

Seeking authenticity for the film, Kubrick allowed Ermey to write or edit his own dialogue and improvise on the set, a notable rarity in a Kubrick film. Kubrick changed his mind after Ermey put together an instructional tape, in which he went on an extended tirade towards several extras, convincing Kubrick he was the right man for the role. Initially, he was intended to be only the technical advisor.
#Mail call s.n.a.f.u full#
Furie's The Boys in Company C.įor the next few years, Ermey played a series of minor film roles until 1987, when he was cast as drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket. Ermey was then cast as a Marine drill instructor in Sidney J. He portrayed a First Air Cavalry chopper pilot in Apocalypse Now, doubling as a technical advisor to director Francis Ford Coppola. Acting career FilmsĮrmey loading ammunition for the Bofors 40 mm gun aboard a Lockheed AC-130H "Spectre" Gunship in 2006Įrmey was cast in his first film while attending the University of Manila in the Philippines, using his G.I. On May 17, 2002, he received an honorary promotion to gunnery sergeant (E-7) by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James L. He was medically discharged in 1972 because of several injuries incurred during his service. The remainder of his service was on Okinawa where he was advanced to staff sergeant ( E-6). In 1968, he was ordered to Vietnam with MWSG-17, and spent 14 months in country. Įrmey then served in Marine Wing Support Group 17 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan. For his first few years, he served in the aviation support field before becoming a drill instructor in India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, where he was assigned from 1965 to 1967. In 1961, at age 17, Ermey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and went through recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in San Diego, California. After his second arrest, a judge gave him a choice between joining the military or being sent to jail Ermey chose the military.

As a teenager, Ermey often got in trouble with the local authorities, and was arrested twice for criminal mischief by age 17. In 1958, when Ermey was 14, he and his family left Kansas and moved to Zillah, Washington. He grew up with five brothers on a farm outside of Kansas City, Kansas. He also hosted GunnyTime on the Outdoor Channel.Įrmey was born Ronald Lee Ermey in Emporia, Kansas on March 24, 1944. Lee Ermey, which concerned the development of different types of weapons. "Tice" Ryan in Rocket Power, the warden in SpongeBob SquarePants, and John House in House.Įrmey 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. Marine Corps, he served as a drill instructor.Įrmey was often typecast in authority figure roles, such as Mayor Tilman in the film Mississippi Burning, Bill Bowerman in Prefontaine, Sheriff Hoyt in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, Jimmy Lee Farnsworth in Fletch Lives, a police captain in Se7en, plastic army men leader Sarge in the Toy Story films, Lt. Ermey was also a United States Marine Corps staff sergeant and an honorary gunnery sergeant. He achieved fame when he played Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.

Ronald Lee Ermey (Ma– April 15, 2018) was an American actor and voice actor. India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion Actor, voice artist, drill instructor, United States Marine
