Ernest Borgnine (born January 24, 1917)
["Ernest Borgnine." International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, 4th ed. St. James Press, 2000. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2006: "Born: Ermes Effron Borgnino in Hamden, Connecticut, January 24, 1917 (some sources say 1915 or 1918)."][, p. 114] is an American actor of television and the big screen. His career has spanned over five decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, including his Academy Award-winning turn in the 1955 film
Marty. On television, he is best known for playing Quinton McHale in the 1962-66 series
McHale's Navy and voicing the character Mermaid Man in the series,
SpongeBob SquarePants. He was also on the mid-1980s action series
Airwolf. He earned an Emmy nomination at age 92 for his work on the series
ER. In August 2009 at age 92 he earned the
Lifetime Achievement Award from the
Rhode Island International Film Festival.
Early life
Borgnine was born
Ermes Effron Borgnino in
Hamden,
Connecticut, the son of Anna (
née Boselli) who immigrated to the US from
Carpi (
Modena,
Italy), and Camillo Borgnino, who immigrated to the US from
Ottiglio (
Province of Alessandria,
Italy).
[Ernest Borgnine Biography (1929-)]
His parents separated when he was two years old, and he and his mother went to live in Italy. By 1923, his parents had reconciled, and the family name was changed from Borgnino to Borgnine. The family had settled in
North Haven, Connecticut, where he attended public schools. His mother also had the passion to develop her own dance. Anna gave her son a lot of moral support and he stood closely by her at all times. Second only to his father, Ernest had a hot temper, but his wit and charm helped him win over his staunchest detractors.
Naval career
Borgnine joined the
United States Navy in 1935, after graduation from
James Hillhouse High School in
New Haven, Connecticut. He was discharged in 1941, but re-enlisted when the United States entered
World War II and served until 1945 (a total of ten years), reaching the rank of
Gunner's Mate 1st Class. His military decorations included the
American Campaign Medal, the
Good Conduct Medal, the
American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, and the
World War II Victory Medal.
In 2004, Borgnine received the honorary rank of
Chief Petty Officer from the
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry D. Scott—the US Navy's highest ranking enlisted sailor at the time—for Borgnine's support of the Navy and naval families worldwide.
After the war was over he returned to his parents' home with no job and no direction. Since he wasn't willing to settle for a dead end job at one of the factories, his mother encouraged him to pursue a more glamorous profession and suggested that his personality would be well suited for the stage. He surprised his mother by taking the suggestion to heart, although his father was far from enthusiastic. Following graduation, he auditioned and was accepted to the
Barter Theatre in
Abingdon,
Virginia, where audiences usually barter their vegetables. In 1947, he landed his first stage role in
State of the Union. Although it was a short role, he won over the audience. His next role was as the Gentleman Caller in
Tennessee Williams'
The Glass Menagerie. In 1949, he had his
Broadway debut in the role of a nurse in the play
Harvey. More roles on stage led him to being a decades-long
character actor.
In 1951 he moved to
Los Angeles,
California, where he eventually received his big break in
From Here to Eternity (1953), playing the cruel Sergeant "Fatso" Judson in charge of the
stockade, who taunts fellow soldier Angelo Maggio (played by
Frank Sinatra). Borgnine built a reputation as a dependable
character actor and appeared in early film roles as villains, including movies like
Johnny Guitar,
Vera Cruz and
Bad Day at Black Rock. But in 1955 the actor starred as a warm-hearted butcher in the film version of the television play
Marty, which gained him an
Academy Award for Best Actor over
From Here to Eternity co-star
Frank Sinatra and former Best Actors
Spencer Tracy and
James Cagney.
Because of Borgnine's longevity,
Marty currently stands as the oldest film with a
Best Actor performance from someone still alive. With the passing of
Charlton Heston on April 5, 2008, Borgnine is the only living actor who has won
Best Actor for performances given prior to 1960. By comparison, there are four living pre-1960
Best Actress recipients:
Luise Rainer ('36 & '37, age 100);
Joan Fontaine ('41, age 92);
Olivia De Havilland ('46 & '49, age 93); and
Joanne Woodward ('57, age 79).
Borgnine's film career continued successfully through the 1960s and 1970s, including
The Vikings,
The Flight of the Phoenix,
The Dirty Dozen,
Ice Station Zebra,
The Poseidon Adventure and
The Black Hole. One of his most famous roles became that of Dutch, a member of
The Wild Bunch in the 1969 Western classic from director
Sam Peckinpah.
