12 Facts About Jerry Ziesmer

Jerry Ziesmer was an American assistant director, production manager and occasional actor.

Jerry Ziesmer is best known for his role as Jerry in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now in which he delivers the infamous line "terminate with extreme prejudice".

Jerry Ziesmer's character is suspected to be a part of CORDS or DOD Command Staff.

Jerry Ziesmer was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to a postal employee and his wife, who was the daughter of Dutch immigrants.

Jerry Ziesmer graduated on a scholarship from Milwaukee's Rufus King High School in 1957.

Jerry Ziesmer received a bachelor's degree in acting from Northwestern University in 1961.

Jerry Ziesmer received a Directors Guild training certificate for assistant directors in 1969, applying to the program after reading an advertisement in Variety.

Jerry Ziesmer's credits include The Way We Were, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Scarface, Illegally Yours, Midnight Run, History of the World, Part I, Annie, Say Anything, Almost Famous, and Jerry Maguire.

Jerry Ziesmer took small acting parts in some of his films, for example playing a pilot in Blue Thunder and a salesman in Rocky II.

In 2000 Jerry Ziesmer wrote a memoir, Ready when You Are, Mr Coppola, Mr Spielberg, Mr Crowe, that recounts his experiences working with some of Hollywood's most popular stars.

Jerry Ziesmer served on the council of the Directors Guild of America from 1987 to 1998, for three years as the chair.

Jerry Ziesmer helped establish a mentorship program for women and non-white directors.