R, LEE ERMEY never wanted to be an actor at all

R Lee Ermey never wanted to be an actor at all, he was fishing in the Phillipines with his phillipino wife getting drunk, when the director saw him, and his Marine tattoo's, found out he was a vietnam Vet and retired DI, and offered him the part. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Once the director got a hold of him he made Ermey the lead role for DI, replacing the short hispanic DI at the beginning.