermey worked with Furie again in Purple Hearts (1984).However, his most famous (or infamous) role came as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket (1987), for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe. He did win the best supporting actor award from The Boston Society of Film Critics. Since then, he has appeared in numerous character roles in such films as Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Se7en (1995) and Dead Man Walking (1995). However, Ermey prefers comedy to drama, and has a comedic role in Saving Silverman (2001). Ronald Lee Ermey continues to be one of the best character actors in the business, and you can bet that when his name appears in a movie's credits, he is going to be top notch in his role. Show less «
It's my firm conviction that when Uncle Sam calls, by God we go, and we do the best that we can.
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...Show more »
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. Show less «
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.
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.
The best part about the movie, and everybody seems to rave about it, is the boot camp part.
The bad news motivated the drill instructors that much more.
The bad news motivated the drill instructors that much more.
There was a huge, tremendous amount of disabled veterans and the Veteran's Administration just wasn't geared up for it. I know for a fact th...Show more »
There was a huge, tremendous amount of disabled veterans and the Veteran's Administration just wasn't geared up for it. I know for a fact that it's getting better and better. Show less «
You'd be surprised how many kids and young people come to the website and send me email that they are actually going into the Marine Corp be...Show more »
You'd be surprised how many kids and young people come to the website and send me email that they are actually going into the Marine Corp because of something that I said or did. Show less «
For me, it's an honor for the military to ask me to go to Iraq, Afghanistan, or GITMO. I'm happy to go.
For me, it's an honor for the military to ask me to go to Iraq, Afghanistan, or GITMO. I'm happy to go.
Communications are better now than in my Vietnam days.
Communications are better now than in my Vietnam days.
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.
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.
Drill instructors worked seven days a week, fifteen to seventeen hours a day in many cases, with no time off in between platoons.
The biggest problem was the politicians knew nothing about fighting a war.
The biggest problem was the politicians knew nothing about fighting a war.
Back in those days intimidation was the greatest tool the drill instructor had. Without that tool, he would not have had control.
Back in those days intimidation was the greatest tool the drill instructor had. Without that tool, he would not have had control.
America's trying to do the best for its veterans.
America's trying to do the best for its veterans.
The drill instructor must have total and complete control. Mindless obedience is what he's after.
The drill instructor must have total and complete control. Mindless obedience is what he's after.
I always love to come to Austin.
I always love to come to Austin.
I don't have to be concerned about everybody else's character.
I don't have to be concerned about everybody else's character.
Back in the old Corp, we weren't training those privates to infiltrate into the peacetime Marine Corp. We were training those privates to go...Show more »
Back in the old Corp, we weren't training those privates to infiltrate into the peacetime Marine Corp. We were training those privates to go to Vietnam. Show less «
I go the VA Hospital when I have a problem and the doctor jumps on me.
I go the VA Hospital when I have a problem and the doctor jumps on me.
Without discipline, there is no Marine Corps.
Without discipline, there is no Marine Corps.
Playing the good guy is tough because you know as well as I do, in real life, you have to watch your P's and Q's and conduct yourself in a r...Show more »
Playing the good guy is tough because you know as well as I do, in real life, you have to watch your P's and Q's and conduct yourself in a respectable manner if you expect to have friends. Show less «
I'm never, like I say, I'm never happy, I'm never satisfied, it's never good enough.
I'm never, like I say, I'm never happy, I'm never satisfied, it's never good enough.
I was stationed at a marine recruit depot in San Diego from 1965 to 1967.
I was stationed at a marine recruit depot in San Diego from 1965 to 1967.
There's a lot of whiners in every crowd.
There's a lot of whiners in every crowd.
Kubrick's films have life - they just never die.
Kubrick's films have life - they just never die.
I spend a lot of time with my characters.
I spend a lot of time with my characters.
I've never had to spend any time in the VA hospital, so I really can't speak for those guys.
I've never had to spend any time in the VA hospital, so I really can't speak for those guys.
Kubrick ate it up. He loved it. He just let me go crazy.
Kubrick ate it up. He loved it. He just let me go crazy.
In order to be a good actor, I'm a firm believer that you need to bring something to the table.
In order to be a good actor, I'm a firm believer that you need to bring something to the table.
That's all I cared about too, was getting it right.
That's all I cared about too, was getting it right.
I try to get over to Iraq and Afghanistan as much as I can.
I try to get over to Iraq and Afghanistan as much as I can.
There have been a lot of changes in recruit training in the past twenty years.
There have been a lot of changes in recruit training in the past twenty years.
We had times in '66 and '67 when we would pick up a platoon of privates out of the receiving barracks the week before we even graduated the ...Show more »
We had times in '66 and '67 when we would pick up a platoon of privates out of the receiving barracks the week before we even graduated the platoon that we were on! Show less «
I play well with everybody.
I play well with everybody.
It's been a pretty fun ride, to tell you the truth.
It's been a pretty fun ride, to tell you the truth.
I disagree with a lot of those changes, however at the end of the day - I go down to recruit graduation at least once or twice a year.
I disagree with a lot of those changes, however at the end of the day - I go down to recruit graduation at least once or twice a year.
Everybody respects the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Everybody respects the Vietnam Veterans of America.
I got space from Travis Air Force Base, went back to the Philippine Islands and made it a point to meet the only American casting director i...Show more »
I got space from Travis Air Force Base, went back to the Philippine Islands and made it a point to meet the only American casting director in the Philippines. I was off and running. Show less «
I honestly do feel that I am a role model for young people.
I honestly do feel that I am a role model for young people.
When you try to find funding for a VVA function, it doesn't seem like it's any trouble at all. People come out of the woodwork with their mo...Show more »
When you try to find funding for a VVA function, it doesn't seem like it's any trouble at all. People come out of the woodwork with their money to help out because we went over and fought a war. Show less «
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 t...Show more »
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. Show less «
I got to write most of everything I said.
I got to write most of everything I said.
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Sgt. Hiles
Lead Kidnapper
Sarge
General Platt
Clyde Percy
Conventioneer
Mayor Tilman
Verne Plummer
Sheriff Hoyt
Stone
Gunnery Sgt. Hartman
Bill Bowerman
Colonel O'Malley
Sergeant
General Kramer
Judge Clawson
Police Captain
Captain Nichols
Janitor's Father
Colonel Leslie Hapablap
John House
Coach, Warden