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R. Lee Ermey

R. Lee Ermey

Actor, also writer · Died April 15, 2018, aged 74 · Emporia, Kansas, USA

Golden Globe nominee

Ronald Lee Ermey (March 24, 1944 – April 15, 2018) was a United States Marine Corps drill instructor and actor. Ermey often played the roles of authority figures, such as his breakout performance as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, Mayor Tilman in the Alan Parker film Mississippi Burning, Bill Bowerman in Prefontaine, Sheriff Hoyt in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, and plastic army men leader Sarge in the Toy Story films. He hosted two programs on the History Channel: Mail Call, in which he answered viewers' questions about various militaria both modern and historic; and Lock N' Load with R. Lee Ermey, which focused on the development of different types of weapons. He was a candidate for the National Rifle Association board of directors.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 24, 1944
Died
April 15, 2018 (aged 74)
From
Emporia, Kansas, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
82 on MovieCove · 110 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 3% in 30 days

What are R. Lee Ermey's films like?

Across their 48 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
26%
Survival
22%
Self
15%
Bonds
12%
Power
10%
Society
8%
Ideas
7%
Justice13 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 44 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 17 · Dark 19

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 26 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 21 · Intense 17

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 16 · Shifting 22 · Whiplash 6

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 29 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 8

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 17 · Engaged 23 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 17 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 14

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

24 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 8 of 24 analyzed roles.

Mentor
8 of 24
Threshold guardian
7 of 24
Shadow
6 of 24
Ally
2 of 24
Herald
1 of 24
Show the 24 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
37
Dread
13
Melancholic
11
Contemplative
11
Absurd
9
Other
39

How their films linger

Fun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous10

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch R. Lee Ermey's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 57 of their 82 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (25).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for R. Lee Ermey's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

110 credits, 82 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Watch(2012)

    as Manfred

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Toy Story 3(2010)

    as Sarge (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Batman: The Brave and the Bold(2008)

    Show 4 episodes · as Wildcat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Eleventh Hour(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Henson

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Solstice(2008)

    as Leonard

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Pixar Story(2007)

    as Sergeant (voice) (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning(2006)

    as Uncle Charlie Hewitt / Sheriff Hoyt

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Reef(2006)

    as Jack (voice)

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • X-Men: The Last Stand(2006)

    as Sergeant (voice)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Man of the House(2005)

    as Captain Nichols

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • House(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as John House

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Father of the Pride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Bunny (voice)

  • Y.M.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as John

  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(2003)

    as Sheriff Hoyt

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Willard(2003)

    as Mr. Martin

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • My Life as a Teenage Robot(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Fillmore! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Birdseye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Sheriff Gathers

  • Mail Call(2002)

    Show 105 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Kim Possible(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Additional Voices (voice) · as General Sims (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Scenes of the Crime(2001)

    as Mr. Parker

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Taking Sides(2001)

    as General Wallace

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Salton Sea(2002)

    as Verne Plummer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Run Ronnie Run(2002)

    as Lead Kidnapper

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • On the Borderline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Captain Elias

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Janitor's Father

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Tesca Campaign (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Megiddo: The Omega Code 2(2001)

    as Richard Benson

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergeant / Drill Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Pluto Campaign (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Invader ZIM(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Recess: School's Out(2001)

    as Colonel O'Malley (voice)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Saving Silverman(2001)

    as Coach

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Tophet Campaign (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Sky Marshall Sanchez

  • The District (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Bodsworth

  • Jericho(2000)

    as Marshall

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins(2000)

    as Sarge (voice)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Skipped Parts(2000)

    as Caspar Callahan

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Chaos Factor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Col. Ben Wilder

  • The Apartment Complex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Frank Stanton

  • Toy Story 2(1999)

    as Sarge (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter Burlock

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 15 episodes · as General Thornton (voice)

  • Action(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Titus Scroad

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 40 episodes · as Sanchez (voice)

  • You Know My Name(1999)

    as Marshal Nix

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Escape from Alaska (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Gary

