Actor R. Lee Ermey, who is perhaps best known for his role as Sgt. Hartman in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, has passed away from pneumonia complications. His manager shared the news of Ermey's death on Twitter today. He was 74.
Ermey served in the US Marines before becoming an actor. According to THR, Ermey served 14 months in Vietnam and did two tours in Okinawa. He retired from the service after 11 years. Ermey had a small part in Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, before landing a bigger role in Full Metal Jacket.
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. pic.twitter.com/vf4O78JKmb
— R. Lee Ermey (@RLeeErmey) April 15, 2018
Ermey worked with Activision on the Drill Instructor Voice Pack for Call of Duty: Ghosts in 2014. The $3 add-on swaps out the voice of the regular in-game alerts for Ermey's.
Ermey is also known for voicing the leader of the plastic Army soldiers in the Toy Story series, while he also had parts in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Se7en.