'Full Metal Jacket' Actor and Military Advocate Kevyn Major Howard Dead at 69

Actor and philanthropist Kevyn Major Howard, best known for his role as Marine Corps combat photographer "Rafterman" in Stanley Kubrick's 1987 war movie classic "Full Metal Jacket," died on Feb. 14 at age 69. His death in a Las Vegas hospital was related to ongoing respiratory issues, according to TMZ.

When you join the military and go off to basic training, the "Full Metal Jacket" jokes start immediately. Howard's Rafterman and his counterpart Joker, a combat correspondent (played by Matthew Modine), soon become as memorable as the people with whom you actually served.

That fact was likely not lost on Howard, who founded Fueled by the Fallen, a nonprofit with the mission of getting Americans to honor the names of those who died while serving the United States by restoring and customizing decades-old drag cars and turning them into race cars -- essentially memorials on wheels.

In response to Howard's death, Modine emphasized his co-star's dedication to the U.S. military in a memorial post on X.

"Kevyn Major Howard gave and gave and gave so much to the world and especially the men and women of our armed forces," wrote Modine. "He became famous for his role of 'Rafterman' in Stanley Kubrick's FULL METAL JACKET. His portrayal gave him a unique entrée into the world of the US Marine Corps. This led him on a decades-long journey to be in service of our nation's bravest. Thank you for your dedication to others and to America. May all the gods bless you Kevyn. Rest in peace. #SemperFidelis"

"The 'Lusthog Squad,'" Modine's caption for the photo reads: "Kevyn Major Howard (lower right), Sal Lopez (lower left), Gary Landon Mills (upper left), Adam Baldwin (upper middle), and myself (upper right). We're being lit by fire in this photo. We went to this source of warmth because the winter of 1985 was particularly freezing."

Howard was born in Montreal on Jan. 27, 1956, and moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s, where he began his onscreen career. His role as Rafterman is probably his most memorable -- especially for military audiences -- but his television credits also included appearances on "The A-Team," "MacGyver" and "Magnum, P.I." He also appeared in movies alongside Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry in "Sudden Impact," with James Caan in "Alien Nation" and with Charles Bronson in "Death Wish II."

That "Full Metal Jacket" is so beloved by service members and veterans of the U.S. military can seem like an odd pairing. The satirical Vietnam War movie doesn't necessarily feel like an anti-war film, but it doesn't glamorize joining the military or actually fighting in a war. The humanity Joker and Rafterman display as they make their way to the 1968 Battle of Hue are what connect viewers to the film -- a connection driven home when they lose that humanity at the end of the film. Modine's and Howard's performance as the duo are unforgettable, and maybe that's what makes the film so relatable to veterans.

Howard reportedly died surrounded by his loved ones. Though known primarily for his Rafterman role, he should also be remembered for his dedication to remembering those who served by using souped-up vehicles to memorialize them.

"The reason we chose race cars is because you can get the attention of a 2-year-old and a 92-year-old with one," Howard said on the Fueled by the Fallen website. "Maybe I can get people who look upon the race car to remember just one name. If I can do that, I have accomplished my mission."

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