Full Metal Jacket stars Matthew Modine as Joker, Adam Baldwin as Animal Mother, and Vincent D’Onofrio as Pyle in Stanley Kubrick’s Vietnam War classic.
Main cast
- Private Joker / Pfc. James T. DavisMatthew ModineMain
- Gunnery Sergeant HartmanR. Lee ErmeyMain
- Private Leonard Lawrence / Gomer PyleVincent D’OnofrioMain
- Animal MotherAdam BaldwinMain
- EightballDorian HarewoodMain
Supporting cast
- Lt. TouchdownEd O’RossSupp
- Crazy EarlKieron JecchinisSupp
- PaybackKevin Major HowardSupp
- DonlonJon StaffordSupp
- Doc JayTim ColceriSupp
- RaftermanJohn LaughlinSupp
Guest & voice
- Vietnamese SniperNgoc LeGuest
- Da Nang Hooker (as Leanne Hong)Leanne HongGuest
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About this cast
Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film follows a group of US Marines from brutal boot camp in South Carolina to the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, centring on the duality of Private Joker’s moral struggle and the devastating effect of war.
FAQs
Who plays Private Joker in Full Metal Jacket?
Matthew Modine plays the lead character Private Joker (Pfc. James T. Davis) in Full Metal Jacket.
Who portrays Gunnery Sergeant Hartman?
R. Lee Ermey, a former Marine drill instructor, plays the iconic Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.
Who plays Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket?
Vincent D’Onofrio plays the troubled recruit Private Leonard ‘Gomer Pyle’ Lawrence.
Is the film Full Metal Jacket based on a book?
Yes, the film is based on the novel ‘The Short-Timers’ by Gustav Hasford.
Why did Stanley Kubrick cast non-professional actors in some roles?
Kubrick cast real Marines, including R. Lee Ermey (a former drill instructor), to add authenticity to the boot camp sequences.
Sources & where to watch: IMDb · Wikipedia · Where to watch (JustWatch UK) · Updated June 2026