Character actor
As a young adult, Borgnine made his TV debut as a
character actor in
Captain Video and His Video Rangers, beginning in 1951. These two episodes led to countless other television roles that Borgnine would gain in
Goodyear Television Playhouse,
Short Short Dramas,
The Ford Television Theatre,
Waterfront,
The Lone Wolf,
Fireside Theatre,
The O. Henry Playhouse,
Frontier Justice,
Laramie,
The Blue Angels,
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre,
Run for Your Life,
Little House on the Prairies Pt. 2 episode - "The Lord is My Shepherd", The Love Boat, , Highway To Heaven with old friend Michael Landon, Murder, She Wrote, Walker, Texas Ranger, Touched By An Angel and the final episodes of ER, among many more.
Melissa Gilbert has said that her favorite
Little House on the Prairie episode of all time is the 1975 two-part "The Lord is My Sheperd" in which she co-starred with Borgnine. He played the mysterious mountain-man Jonathon who uttered the classic line, "I think I will" in response to his deep desire to eat his porridge.
In 2009, at the age of 92, Borgnine earned an Emmy nomination for his performances in the final two episodes of the long-running NBC medical series
ER.
Television roles
McHale's Navy
In 1962, Borgnine joined the ranks of other
sitcom stars such as
John Forsythe,
Andy Griffith,
Danny Thomas,
Alan Young,
Fred MacMurray and
Buddy Ebsen. That same year he signed a contract with
Universal Studios for the lead role as the gruff but lovable skipper
Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale in what began as a serious one-hour 1962 episode called
Seven Against the Sea for
Alcoa Premiere. Just like the McHale character, Borgnine was a longtime navy man in real life. This
World War II sitcom also starred two formerly unknown comedians/actors, the late
Joe Flynn as Capt. Wallace B. Binghamton and
Tim Conway as Ensign Charles Parker. Both of them got along very well with Borgnine, especially Conway. The insubordinate crew of PT-73 helped the show became an overnight success during its first season, although it did not land in the Top 30 until 1963, when it tied with
Hazel in the ratings. Borgnine thrived on the adulation from fans for their favorite
Navy man. He received an
Emmy Award nomination for
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1963. At the end of the fourth season in 1966 low ratings and repetitive story lines brought
McHale's Navy to an end. Borgnine was not happy about the show’s cancellation and was concerned about what television role he might play in the future. He later starred in the 1964 film version of the series and also appeared in a cameo performance in the 1997 remake.
Airwolf
Borgnine returned to a new contract with
Universal Studios in 1983, for a co-starring role opposite
Jan-Michael Vincent, on
Airwolf. After he was approached by producer
Donald P. Bellisario, who had been impressed by Borgnine's guest role as a wrestler in a 1982 episode of
, he immediately agreed. He played Dominic Santini, a helicopter pilot, in the series which became an immediate hit. Borgnine's strong performances belied his exhaustion due to the grueling production schedule, and the challenges of working with his younger, troubled series lead. The show was cancelled by
CBS in 1986.
The Single Guy
He auditioned a third time for a co-starring role opposite
Jonathan Silverman in
The Single Guy as doorman Manny Cordoba, which lasted two seasons. According to Silverman, Borgnine would come to work with more energy and passion than all other stars combined. He was the first person to arrive on the set every day and the last to leave.
Awards and honors
He was the first center square in the original version of the television game show
Hollywood Squares, with host
Peter Marshall.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Ernest Borgnine has received a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6324 Hollywood Blvd. In 1996, he was inducted into the
Western Performers Hall of Fame at the
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in
Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma.
Other activities
Also in 1996, Borgnine toured the US on a bus to meet his fans and see the country. The trip was the subject of a 1997 documentary,
Ernest Borgnine on the Bus. He also served one year as the Chairman of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, visiting patients in
Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.
Ernest Borgnine is a Freemason and a 33rd Scottish Rite Mason in the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction. He is also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose at that organization's Lodge in Junction City, OR.
Hobbies
Borgnine's hobbies include swimming, golfing, singing, traveling, dancing, partying, and spending time with family. Borgnine is also a noted
philatelist.
His most recent work
Since 1999 Borgnine has provided his voice talent to the comedy
cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants as the elderly
superhero Mermaid Man (where he is once again paired up with his
McHale's Navy co-star,
Tim Conway as the voice of Mermaid Man's sidekick
Barnacle Boy). He has expressed affection for this role, in no small part for its popularity among children. Borgnine also appeared on
The Simpsons episode "
Boy-Scoutz N the Hood" as himself in addition to a number of television commercials. In 2000, he was the executive producer of
Hoover, in which he is the only credited actor.
In 2007, 90-year-old Borgnine starred in the
Hallmark original movie
A Grandpa for Christmas. He played a man who, after his estranged daughter is in a car accident, discovers that he has a granddaughter he never knew about. She is taken into his care, and they soon become great friends. Borgnine received a
Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television for his performance in "A Grandpa for Christmas." At 90, he was the oldest Golden Globe nominee ever.
