History Creator / RLeeErmey

!!Notable video game credits

!!Tropes found in R. Lee Ermey' s work:

** However, Ermey actually plays with the trope in an episode of ''Lock and Load''. "Some people think I don't like watermelons. Well, that's not true - I just believe you gotta kill it before you eat it."

Ermey's performance made him the poster child for the trope DrillSergeantNasty and landed him work in other films (most notably ''Film/{{Se7en}}'', where he ironically plays against type as a rather mellowed-out police captain), as well as a slew of voice-over work due to his distinct gruff voice (such as Sarge, the leader of the Army Men in ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory''), and ultimately a hosting job for several [[Creator/TheHistoryChannel History Channel]] military-themed shows (''Mail Call'' and ''Lock n' Load with R. Lee Ermey''). He also guest-starred as the abusive ex-Drill Sergeant Nasty father of the title character of ''Series/{{House}}''.

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'' - Sarge (voice)

Gunnery Sergeant Ronald Lee Ermey (March 24, 1944 – April 15, 2018) was a U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor and UsefulNotes/VietnamWar veteran who later found fame as a character actor and media personality.

After appearing in ''Film/TheBoysInCompanyC'' (playing--what else?--a Marine drill instructor) and serving as a technical advisor to Creator/FrancisFordCoppola for ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' and Taylor Hackford for ''Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman'', Ermey became a pop culture icon with his role in Creator/StanleyKubrick's ''Film/FullMetalJacket'', which had him play a foul-mouthed drill instructor whose sadistic training methods end up driving one recruit insane and leading to both of their deaths. Incidentally, his scenes are one of the few times Kubrick ''ever'' allowed improvisation in any of his films.

* ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacreTheBeginning'' (2006) - Charlie Hewitt / Sheriff Hoyt

!!Person

* AdamWesting: In ''Saving Silverman'', where he was a football coach version of his ''Full Metal Jacket'' role.
** Also, his Geico commercial.
* AscendedExtra: Originally brought on to ''Full Metal Jacket'' for accuracy advice, his demonstrations of how to do a DrillSergeantNasty [[CastTheExpert were so good that he was cast in his famed role]].
** Said demonstration was unflinchingly chewing out the camera with both tennis balls and rotten oranges being thrown at him, and he continued to chew out the camera for ''fifteen straight minutes'', during which he never once moved, changed his expression, or ''repeated himself''.
** What really sealed the deal, however, was when he spoke to [[PrimadonnaDirector Stanley Kubrick]] on the set and said "YOU STAND UP WHEN I TALK TO YOU!!!" and Kubrick found himself doing so automatically.
* BadassBiker: Showed off his shooting skills on the back of his bike on Lock 'N Load.
* BigOlEyebrows: He had very large eyebrows, which aided in his intimidation factor.
* {{Determinator}}: Was once in a car accident, which knocked him off the road. He flashed his lights for hours until someone found him.
* DrillSergeantNasty: He was the consummate master of this trope.
* GunNut: This man loved guns so much, he had two shows: ''Mail Call'' and ''Lock and Load''--dedicated to answering questions about guns and blasting off with them. That being said, he did show proper safety precautions.
* LargeHam: Screaming profanities was practically his trademark.
* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Made his name playing hard as nails military figures, not to mention WAS one in real life. But when he wasn't in "Marine Mode", Ermey was known to be a quiet, gentle and well-mannered man.
* NoIndoorVoice: His roles tended to run on this.
* PlayingAgainstType: His role in ''Film/DeadManWalking''.
* SemperFi: He was once a Drill Instructor in the Marine Corps. It shows.
* TropeCodifier: Most DrillSergeantNasty characters take a page from his book (if they aren't played by him in the first place).
* WhenHeSmiles: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGuyu6jhSkU This PSA for the Selective Service System]]. At the end, he actually ''smiles'' and makes an ''authentic, genuine compliment'' (which can be surprising when you know [[DrillSergeantNasty what he's famous for]]).
--> "You did that already? '''OUTSTANDING!''' You've earned my respect! [[SemperFi Ooh-Rah]]!"
* YoungerThanTheyLook: He was only 42 when he filmed ''Full Metal Jacket''. He looked almost the same from then as in his Geico commercial...over 20 years later.

----
!!Shows

* ''Film/{{Switchback))'' (1997) - Sheriff Buck Olmstead

* ''Film/{{Se7en}}'' (1995) - Police Captain
* ''Series/SpaceAboveAndBeyond'' PilotMovie (1995) - Sergeant Major Bougus

* AdamWesting: In ''Film/SavingSilverman'', where he was a football coach version of his ''Full Metal Jacket'' role.

