9 Actors Who Helped Movies In Ways You Won't Believe
5. R. Lee Ermey Was A Technical Advisor Before Joining The Cast - Full Metal Jacket
R. Lee Ermey gives an absolutely legendary performance in Full Metal Jacket as the foul-mouthed Gunnery Sergeant Hartman - a turn of such prickly authenticity it's little surprise that Ermey was actually a real Marine drill instructor years prior.
But Ermey actually wasn't supposed to act in Kubrick's film at all - he had initially been hired as a mere technical consultant.
He only landed the Hartman role after making a tape of himself berating some of the film's extras, which convinced Kubrick to hire Ermey in favour of fellow Marine Tim Colceri, who had already been promised the part and was subsequently demoted to the cameo role of the deranged helicopter gunner. Ouch.
As much of a raw deal as this undeniably was for Colceri, it's difficult to argue with Kubrick's decision, which most certainly was for the movie's gain.
Even so, it's crazy to consider that a man of Ermey's stature and energy was originally just going to be a behind-the-scenes crew member.