On April 2, 2009, Borgnine starred in the last episode of the long-running medical series
ER. His role was that of a husband whose long marriage ended with his wife's death. In his final scene, Borgnine's character is in a hospital bed lying beside his just-deceased wife. His performance garnered an
Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, his third nomination and his first in 29 years (since being nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special in 1980 for
All Quiet on the Western Front).
In 2009, at age 92, he was the main character in
Another Harvest Moon, directed by Greg Swartz and also starring
Piper Laurie and
Anne Meara.
Autobiography
Borgnine's autobiography
Ernie was published by
Citadel Press in July 2008.
Ernie is a loose, conversational recollection of highlights from his acting career and notable events from his personal life.
In the wake of the book's publication, he began a small promotional tour, visiting independent bookstores in the Los Angeles area to promote the book's release and meet some of his fans.
Personal life
Borgnine has been married five times.
- Rhoda Kemins (1949–1958), whom he met while serving in the Navy;
- The actress Katy Jurado (1959–1963)
- The singer Ethel Merman (1964), which lasted barely over a month. (divorce final May 25, 1965)
- Donna Rancourt (1965–1972), with whom he had a son, Christopher (born August 9, 1969) and two daughters, Sharon (born August 5, 1965) and Diana (born December 29, 1970).
- Tova Traesnaes (February 24, 1973 to date)
He has one sister, Evelyn Velardi (b. 1926).
His mother, Anna Borgnine, died in 1949, after a long battle against
tuberculosis, just days before his first wedding.
His ex-wife,
Katy Jurado, died one day after
Independence Day 2002, of a
heart attack. Borgnine once referred to his second ex-wife this way: "Beautiful, but a tiger."
On January 24, 2007, Borgnine celebrated his 90th birthday at a bistro in
West Hollywood, California. Guests included his wife Tova, decades-long friend
Tim Conway,
Dennis Farina,
Army Archerd,
Andy Granatelli,
Bo Hopkins,
Burt Young,
Steven Bauer, his son Cris Borgnine, grandson Anthony Borgnine,
Connie Stevens,
David Gerber,
Debbie Reynolds,
Joe Mantegna,
Norm Crosby and many more.
On February 24, 2008, Borgnine celebrated the 35th anniversary of his marriage to cosmetics maker Tova Traenaes.
He is a member of the Lambda chapter of the
Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
A street was named in Borgnine’s honor in his hometown of Hamden, Connecticut, where he still enjoys a large and vocal following. There is also a Mexican-themed restaurant in New York City with a shrine dedicated to Borgnine.
[www.nytimes.com/2009/02/14/nyregion/14metjournal.html]
For 30 years (1972–2002), Borgnine marched in
Milwaukee's annual Great Circus Parade as the "Grand Clown."
[www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/41376997.html]
On August 14, 2008, Borgnine claimed on
Fox News Channel that one of his secrets of long life was to "
masturbate a lot".
Awards and nominations
Filmography
Film
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Television
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Quotes
Copy section to Wikiquote
- Ernest: "Spencer Tracy was the first actor I've seen who could just look down into the dirt and command a scene. He played a set-up with Robert Ryan that way. He's looking down at the road and then he looks at Ryan at just the precise, right minute. I tell you, Rob could've stood on his head and zipped open his fly and the scene would've still been Mr Tracy's."
- Ernest: "The trick is not to become somebody else. You become somebody else when you're in front of a camera or when you're on stage. There are some people who carry it all the time. That, to me, is not acting. What you've gotta do is find out what the writer wrote about and put it into your mind. This is acting. Not going out and researching what the writer has already written. This is crazy!"
- Ernest: "Everything I do has a moral to it. Yes, I've been in films that have had shootings. I made The Wild Bunch (1969), which was the beginning of the splattering of blood and everything else. But there was a moral behind it. The moral was that, by golly, bad guys got it. That was it. Yeah."
- Ernest: "Ever since they opened the floodgates with Clark Gable saying, 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn,' somebody's ears pricked up and said, 'Oh boy, here we go!'. Writers used to make such wonderful pictures without all that swearing, all that cursing. And now it seems that you can't say three words without cursing. And I don't think that's right."
- Ernest on drugs: "No, I've never done anything. At least, not to my knowledge. I once took a bunch of goofballs by accident. They looked like candy. They were in a little bowl at a party. I grabbed a hand full and went to town. That was some New Years Eve. I didn't have a coherent thought till February."
- Ernest on his $5,000 salary for playing the eponymous lead in Marty (1955), which won him a Best Actor Oscar: "...I would have done it for nothing."
- Ernest on Women's Rights: "They tried it the wrong way. You can't expect anyone to take you seriously if you burn your undies and tell me I'm a pig. That's why it failed. Too many ugly broads telling me that they don't want to sleep with me. Who wanted you anyway?"
