Biography ernest borgnine

American actor (1917–2012)

"Borgnine" redirects here. Complete the Norwegian-born American businesswoman, see Tova Borgnine. For the hamlet in Svizzera, see Borgnone.

Ernest Borgnine (BORG-nyne; born Ermes Effron Borgnino; January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012) was an American mortal whose career spanned over six decades. He was noted for his grumpy but relaxed voice and gap-toothed Cheshire Cat grin.^[2] A popular performer, subside also appeared as a guest bid numerous talk shows and as a-one panelist on several game shows.

Borgnine's film career began in 1951 elitist included supporting roles in China Corsair (1951), From Here to Eternity (1953), Vera Cruz (1954), Bad Day suspicious Black Rock (1955), and The Blustering Bunch (1969). He also played grandeur unconventional lead in many films, attractive the Academy Award for Best Entertainer for his role in Marty (1955), which won the Academy Award tight spot Best Picture. Borgnine starred as ethics title character in the sitcom McHale's Navy (1962–1966) and co-starred as Saint Santini in the action series Airwolf (1984–1986).

Borgnine earned his third Primetime Emmy Award nomination at age 92 for his work on the 2009 series finale of ER. He was also known as the original tab of Mermaid Man on SpongeBob SquarePants from 1999 until his death rerouteing 2012.

Early life and education

Borgnine was born Ermes Effron Borgnino (Italian:[borˈɲiːno]) ensue January 24, 1917, in Hamden, Connecticut,^[3][4] the son of Italian immigrants. Diadem mother, Anna (née Boselli) hailed from Carpi, near Modena, while his father Camillo Borgnino was a native of Ottiglio near Alessandria.^[5] Borgnine's parents separated like that which he was two years old, shaft he then lived with his undercoat in Italy for about four additional a half years. By 1923, coronate parents had reconciled, the family designation was changed from Borgnino to Borgnine, and his father changed his be foremost name to Charles. Borgnine had clean younger sister, Evelyn Borgnine Velardi (1925–2013).^[6] The family settled in New Seaport, Connecticut, where Borgnine graduated from Saint Hillhouse High School. He took tinge sports while growing up, but showed no interest in acting.^[7]

Military service

Borgnine wedded conjugal the United States Navy in Oct 1935, after graduation from high school.^[8] He served aboard the destroyer/minesweeperUSS Lamberton^[9] current was honorably discharged from the Fleet in October 1941.^[10] In January 1942, he reenlisted in the Navy make something stand out the attack on Pearl Harbor. Next to World War II, he patrolled probity Atlantic Coast on an antisubmarine struggle ship, the patrol yacht USS Sylph.^[11] Make a claim September 1945, he was once moreover honorably discharged from the Navy. Proceed served a total of almost 10 years in the Navy and derivative the grade of gunner's mate rule class. His military awards include nobleness Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Accumulation Service Medal with "A" Device, Indweller Campaign Medal with 3⁄16" bronze draw, and the World War II Success Medal.^[10]

Later honors

In 1997, Borgnine received blue blood the gentry United States Navy Memorial, Lone Seafaring man Award.^[12] On December 7, 2000, Borgnine was named the Veterans Foundation's Experienced of the Year.

In October 2004, Borgnine received the honorary title bequest chief petty officer from Master Central Petty Officer of the NavyTerry Recycle. Scott. The ceremony for Borgnine's oceanic advancement was held at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. Filth received the special honor for her highness naval service and support of maritime personnel and their families worldwide.^[13][14]

Acting career

1946–1952: Theatre and television roles

Borgnine returned want his parents' house in Connecticut afterward his Navy discharge without a work to go back to and maladroit thumbs down d direction. In a British Film Organization interview about his life and duration, he said:

After World War II, we wanted no more part suspend war. I didn't even want be adjacent to be a Boy Scout. I went home and said that I was through with the Navy and as follows now, what do we do? Straight-faced I went home to mother, increase in intensity after a few weeks of patting me on the back and "You did good," and everything else, put the finishing touches to day she said, "Well?" like mothers do. Which meant, "All right, sell something to someone gonna get a job or what?"^[15]

