Posted on 02/15/2025 4:09:28 PM PST by Morgana
Kevyn Major Howard, the actor famous for his role as Rafterman in Full Metal Jacket, has passed away at 69.
Howard died Friday at a hospital in Las Vegas, as confirmed by his family to TMZ.
The exact cause of his death remains unclear, but his family noted that he had been battling respiratory issues for several weeks before being hospitalized.
Born on January 27, 1956, in Montreal, Quebec, Kevyn eventually moved to Los Angeles after completing his college education, thanks to his dual citizenship, in order to pursue a career in acting.
In Stanley Kubrick's iconic 1987 war film Full Metal Jacket, Howard played the role of Rafterman, a Vietnam War correspondent.
Over the years, he shared the screen with a number of Hollywood legends, including Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Frank Sinatra and James Caan.
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RIP
Say hello to R. Lee brother,
RIP.
Sir, does this mean Ann Margret is not coming?
I know I know Joker said that but still….
They are dropping like flies now. Vietnam veterans. Not actors.
I have two Agent Orange cancers but I'm still kicking at 78.
As an aside if you ever find yourself in Lancaster California stop by R Lee’s Bravery brewery. His uniform from FMJ is on display. I am about foot taller than him. I am sure if he was yelling at me in boot camp I would feel three feet shorter than him.
I can tell you, without a DOUBT, that DI’s that were shorter than me made me feel very miniscule.
I only did the Coast Guard boot camp which was hardly as intimidating as what the Marines go through.
I had my picture taken with R. Lee in Kuwait once back in 2003. Afterwords I would have bet you a month’s salary he was at least 6’5”. When I got back to the states and had the photos developed I was shocked to see that he was actually about an inch shorter than me (I’m 6’0”)!
At least you served. More than most people can say, and don’t ever let anyone tell you different.
My senior drill sergeant in rocket school didn’t like me because I was older and taller than him.
The scene from FMJ where Rafterman is in the helo dry-heaving with Joker is my fave. I laugh my ass off every time I see it. RIP Kevyn. “I got the sniper!”
Rafterman RIP? I can’t feature this.
That’s the role I remember him for. Then he tried to firebomb Harry Callahan, but that didn’t work out too well for him. Sudden Impact!
RIP, Kevyn.
Good for you. Good for us. I lost a classmate a couple of weeks ago. A Marine, who lost everyone in his unit except him and two mates. Liver cancer and fatty cirrhosis. He last wondered why he survived since 1969. I was air Navy and never close to the action, but sure as hell saw a few brothers come back shot up or dead.
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