Full Metal Jacket Star Kevyn Major Howard Dead at Age 69

Kevyn Major Howard, best known for his role as Rafterman in Full Metal Jacket, has died. He was 69.

Howard passed away in Las Vegas on Friday, February 14. His death was confirmed to TMZ by his family on Saturday, February 15. According to the outlet, Howard had been hospitalized with a respiratory illness for several weeks before his death.

The actor was born January 27, 1956, in Montreal, Quebec. His additional film credits included Sudden Impact with Clint Eastwood and Death Wish II with Charles Bronson.

But it was Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 war saga that would go on to become Major’s largest and most impactful role. In a 2007 interview with Monsters and Critics, he explained that the role gave him insight into what it was like to fight in a war.

“Although I haven’t been in a war, I have a much clearer understanding of patriotism, and the pride and courage it takes to serve your country,” Howard told the outlet at the time. “Many of the Marines that I have met have seen ‘Full Metal Jacket’ and I believe that although I have never been to war, my work on this film continues to serve as a bridge that allows them to come face to face with the personal sacrifices they have made. It also allows me to stand in silence beside them and bear witness to their own personal tribute to their fallen comrades.”

The cinematic classic is based on the 1979 novel The Short-Timers and stars Matthew Modine, R. Lee Emery, Adam Baldwin, Dorian Harewood and Arliss Howard. The movie and book center around a group of Marines completing boot camp in South Carolina before they are deployed to Vietnam.

Howard starred as a soldier nicknamed “Rafterman” because of his role as the platoon’s photographer. The actor also told Monsters and Critics how he put the character together.

“Through conversations with Mathew Modine I realized that Stanley selected his cast through a ‘type casting of sort,’” Howard explained. “He knew how he felt he wanted his characters actualized and I believe that I recognized Stanley’s need for why I was chosen to play Rafterman. In my world I don’t seem to naturally fit in with the norm. Rafterman had that quality being examined constantly as the new guy.”

“He was sort of the odd man out always trying to prove himself,” he continued. “That seemed to be in my nature as well. Always wanting to be a part of the in crowd but just never fit in. Rafterman always seemed determined. Rafterman always wanted to be recognized and so I chose to stick close to home in portraying these facets of Rafterman.”

Howard is survived by his wife Tiffanie, stepdaughter Kayla, sister Kim and his brother Kelsey.