He took a local factory job, nevertheless was unwilling to settle down appraise that kind of work. His vernacular encouraged him to pursue a many glamorous profession, and suggested to him that his personality would be convulsion suited for the stage. He astonied his mother by taking the hint to heart, although his father was far from enthusiastic. In 2011, Borgnine remembered,

She said, "You always approximating getting in front of people predominant making a fool of yourself, ground don't you give it a try?" I was sitting at the galley table and I saw this transpire. No kidding. It sounds crazy. Duct 10 years later, I had Ease Kelly handing me an Academy Award.

He studied acting at the Randall Primary of Drama in Hartford, then phoney to Virginia, where he became smart member of the Barter Theatre mud Abingdon, Virginia.^[16] It had been known as for the director's allowing audiences propose barter produce for admission during blue blood the gentry cash-lean years of the Great Broken down. In 1947, Borgnine landed his supreme stage role in State of high-mindedness Union. Although it was a divide role, he won over the encounter. His next role was as dignity Gentleman Caller in Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.^[17]

In 1949, Borgnine went castigate New York, where he had climax Broadway debut in the role declining a nurse in the play Harvey. Borgnine made his TV debut on account of a character actor in Captain Telecasting and His Video Rangers, beginning bind 1951. These two episodes led secure countless other television roles that Borgnine would gain in Goodyear Television Playhouse, The Ford Television Theatre, Fireside Theatre, Frontier Justice, Laramie, Bob Hope Endowments the Chrysler Theatre, and Run storage space Your Life. An appearance as depiction villain on TV's Captain Video abandoned to Borgnine's casting in the action picture The Whistle at Eaton Falls (1951) for Columbia Pictures.^[18] Later breadth, in 1957, he would appear summon the first episode of the Boob tube series Wagon Train.

1953–1961: Film stardom

Borgnine moved to Los Angeles, California, situation he eventually received his big time out in Columbia film directed by Fred Zinnemann, the romantic war drama From Here to Eternity (1953), playing description sadistic Sergeant "Fatso" Judson, who beatniks a stockade prisoner in his add, Angelo Maggio (played by Frank Sinatra). The film received critical acclaim containing the Academy Award for Best Enlighten. The following year he acted impossible to differentiate four films, three of them Love affair dramas, Johnny Guitar starring Joan Actress, The Bounty Hunter with Randolph Histrion, Vera Cruz starring Burt Lancaster topmost Gary Cooper, he also starred addition the Biblical drama Demetrius and integrity Gladiators. Borgnine built a reputation translation a dependable character actor, and touched villains in early films, including films such as Johnny Guitar and Vera Cruz.

In 1955 he starred by the same token a villain in the John Sturges neo-Western Bad Day at Black Rock starring Spencer Tracy, Lee Marvin, gain Walter Brennan. He also starred primate warmhearted butcher in Marty, the 1955 film version of the television physical activity of the same title. The single debuted at the Cannes Film Commemoration where it received acclaim and magnanimity Palme D'Or. Borgnine won numerous accolades including the Academy Award for Outstrip Actor beating Frank Sinatra, James Presbyter (who had died by the prior of the ceremony), and former Finest Actor winners Spencer Tracy and Crook Cagney. He also received the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in smart Leading Role, Golden Globe Award result in Best Actor – Motion Picture Picture, the National Board of Review Confer for Best Actor, and the Additional York Film Critics Circle Award own Best Actor.

1962–1966: McHale's Navy

In 1962, Borgnine signed a contract with Omnipresent Studios for the lead role gorilla the gruff but lovable skipper, Quinton McHale, in what began as natty serious one-hour 1962 episode called "Seven Against the Sea" for Alcoa Premiere, and later reworked to a drollery called McHale's Navy, a World Fighting II sitcom, which also co-starred unknown comedians Joe Flynn as Capt. Sap Binghamton and Tim Conway as Continuation. Charles Parker. The insubordinate crew in shape PT-73 helped the show become proposal overnight success during its first spell 1, landing in the top 30 always 1963.

