R. Lee Ermey Passed Away

Twitter ^ | 4-15-2018 | Twitter

[musicman]

Statement from R. Lee Ermey's long time manager, Bill Rogin:

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.

[oh8eleven]

Dad ... absolutely HATED listening to R. Lee Ermey
Just the opposite for me. I have FMJ on DVR so I can listen to Ermey calling cadence, which was very close to how my DI sounded.
Great memories and always makes me smile.

[bantam]

One of the best scenes in movie history. Gone far too soon!!!

[ecomcon]

Mixed with some Jim Backus

[gunnyg]

S/Sgt Ermey, except for fmj, was a pretty good actor!
Jack Webb’s The DI!(1956) was a far more realistic portrayal of PISC and a DI!
Ermey was a honorary rank thing, just as Bugs Bunny was an honorary Marine.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"I have always wondered how much he was involved in writing his lines for the movie."

As a former drill instructor, I can tell you that the lines were basically written for him from all the other drill instructors that went before. We just all pretty much copied what we saw from previous drill instructors. I did not grow up in the era where you could talk about 'niggers, kikes, wops or greasers' but the rest of it is pretty standard fare. I personally liked calling them whale shit because that was the lowest thing in the ocean.

[MPJackal]

He also has a couple of great scenes in Purple Hearts. A pretty good movie also.

[SkyDancer]

Mmmm ... nah ... still sticking with Cary Grant.

[EMI_Guy]

Siege of Firebase Gloria

Hey, thanks for posting that link!

I stumbled across this movie many, many years ago, and was absolutely welded to his “acting” in that pic.

I had no idea who Ermey was at the time, but what I saw and heard told me “there’s just no way a regular actor is pulling that dialog off. This guy has had to have DONE the real thing and for a long time.”

RIP, Gunny.

[SecAmndmt]

RIP. Unforgettable as the drill Sgt in Full Metal Jacket

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Sooooo sad! Loved that guy!

[JenB987]

RIP, sir.

[ek_hornbeck]

RIP.

I was always amused by the story of how Ermey was cast in Full Metal Jacket. Stanley Kubrick had cast some actor as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman and brought in Ermey as a technical advisor because of his background as a Sergeant in the USMC. It then occurred to Kubrick that Ermey could do a much better job in the role than any "real" actor, and the rest is history. Virtually everyone who watches the movie agrees that Ermey is the highlight of FMJ.

[MeganC]

I always smile when I think of this man!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCp4R7pqanc

[ethom]

legend has it that Stanley Kubrick started with a script shooting on Full Metal Jacket, then gunny was so good in his scenes at basic training that they just let him ad lib with the cameras rolling...

[Keyhopper]

Stand and a smart salute! Goodbye gunny 😢 Go with God

[A Navy Vet]

Gunny, your legacy is well established for all you did for our Country. I will remember you.

[MplsSteve]

“I never heard of the term “jack wagon” before Gunney.”

Me neither. But that Geico commercial was funnier than hell.

[dfwgator]

And then there’s the Coors Light Commercial with “The Duke”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E3TA7kvzQY

[txroadkill]

Man, that guy really HATED watermelons!!

RIP 'Gunny'.

[steve8714]

“Stevie Ray Vaughn is dead, and we can’t even get Jon BonJovi up in a helicopter!” - Dennis Leary