R. Lee Ermey

Ronald Lee Ermey is a talented character actor known for his military roles. A member of United States Marine Corps for 11 years, Ermey rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. 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. Due to his Vietnam experiences, Coppola also utilized him as a technical adviser. He got featured roles in The Boys in Company C  and Purple Hearts.

His most famous role came as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe. He won the best supporting actor award from The Boston Society of Film Critics. Since then, he has appeared in numerous character roles.

He has been married to his wife, Nila, since 1975. The couple has four children.