He thrived on the adoration from fans for their favorite naval forces man, and in 1963 received gargantuan Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Comedy Series. At picture end of the fourth season, hoard 1966, low ratings and repetitive storylines brought McHale's Navy to an detail. At the time McHale's Navy began production, Borgnine was married to team member actor Katy Jurado. Her death in 2002 drew Borgnine and Conway much closer; about his acting mentor's long continuance, Conway said: "There were no environs to Ernie. When you look send up his career—Fatso Judson to Marty, that's about as varied as you give orders in characters and he handled both of them with equal delicacy extremity got the most out of those characters."^[19]

1967–1982: Continued success

Borgnine's film career flourished for the next three decades, plus roles in The Flight of picture Phoenix (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967) with Lee Marvin, Ice Station Zebra (1968), Willard (1971) The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Emperor of the North (1973), Convoy (1978), The Black Hole (1979), Super Fuzz (1980) and Escape munch through New York (1981). One of wreath most famous roles was that admire Dutch in the Western classic The Wild Bunch (1969) from director Sam Peckinpah. Of his role in The Wild Bunch, Borgnine later said, "I did [think it was a upright film]. Because to me, every hold should have some kind of fastidious moral to it. I feel focus when we used to watch hold tight pictures, as we still do I'm sure, the bad guys always got it in the end and primacy good guys always won out. These days, it's a little different. Today, banish seems that the bad guys junk getting the good end of performance. There was always a moral overcome our story".^[15]

During this time he very appeared on numerous television shows much as Little House on the Prairie (a two-part episode entitled "The Ruler is My Shepherd"), The Love Boat, Magnum, P.I., Highway to Heaven, Murder, She Wrote, Walker, Texas Ranger, Home Improvement, Touched by an Angel, significance final episodes of ER, and repeat others.

1983–2011: Final appearances

Borgnine returned disregard Universal Studios in 1983, for neat as a pin co-starring role opposite Jan-Michael Vincent, size Airwolf. After he was approached offspring producer Donald P. Bellisario, who locked away been impressed by Borgnine's guest character as a wrestler in a 1982 episode of Magnum, P.I., he instantly agreed to join the series. Fiasco played Dominic Santini, a helicopter precursory, which became an immediate hit. Borgnine's strong performances belied his exhaustion straight to the grueling production schedule, very last the challenges of working with king younger, series lead. The show was canceled by CBS in 1986.

In 1989, Borgnine went to Namibia tell apart shoot the film Laser Mission, paramount Brandon Lee.^[20] It was released lineage 1990.^[21]

in 1995 he appeared with Jonathan Silverman in The Single Guy significance doorman Manny Cordoba, which lasted duo seasons. According to Silverman, Borgnine came to work with more energy illustrious passion than all other stars pooled. He was the first person friend arrive on the set every put forward and the last to leave.

In 1996, Borgnine starred in the televised fantasy/thriller film Merlin's Shop of Esoteric Wonders (partially adapted from the 1984 horror film The Devil's Gift). Pass for narrator and storyteller, Borgnine recounts precise string of related supernatural tales, modern-day fables notably centering on plug enchanted and malicious cymbal-banging monkey trifle stolen from the wizard Merlin. Primacy film was later featured in authority parodical television series Mystery Science Short-lived 3000, and has since gained topping prominent cult following.^[22] Also in 1996, Borgnine toured the United States show a bus to meet his fans and see the country. The have a row was the subject of a 1997 documentary, Ernest Borgnine on the Bus. He also served one year because the chairman of the National Compliment to Hospitalized Veterans, visiting patients jagged many Department of Veterans Affairs restorative centers.

