R. Lee Ermey
R. Lee Ermey | |
|---|---|
Ermey aboard USS Belleau Wood in 2005 | |
| Born | Ronald Lee Ermey March 24, 1944 Emporia, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | April 15, 2018 (aged 74) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Burial place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1978–2017 |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouses | Dolores Janshen
(m. 1962; div. 1969)Nila Ermey (m. 1975) |
| Children | 6 |
| Military career | |
| Nickname | "Gunny" |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Service years | 1961–1972 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant Gunnery sergeant (honorary) |
| Unit |
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| Conflicts | Vietnam War |
| Awards | |
Ronald Lee Ermey (March 24, 1944 – April 15, 2018) was an American actor and U.S. Marine drill instructor. He achieved fame for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in the 1987 film Full Metal Jacket, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Ermey was also a United States Marine Corps staff sergeant and an honorary gunnery sergeant.
Ermey was often typecast in authority figure roles, such as Mayor Tilman in the film Mississippi Burning (1988), Bill Bowerman in Prefontaine (1997), Sheriff Hoyt in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) and its prequel The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006), Jimmy Lee Farnsworth in Fletch Lives (1989), a police captain in Seven (1995), plastic army men leader Sarge in the first three films of the Toy Story franchise (1995–2010), Major "Maddogg" Madison in Rocket Power, and John House in House.
On television, Ermey hosted two programs on the History Channel: Mail Call, in which he answered viewers' questions about various military issues both modern and historic; and Lock n' Load with R. Lee Ermey, which concerned the development of different types of weapons. Ermey also hosted GunnyTime on the Outdoor Channel.