R. Lee Ermey, famous for his tough-guy role in 'Full Metal Jacket,' dies at 74

[packman]

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/04




R. Lee Ermey, the character actor famous for his bristling, Golden Globe-nominated role as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in Stanley Kubrick's 1987 film Full Metal Jacket, has died at age 74.

Ronald Lee Ermey was himself a Marine for 11 years (who retired in 1971), a staff sergeant who served in Vietnam and Okinawa, Japan, and was later awarded the honorary rank of gunnery sergeant.

The actor was known for playing military and law-enforcement figures, including the voice of Sarge, the leader of the little green army men in the Toy Story movies; Sheriff Hoyt in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake franchise; and a police captain in Se7en (1995


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[Snackshack]

1. Sad to this.

R.I.P. Sir.

[elmac]

2. another rightwing nut job bites the dust

I seen him come unglued at a Toys for Tots event, hating on President Obama and dems in general, he was one hateful prick.

[Glorfindel]

5. You're quite right. Death doesn't erase a life of evil.

On December 10, 2010, Ermey denounced the Obama administration's economic policies while speaking at a Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots rally, stating that it was difficult to raise money for the charity because "the economy sucks". He went on to say:

We should all rise up, and we should stop this administration from what they're doing because they're destroying this country. They're driving us into bankruptcy so that they can impose socialism on us, and that's exactly what they're doing, and I'm sick and damn tired of it and I know you are too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._Lee_Ermey

May he find rest and peace in the grave.

[Kaleva]

12. A life of evil!?

Wow!!

[RhodeIslandOne]

18. You have to admit trashing a President at a Toys for Tots event...

.....about an economy he was turning around from old R Lee’s white buddies is pretty fucking awful

[Kaleva]

19. I'd say that was stupid on his part but doesn't mean he lived a life of evil.

[Glorfindel]

25. Maybe I was a trifle harsh. But he WAS a Marine Corps drill sergeant.

My experience with Army drill sergeants did not fill me with happy memories, and they weren't allowed to strike us. On the other hand, the Marines were all volunteers, so there's that. Maybe I should have said "mischief" instead of evil. But I'll never again have anything to do with Toys for Tots.

[Eliot Rosewater]

26. Stupid? Nah, outright RACIST and the OPPOSITE of what this country stands for, the

country he allegedly loved so much he served.

[OnlinePoker]

29. Do you have proof that he was racist?

I've never seen anything that suggests racism (he voted for Obama over McCain). His stances on gun rights and the direction the government should be heading were definitely right wing, but to call him racist is a stretch.

[Eliot Rosewater]

30. Yes, simple, opposition like this, from above post

We should all rise up, and we should stop this administration from what they're doing because they're destroying this country. They're driving us into bankruptcy so that they can impose socialism on us, and that's exactly what they're doing, and I'm sick and damn tired of it and I know you are too.

is based solely in racism

[OnlinePoker]

31. Being against socialism does not equate to racism

You're confusing that with social justice.

[sandensea]

14. Misguided is probably more like it.

[ansible]

13. Weird thing is he also voted for Obama

He got a lot of flak from that from conservatives too. Apparently he considered himself an "independent".

[Solly Mack]

3. When he "entertained" the troops in Iraq he never failed to attack Hillary Clinton.

Democrats in general but her in particular.

[jpak]

4. What was his major malfunction?

RIP

[SergeStorms]

11. Right-wing asshole.

No one knows for sure if it's nature or nurture. Right-wing assholes just pop up like herpes sores, or so I'm told. They're just about as welcome as herpes sores as well.

[maxrandb]

16. I think

Mommy and Daddy didn't show him enough attention when he was a child

[PatrickforO]

6. Rest in peace, Lee.

[Drunken Irishman]

7. I'd like to say he was a good actor but it seems he was just playing himself in all those roles.

Still, sad for his family.

[Va Lefty]

27. He was married and had 4 kids.

[ChicagoRonin]

8. Always wondered what he really thought about Full Metal Jacket

Given that Ermey leaned right politically and was a dedicated Marine. I always wondered what he thought about the film that brought him to fame (Full Metal Jacket). Both director Stanley Kubrick and the film are strongly anti-military. Ermey's convincing and riveting performance hammers home how scary, absurd and disturbing the process of turning boys into government killing machines really is.

[Tobin S.]

17. That is one of my favorite movies and I liked him in that role.

Given his political views, he might have just seen it as a good opportunity. It really launched his career.

[cemaphonic]

22. The story I've always liked about his role on FMJ

He was initially hired as a consultant to help create the drill sergeant character, but he wanted to act. Kubrick & his casting director weren't in favor of casting someone with no acting experience, so Ermey filmed an audition tape of himself hurling insults and profanity while being constantly pelted with tennis balls. That won them over, and the rest is history.

[Va Lefty]

28. Read somewhere that there were only 2 actors Kubrick let adlib

Peter Sellers and Ermey

[JohnnyRingo]

9. That's too bad

Never cared much for him myself.

[Marcuse]

10. Private Pyle smiles.

[yallerdawg]

15. What a character.

That DI in 'Full Metal Jacket' was very familiar in a visceral sort of way. He nailed it.

Rest in peace, Mr. Ermey.

[Paladin]

20. Whole bunch of right-wingers in mourning over this.

But credit due for his riveting performance in "Full Metal Jacket." Interesting to think of Ermey and Kubrick working together....