R. Lee Ermey

"R. Lee Ermey, a Golden Globe-nominated actor best known for his role as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, has died.
Ermey, whose nickname was "The Gunny," died Sunday morning from complications of pneumonia. He was 74.
The news was announced via his official twitter account by his longtime manager, Bill Rogin, who wrote: "It is with deep sadness that I regret to inform you all that R. Lee Ermey ("The Gunny") passed away this morning from complications of pneumonia. He will be greatly missed by all of us. Semper Fi, Gunny. Godspeed."
On Ermey's Facebook page, Rogin added more thoughts about the actor and his longtime client.
"He will be greatly missed by all of us," he wrote. "It is a terrible loss that nobody was prepared for. He has meant so much to so many people. And, it is extremely difficult to truly quantify all of the great things this man has selflessly done for, and on behalf of, our many men and women in uniform. He has also contributed many iconic and indelible characters on film that will live on forever. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman of Full Metal Jacket fame was a hard and principled man. The real R. Lee Ermey was a family man, and a kind and gentle soul. He was generous to everyone around him. And, he especially cared deeply for others in need."
He continued: "There are many Gunny's, but this one was OURS. And, we will honor his memory with hope and kindness. Please support your men and women in uniform. That's what he wanted most of all."
Ermey not only played a member of the military in the movies, but he also was one in real life, having been a U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant and an honorary gunnery sergeant. He also served as a drill instructor for the Marines. Ermey also served 14 months in Vietnam and completed two tours in Okinawa, Japan.
Both March 24, 1944, in Emporia, Kan., Ermey's family moved to Toppenish, Wash., when he was 14. There, he became a "troublemaker and a bit of a hell-raiser," he told the Civilian Marksmanship Program's online magazine in September 2010, and he found himself in court multiple times.
"Basically, a silver-haired judge, a kindly old judge, looked down at me and said, ‘This is the second time I've seen you up here and it looks like we're going to have to do something about this," he told CMP. "He gave me a choice. He said I could either go into the military — any branch I wanted to go to — or he was going to send me where the sun never shines. And I love sunshine, I don't know about you."
R. Lee Ermey, Golden Globe Nominee for 'Full Metal Jacket,' Dies at 74

 

RIP, great actor. Loved his movies very much.

 

Hand SALUTE. . . . TWO! Rest well, Marine.

 

Be at peace, Gunny.

 

I saw it last night, he was a larger than life character, that's for sure. Fair winds and following seas Gunny.

 

He even made it to number 2 in the UK Top40 back in October 1987.
Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company

I used to know all the words.

 

To be honest I thought he passed a few years ago as I had not heard from him for quite awhile. His portrayal in FMJ was superb and all but stole the film, but to be fair he was largely playing himself with a little embellishment. Saw him in a slew of supporting role after and was always a solid actor, especially as this was his second career in life. He also made his History channel show above average by sheer force of character.

 

He was one of those great characters that the country manages to mold every once in a while. My favorite memory of him was on his History Channel show where the subject of the week was "AK47 vs M16." He, of course, was a fanboy of the M16 because "'Murica!" and cheated on every round where the AK might have bested the the M16, and he did it openly with that trademark humorous evil glint in his eye. No damned Russian gun was going to win a contest on his show!

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I saw this also last evening and was very sorry to see of his passing. I really liked him in all of his movies and as a great patriot and veteran. My neighbor, who was in the Marines for 25 years, a Sargent Major and a member of the East Coast Drill Instructors Association, knew him. He was very sorry also, when I told him.

 

That is a great scene, an almost perfect mix of cinematography and sound. Robert Duval's appearance and mannerisms in that scene have always reminded me of my former SF Detatchment leader.

Anyway not to get off topic, but I've always thought this clip is an excellent mix of music and visual scenes (taken from a number of movies including Apocalypse Now).