R. LEE ERMEY
March 24, 1944 – April 15, 2018 (age 74)
Cause of Death: Complications related to pneumonia
On Sunday, the world said goodbye to actor R. Lee Ermey. Not always an actor, Ermey got his start as a United States Marine Corps staff sergeant and an honorary gunnery sergeant. During his tenure in the U.S. Marine Corps, he served as a drill instructor, which would lead to many of his successes in film and television. The second film Ermey ever starred in was Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” (1979) at the age of 34 as a helicopter pilot. Less than a decade later, he would land his most famous role as Sgt. Hartman in Stanley Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket” (1987) where his previous life as a drill instructor landed him the role and allowed him to improvise, which was unheard of for a Kubrick set. Another touchstone role in his career was of the police captain in David Fincher’s “Se7en” (1995). The later part of his career would be known mostly for comedic roles, like his memorable role in “Saving Silverman” (2001) and his last screen credit in “The Watch” (2012). He also lent his voice to many animated series including “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.” But for me, R. Lee Ermey will always be the voice of the little green Army man Sarge in all three of the “Toy Story” films. The fact that “Toy Story 4” was just around the corner makes his passing that much harder. Although he will truly be missed, his legacy will live on forever.
R. LEE ERMEY’S FILMOGRAPHY
| 1978 | The Boys in Company C |
Sgt. Loyce |
| 1979 | Apocalypse Now |
Eagle Thrust Seven Helicopter Pilot (uncredited) |
| 1979 | Up from the Depths |
n/a |
| 1984 | Purple Hearts | Gunny |
| 1987 | Full Metal Jacket |
Gny. Sgt. Hartman |
| 1988 | Mississippi Burning |
Mayor Tilman |
| 1989 | The Siege of Firebase Gloria |
Bill Hafner |
| 1989 | Fletch Lives |
Jimmy Lee Farnsworth |
| 1990 | Deathstone |
Col. Joe Haines |
| 1990 | The Rift |
Capt. Phillips |
| 1990 | Kid | Luke |
| 1991 | The Terror Within II |
Von Demming |
| 1991 | Toy Soldiers |
General Kramer |
| 1991 | True Identity |
Houston’s Boss |
| 1993 | Hexed |
Det. Ferguson |
| 1993 | Summersby |
Dick Mead |
| 1993 | Body Snatchers |
General Platt |
| 1994 | Chain Of Command |
Benjamin Brewster |
| 1994 | On Deadly Ground |
Stone |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult |
Mess Hall Guard (uncredited) |
| 1994 | Love Is A Gun |
Frank Deacon |
| 1995 | Murder In The First |
Judge Clawson |
| 1995 | Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back | Preacher Brian (uncredited) |
| 1995 | Se7en |
Police Captain |
| 1995 | Leaving Las Vegas |
Conventioneer |
| 1995 | Under The Hula Moon |
Lt. Col. J. P. McIntire |
| 1995 | Toy Story |
Sarge (voice) |
| 1995 | Dead Man Walking |
Clyde Percy |
| 1996 | The Frighteners |
Sgt. Hiles |
| 1997 | Prefontaine | Bill Bowerman |
| 1997 | Dead Men Can’t Dance |
Sen. Pullman T. Fowler |
| 1997 | Switchback | Sheriff Buck Olmstead |
| 1997 | Starship Troopers |
Voice on speaker (uncredited) |
| 1998 | The Sender |
Colonel Rosewater |
| 1998 | Gunshy |
Jerry |
| 1999 | Life |
Older Sheriff Pike |
| 1999 | Avalanche | Gary |
| 1999 | Toy Story 2 |
Sarge (voice) |
| 2000 | The Chaos Factor |
Col. Ben Wilder |
| 2000 | Skipped Parts |
Caspar Callahan |
| 2000 | Jericho |
Marshall |
| 2001 | Saving Silverman |
Coach |
| 2001 | Recess: School’s Out |
Colonel O’Malley |
| 2001 | Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 |
President Richard Benson |
| 2001 | Scenes of the Crime |
Mr. Parker |
| 2001 | Taking Sides |
General Wallace |
| 2001 | On The Borderline |
Capt. Elias |
| 2002 | Run Ronnie Run |
Lead Kidnapper |
| 2002 | The Salton Sea |
Verne Plummer |
| 2002 | Frank McKlusky, C.I. |
Jockey Master (uncredited) |
| 2002 | Birdseye |
Sheriff Gathers |
| 2003 | Willard |
Mr. Martin |
| 2003 | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre |
Sheriff Hoyt |
| 2004 | Y.M.I. | John |
| 2005 | Man Of The House |
Captain Nichols |
| 2006 | X-Men: The Last Stand |
Sergeant (voice) |
| 2006 | Shark Bait |
