Actor R.Lee Ermey (66) was in Springfield, Mo yesterday. While Ermey was doing a meet and greet with his fans that gave me the opportunity to to get this interview.
Bass Pro Shops housed the autograph event that was sponsored by SOG knives. I arrived around 10 a.m. to find out I should have shown up a maybe at seven. The line was all ready a few hundred people long.
Most of you will remember R.Lee Ermey from his work as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket (1987), Sheriff Hoyt in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake(2003), or in the current GEICO commercial (2010). Ermey was also a drill instructor for the Marine Corps for 11 years. Some of the other Golden Globe Award-nominated actor accomplishments are Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Se7en (1995) and Dead Man Walking (1995).
Well, I finally made it up the to the front of the line after only a few hrs. I was so impressed Mr. Ermey was fascinating, joking and smiling the whole time. He never even yelled once not even when he gave a pep talk to the local troops that showed up.
I wish now I would have gotten a picture of his ring it was huge, a gold and diamond Marine Corps ring with sparkling rock that must have been 3 karats at least. The interview answers were short mostly due to the fact that he still had another three hundred people behind me in line. I tried to get in as many questions as I could. Here is hoping that you will find something out that you did not all ready know.
R.Lee Ermey
DOB: 3/24/44
Born: Emporia, Kansas
Height: 6′ Weight: 180
Religion: Roman Catholic
Political preference: Republican
Mr. Ermey Favorites:
Color: Red
Food: Beef
Drink: Milk
Movie “One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
TV Show: “I do not watch TV.”
Type of Music: Country Western
Hobbies: “I raise cattle and horses.”
Tattoos: “I have a Marine Corps emblem, dragon, and a shark on my forearms and shoulder.”
Fears or phobias: None
On Schooling:
“I attended Granger High, Granger, Washington dropped out after the 10th grade. But later I passed the G.E.D.
I then went to college under the GI Bill of rights in Manila.”
On Marriage and children:
“To my one and only Nila. We have one boy and two girls.”
On Acting:
How did you get started in acting?
“As a background extra.”
Did you have any acting class or coach?
“The school of hard knocks. Life was my teacher!”
What was your first time like?
“A piece of cake. No Sweat. Easy!”
Are there any drawbacks?
“None, except the long hours.”
What is your most memorable experience?
“Being in Full Metal Jacket.”
How can your fans reach you.
At my website. rleeermey.com
Yes, I got Gunny’s autograph too!
