'Full Metal Jacket' actor R. Lee Ermey dies at age 74

R. Lee Ermey, a former Marine Corps drill instructor known to millions of moviegoers as the sadistic Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket," died Sunday morning, according to his longtime manager. He was 74.

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/201...ge-74.html

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You know trouble is right around the corner when your best friend tells you to hold his beer!!

Semper Fi Gunny!

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RIP, Gunny.

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The guy was the quintessential "tough guy" actor. When I think of military films, he is the first actor that comes to mind. He will be missed.

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He was initially hired as a consultant, but when lined up some extras and started showing everyone what a real drill sergeant acts like, Kubrick threw out the script and re-wrote the whole first half of the movie and put him in it. A lot of what we see in his scenes in the movie, all that very creative cursing and screaming at the recruits, was improvised. I still go to Youtube and watch it every now and then.

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I remember my father watching one of those "drill sergeant" scenes on a Saturday afternoon many years ago and getting a real kick out of Ermey's portrayal. "This guy's got it down" he said.

My formative years coincided with my father's progression form Staff Sergeant through Master Gunnery Sergeant in the USMC, and he certainly had an appreciation for Ermey's work. Ermey's characters always remind me of my childhood - and I guess that's a high compliment in my book.

My brother and I had to pass inspection before attending church on Sunday mornings. A ritual that often included being tersely sent back to the ironing board to press our pants properly (even at an age when our Mom didn't want us handling an iron.) As I retreated to begrudgingly press my slacks you'd hear the old man chide "I better be able to cut butter with those creases, boys!"
My return for further inspection would often result in a "Well, the breeches can pass muster, but those shoes are a disgrace, son!" Better just put a spit shine on 'em so your momma's not late for Sunday school.

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Ermey's Geico commercial

This was a great commercial. I loved it that he did this as a 'therapist'. I laughed so hard. 

He will be missed. I enjoyed him in FMJ as well as the show Mail Call he hosted back in the day. He even played a priest in an early season episode of The X-Files. I'll have to go back and watch that.

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From what I was reading on Reddit, the pneumonia that took him was a result of cancer treatment.

The man certainly carved out a distinctly recognizable image for himself. He lamented being blacklisted by Hollywood for voicing his political beliefs. Honestly, he should have known better. He'll be missed.

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Ermey's Geico commercial

This was a great commercial. I loved it that he did this as a 'therapist'. I laughed so hard. 

He will be missed. I enjoyed him in FMJ as well as the show Mail Call he hosted back in the day. He even played a priest in an early season episode of The X-Files. I'll have to go back and watch that.

Throwing the tissue box completes this ad.

Hope he's welcoming the new recruits to heaven by giving them hell.

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