Jack (voice) |
| 2006 | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning | Uncle Charlie Hewitt / Sheriff Hoyt |
| 2008 | Solstice |
Leonard |
| 2010 | Toy Story 3 |
Sarge (voice) |
| 2012 | The Watch |
Manfred |
R. LEE ERMEY’S TELEVISION APPEARANCES
| 1987 | Miami Vice |
Det. Sgt. Ernest Haskell | Episode: “The Rising Sun Of Death” |
| 1989 | China Beach |
Colonel Buster Darling | Episode: “Who’s Happy Now?” |
| 1990 | The Take | Weller | Television movie |
| 1990 | I’m Dangerous Tonight | Lt. Ackman | Television movie |
| 1990 | 83 Hours ‘Til Dawn | Glen Fairling | Television movie |
| 1992 | Human Target |
General Ferris | Episode: “Second Chance” |
| 1992 | Civil Wars |
General Randall Bell | Episode: “Das Boat House” |
| 1992 | Street Justice |
Special Agent Landau | Episode: “Innocent Blood” |
| 1993 | The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. | Brisco County Sr. | 2 Episodes |
| 1994 | French Silk |
Chief Crowder | Television movie |
| 1994 | Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story | Mr. Byrd (uncredited) | Television movie |
| 1994 | Tales from the Crypt | Sheriff | Episode: “Staired In Horror” |
| 1995 | Sweet Justice |
Luke | Episode: “Bloodlines” |
| 1995 | Space: Above and Beyond | Sergeant Major Bougus | Episode: “Pilot” |
| 1995 | The X-Files | Reverend Patrick Findley | Episode: “Revelations” |
| 1995-2015 | The Simpsons | Colonel Leslie Hapablap (voice) | 2 Episodes |
| 1996 | Toy Story Treats (short) | Sarge (voice) | Television short |
| 1996 | High Incident |
Tony Van Camp | Episode: “Til Death Do Us Part” |
| 1996 | Soul of the Game | Wilkie | Television movie |
| 1997 | Rough Riders |
Secretary of State John Hay | 2 Episodes (mini-series) |
| 1997 | Weapons of Mass Distraction | Billy Paxton | Television movie |
| 1997 | Promised Land |
Leo C. Greene | 2 Episodes |
| 1997 | The Angry Beavers |
Sergeant Goonther (voice) | Episode: “H-2 Whoa/Fancy Prance” |
| 1997-1999 | Cracker: Mind Over Murder | Lieutenant Fry | 13 Episodes |
| 1998 | All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series |
Sergeant Yorkie (voice) | Episode: “Dogfaces” |
| 1998 | Maximum Bob |
Col. Theodore Baker | Episode: “Wandalust” |
| 1999 | You Know My Name | Marshal Nix | Television movie |
| 1999 | The Apartment Complex |
Frank Stanton | Television movie |
| 1999-2000 | Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles | Sky Marshall Sanchez | 4 Episodes |
| 1999-2000 | Action | Titus Scroad | 4 Episodes |
| 1999-2001 | Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot | General Thornton |
26 Episodes |
| 2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins | Sarge (voice) | Video |
| 2001 | The District |
Jim Bodsworth | Episode: “New World” |
| 2001 | This Week in History |
n/a | 2 Episodes |
| 2001-2011 | Family Guy |
Warden / Coach (voice) | 2 Episodes |
| 2002 | Scrubs | Janitor’s Father | Episode: “My Old Man” |
| 2002 | Invader ZIM |
Sergeant Hobo 678 (voice) | Episode: “HOBO 13/Walk for Your Lives” |
| 2003 | Rocket Power |
Madison (voice) | Episode: “Cinco de Twisto/Saving Lt. Ryan” |
| 2003 | Fillmore! |
Colonel Thrift | Episode: “South of Friendship, North of Honor” |
| 2003 | Kim Possible |
General Sims (voice) | 2 Episodes |
| 2004 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Drill Sergeant (voice) | Episode: “Bully Boogie/Here Thar Be Dwarves” |
| 2004 | Father of the Pride | Bunny (voice) | Episode: “One Man’s Meat Is Another Man’s Girlfriend” |
| 2005 | My Life as a Teenage Robot |
Sarge (voice) | Episode: “Last Action Zero/Mind Over Matter” |
| 2005-2008 | House |
John House | 2 Episodes |
| 2007 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Warden (voice) | Episode: “The Inmates of Summer/To Save a Squirrel” |
| 2008 | Eleventh Hour |
Bob Henson | Episode: “Agro” |
| 2009-2011 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold |
Wildcat (voice) | 4 Episodes |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Walter Burlock | Episode: “Trophy” |
| 2012-2015 | Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness | General Tsin (voice) |
3 Episodes |
