Ronald Lee Ermey
Ronald Lee Ermey was born March 24, 1944, in Emporia, Kansas. He grew up in Kansas City, Kansas.
In 1961 Ermey joined the United States Marine Corps, and he served for 11 years. Ermey was a drill sergeant in 1965 and 1967 and served two tours of duty before retiring in 1972 due to medical injuries. Ermey attended college at the University of Manila in the Philippines where he studied drama. In 1978 Ermey acted in his first film The Boys of Company C, beginning a long acting career. Ermey is best known for his role as a drill sergeant in Full Metal Jacket. He often plays military figures in movies and is also a voice actor in animated motion pictures and television, including both Toy Story and The Simpsons. Ermey was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in Full Metal Jacket, and in 2010 he was the voice of Sarge in Toy Story 3. He died April 15, 2018, in Santa Monica, California.
Entry: Ermey, Ronald Lee
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: June 2012
Date Modified: April 2018
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