The role made him the poster child for the trope DrillSergeantNasty and landed him work in other films (most notably ''Film/{{Se7en}}'', where he ironically plays against type as a rather mellowed-out police captain), as well as a slew of voice-over work due to his distinct gruff voice (such as Sarge, the leader of the Army Men in ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory''), and ultimately a hosting job for several [[Creator/TheHistoryChannel History Channel]] military-themed shows (''Mail Call'' and ''Lock n' Load with R. Lee Ermey''). He also guest-starred as the abusive ex-Drill Sergeant Nasty father of the title character of ''Series/{{House}}''.

[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/R_Lee_Ermey_8945.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:280:That's '''Gunnery Sergeant''' R. Lee Ermey to you, maggot!]]

Gunnery Sergeant Ronald Lee Ermey (March 24, 1944 – April 15, 2018) was a U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor and UsefulNotes/VietnamWar veteran who later found fame as an actor and media personality.

Having appeared in the ''Film/TheBoysInCompanyC'' (playing -- what else? -- a Marine drill instructor) and served as a technical advisor to Creator/FrancisFordCoppola for ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' and Taylor Hackford for ''Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman'', Ermey became a pop culture icon with his role in Creator/StanleyKubrick's ''Film/FullMetalJacket'', which had him play a foul-mouthed drill instructor whose sadistic training methods end up driving one recruit insane and lead to both of their deaths. Incidentally, his scenes are one of the few times Kubrick ''ever'' allowed improvisation in any of his films.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Many who worked with him reported that when the cameras were gone he was actually a friendly gentle man who spent much of his time working for various veteran support organizations and doted on his family and friends. Although he did enjoy trolling people with his Drill Sergeant persona from time to time.

Having appeared in the ''Film/TheBoysInCompanyC'' (playing -- what else? -- a Marine drill instructor) and served as a technical advisor to Creator/FrancisFordCoppola for ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' and Taylor Hackford for ''Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman'', Ermey became a pop culture icon with his role in Creator/StanleyKubrick's ''Film/FullMetalJacket'', which had him play a foul-mouthed drill instructor whose sadistic training methods end up driving one recruit insane and lead to his death. Incidentally, his scenes are one of the few times Kubrick ever allowed improvisation in any of his films.

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'' (1995) - Sarge (voice)

--> "You did that already? '''OUTSTANDING!''' You've earned my respect! [[SemperFi Ooh-Rah]]!

--> "You did that already? '''OUTSTANDING!''' You've earned my respect! [[SemperFi Oo-Rah]]!

* GunNut: This man loved guns so much, he had two shows: ''Mail Call'' and ''Lock and Load''--dedicated to answering questions about guns and blasting off with them.

* MoreDakka: Look, ''Lock And Load'' is about ''firearms''. What do you expect? (Taken to its logical extent with episodes devoted solely to machine guns, from the original hand-cranked Gatling onwards.)

* NotSoStoic: In a ''Lock and Load'' episode, when the host fires a .44 Magnum and gets knocked down in the process, he promptly does not want to fire it again.

* ''Film/MississippiBurning'' (19888) - Mayor Tilman

* ''Film/DeadManWalking'' (1995)
* ''Film/TheFrighteners'' (1996)

* ''Film/FullMetalJacket'' (1987) - Gunnery Sgt. Hartman
* ''Film/{{Se7en}}''

* ''Film/TheFrighteners'' (1996)

* AdamWesting: In ''Film/SavingSilverman'', where he's a football coach version of his ''Full Metal Jacket'' role.

* BadassBiker: Shows off his shooting skills on the back of his bike on Lock 'N Load.
* BigOlEyebrows: He has very large eyebrows, which aid in his intimidation factor.
* {{Determinator}}: Was once in a car accident which knocked him off the road. He flashed his lights for hours until someone found him.
* DrillSergeantNasty: He is the consummate master of this trope.
* GunNut: This man loves guns so much, he has two shows, ''Mail Call'' and ''Lock and Load'', dedicated to answering questions about guns and blasting off with them.
* LargeHam: Screaming profanities is practically his trademark.
* NoIndoorVoice: His roles tend to run on this.

* YoungerThanTheyLook: He was only 42 when he filmed ''Full Metal Jacket''. He looks almost the same from then as in his Geico commercial...over 20 years later.