R. Lee Ermey | The Marine who became a Hollywood Legend

He didn’t act like a Marine because he was one. Before R. Lee Ermey became Hollywood’s most feared drill instructor in Full Metal Jacket, he was the real deal: a U.S. Marine who lived, breathed, and bled the Corps. From his rebellious teenage years and Vietnam service to his rise as one of Hollywood’s most iconic military figures, this is the true story of the man who turned discipline into art. Ermey wasn’t just a performer, he was a symbol of Marine pride, a voice of authority, and a reminder of what “Once a Marine, always a Marine” truly means.