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 «
The biggest problem was the politicians knew nothing about fighting a war.
The biggest problem was the politicians knew nothing about fighting a war.
For me, it's an honor for the military to ask me to go to Iraq, Afghanistan, or GITMO. I'm happy to ...Show more »
For me, it's an honor for the military to ask me to go to Iraq, Afghanistan, or GITMO. I'm happy to go. Show less «
Playing the good guy is tough because you know as well as I do, in real life, you have to watch your...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 «
Drill instructors worked seven days a week, fifteen to seventeen hours a day in many cases, with no ...Show more »
Drill instructors worked seven days a week, fifteen to seventeen hours a day in many cases, with no time off in between platoons. Show less «
Even though I disagree with many of the changes, when I see the privates graduate at the end of the ...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 spend a lot of time with my characters.
I spend a lot of time with my characters.
I don't have to be concerned about everybody else's character.
I don't have to be concerned about everybody else's character.
There was a huge, tremendous amount of disabled veterans and the Veteran's Administration just wasn'...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 «
I got to write most of everything I said.
I got to write most of everything I said.
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.
I got space from Travis Air Force Base, went back to the Philippine Islands and made it a point to m...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 «
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 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.
The bad news motivated the drill instructors that much more.
The bad news motivated the drill instructors that much more.
Every character I've ever played, I always try to take him right to the edge and not allow him to fa...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 «
Communications are better now than in my Vietnam days.
Communications are better now than in my Vietnam days.
There's a lot of whiners in every crowd.
There's a lot of whiners in every crowd.
I always love to come to Austin.
I always love to come to Austin.
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 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.
America's trying to do the best for its veterans.
America's trying to do the best for its veterans.
That's all I cared about too, was getting it right.
That's all I cared about too, was getting it right.
We had times in '66 and '67 when we would pick up a platoon of privates out of the receiving barrack...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 «
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 play well with everybody.
I play well with everybody.
I firmly believe that you live and learn, and if you don't learn from past mistakes, then you need t...Show more »
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. 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.
Kubrick's films have life - they just never die.
Kubrick's films have life - they just never die.
Everybody respects the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Everybody respects the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Back in the old Corp, we weren't training those privates to infiltrate into the peacetime Marine Cor...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 «
Back in those days intimidation was the greatest tool the drill instructor had. Without that tool, h...Show more »
Back in those days intimidation was the greatest tool the drill instructor had. Without that tool, he would not have had control. Show less «
I disagree with a lot of those changes, however at the end of the day - I go down to recruit graduat...Show more »
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. Show less «
Without discipline, there is no Marine Corps.
Without discipline, there is no Marine Corps.
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.
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.
I don't have any respect at all for the scum-bags who went to Canada to avoid the draft or to avoid ...Show more »
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. Show less «
When you try to find funding for a VVA function, it doesn't seem like it's any trouble at all. Peopl...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 «
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.
You'd be surprised how many kids and young people come to the website and send me email that they ar...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 «
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 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.
R. Lee Ermey's FILMOGRAPHY
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Annabelle: Creation
IMDb: 7
2017
109 min
Country: United States
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Mystery
Twelve years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into ...