  • SpongeBob SquarePants(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Prison Warden (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Life(1999)

    as Older Sheriff Pike

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Coach (voice) · as Warden (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Maximum Bob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Col. Theodore Baker

  • The Sender(1998)

    as Colonel Rosewater

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Gunshy(1998)

    as Jerry

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Starship Troopers(1997)

    as Voice heard on speaker (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Switchback(1997)

    as Sheriff Buck Olmstead

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Cracker: Mind Over Murder(1997)

    Show 16 episodes · as Lieutenant Fry

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Rough Riders(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Secretary of State John Hay

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Weapons of Mass Distraction(1997)

    as Billy Paxton

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Angry Beavers(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Dead Men Can't Dance(1997)

    as Senator Fowler

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Prefontaine(1997)

    as Bill Bowerman

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergeant Yorkie (voice)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Promised Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Frighteners(1996)

    as Hiles

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Soul of the Game(1996)

    as Wilkie

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • High Incident (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 32 episodes · as Tony Van Camp

  • Dead Man Walking(1995)

    as Clyde Percy

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Toy Story(1995)

    as Sergeant (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Leaving Las Vegas(1995)

    as Conventioneer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Space: Above and Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Major Bougas

  • Seven(1995)

    as Police Captain

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Savate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Benedict

  • Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back(1995)

    as Preacher Brian

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Murder in the First(1995)

    as Judge Clawson

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Love Is a Gun(1994)

    as Frank Deacon

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 22 episodes · as Luke

  • Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult(1994)

    as Prison Guard (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • On Deadly Ground(1994)

    as Stone

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • French Silk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Chief Crowder

  • Chain of Command (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Benjamin Brewster

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Patrick Findley

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Brisco Country Sr. · as Brisco County Sr.

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Body Snatchers(1993)

    as General Platt

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Sommersby(1993)

    as Dick Mead

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Hexed(1993)

    as Detective Ferguson

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Human Target (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Civil Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Street Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Special Agent Landau

  • True Identity(1991)

    as Houston’s Boss

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Toy Soldiers(1991)

    as General Kramer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Terror Within II(1991)

    as Von Demming

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • 83 Hours 'Til Dawn(1990)

    as Glen Fairling

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Kid(1990)

    as Luke Clanton

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • I'm Dangerous Tonight(1990)

    as Captain Aikman

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Take (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Weller

  • The Rift(1990)

    as Captain Phillips

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Demonstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Col. Joe Haines

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as Colonel Hapablap (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Fletch Lives(1989)

    as Jimmy Lee Farnsworth

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Siege of Firebase Gloria(1988)

    Writer · as Sgt. Maj. Bill Hafner / Narrator

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Mississippi Burning(1988)

    as Mayor Tilman

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • China Beach(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Full Metal Jacket(1987)

    as Gny. Sgt. Hartman

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Ernest Haskell

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Purple Hearts(1984)

    as Gunny

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Up from the Depths(1979)

    as Arnold (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Apocalypse Now(1979)

    as Eagle Thrust Seven Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Boys in Company C(1978)

    as Sergeant Loyce

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 110 titles from 1978 to 2012; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

Seven (1995)

$330M worldwide

Highest rated

Seven (1995)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutNomination
19782012

Peak 1994 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 8 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting110 of 110: 110 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1970s3 · acting1980s9 · acting1990s59 · acting2000s37 · acting2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 43 roles
78939803

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Nominated for a Golden Globe in 1988, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do R. Lee Ermey's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 59; across their 44 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Midcredits score across 82 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up33
  • 50th to 74th21
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

33 of their 82 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved20
  • Universally Panned3
  • Crowd Pleaser33
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · actor

Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001)

89th percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Seven (1995)

Midcredits 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 39 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is R. Lee Ermey's work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles51–93 · median 79 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles26–55 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles42–90 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles27–41 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles57–92 · median 85 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does R. Lee Ermey work with?

People who share at least 2 of R. Lee Ermey's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Bay shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles