R. Lee Ermey, best known for his portrayal of Sergeant Hartman in the 1987 movie Full Metal Jacket, has died at age 74. Ermey passed away due to complications from pneumonia.
Ermey spent 14 months in Vietnam before being given a medical discharge in 1972. While living and studying in the Philippines, Ermey appeared in the film Apocalypse Now and was then hired on as Stanley Kubrick’s technical adviser for 1987’s Full Metal Jacket. But he quickly stole the show and ended up in the role of Sergeant Hartman, where Kubrick estimated that about 50% of Ermey’s dialogue was ad libbed. This earned Ermey a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor.
Ermey went on to appear in over 60 movies in his long career.
Source: MSN