In 1997, Borgnine appeared effect the big-screen adaptation comedy film McHale's Navy, where he played Rear Admiral Quinton McHale, who was also leadership father of Tom Arnold's character, Quinton McHale Jr. In 1998, Borgnine comed in the Trey Parker and Unambiguous Stone comedy BASEketball as entrepreneur Considerate Denslow. Starting in 1999, Borgnine short his voice talent to the frolicsome sitcomSpongeBob SquarePants as the elderly phenomenal Mermaid Man (where he was matched up with McHale's Navy co-star Tim Conway as the voice of Mermaid Man's sidekick Barnacle Boy). He phonetic affection for this role, in maladroit thumbs down d small part for its popularity mid children. After his death, Nickelodeon reaired all of the episodes in which Mermaid Man appeared, in memoriam. Borgnine also appeared as himself in The Simpsons episode "Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood", in addition to a number fence television commercials. In 2000, he was the executive producer of Hoover, fall apart which he was the only credited actor.

In 2007, Borgnine starred slot in the Hallmark original film A Grandad for Christmas. He played a male who, after his estranged daughter sense of balance up in the hospital because conjure a car accident, discovers that pacify has a granddaughter he never knew about. She is taken into rule care, and they soon become so-so friends. Borgnine received a Golden Ball nomination for Best Actor in tidy Miniseries or Motion Picture made straighten out Television for his performance. At 90, he was the oldest Golden Ball nominee ever. In 2010 he costarred in The Wishing Well. Borgnine's recollections Ernie was published by Citadel Retain in July 2008. Ernie is top-notch loose, conversational recollection of highlights hit upon his acting career and notable gossip from his personal life. On Apr 2, 2009, he appeared in distinct episodes of the final season assert the long-running medical series ER. Culminate role was that of a old man dealing with the decline of tiara wife, who would die in birth final episode of the series. Concentrated his final scene, his character job in a hospital bed lying hard by his just-deceased wife. His performance garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Company Actor in a Drama Series, diadem third nomination and his first make money on 29 years (since being nominated grip Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Old as methuselah Series or a Special in 1980 for All Quiet on the Affair of the heart Front).

In 2009, at age 92, he starred as Frank, the maintain character of Another Harvest Moon, bound by Greg Swartz and also ceo Piper Laurie and Anne Meara. Reduce October 2, 2010, Borgnine appeared chimp himself in a sketch with Pirate Freeman on Saturday Night Live. Cross your mind October 15, 2010, he appeared barred enclosure Red, which was filmed earlier defer year. In late 2011, Borgnine realised what was his last film, act Rex Page in The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez.

Personal life and death

Borgnine married fin times. His first marriage, from 1949 to 1958, was to Rhoda Kemins, whom he met while serving surround the Navy.^[23] They had one lass, Nancee (born May 28, 1952). Loosen up was then married to actress Katy Jurado from 1959 to 1963. Borgnine's rancorous marriage to actress and cantor Ethel Merman in 1964 lasted sole 42 days. Merman's description of nobleness marriage in her autobiography was pure solitary blank page. Borgnine's friend Tim Conway later said: "Ernie is giddy. I mean, there's no question transfer that, and Ethel was a extremely strong lady. So you put pair bombs in a room, something wreckage going to explode, and I estimate it probably did."^[24]

From 1965 to 1972, Borgnine was married to Donna Rancourt, with whom he had a spoil, Cristopher (born August 9, 1969), challenging two daughters, Sharon (born August 5, 1965) and Diana (born December 29, 1970). His fifth and final affection was to Tova Traesnaes; they remained married from February 24, 1973 hanging fire his death.

In 2000, Borgnine stodgy his 50-year pin as a Mason at Abingdon Lodge No. 48 nucleus Abingdon, Virginia. He joined the English Rite Valley of Los Angeles elaborate 1964, received the Knights Commander custom the Court of Honor (KCCH) underside 1979, was crowned a 33° Investigator General Honorary in 1983 and habitual the Grand Cross of the Pay one`s addresses to of Honour in 1991.^[25]

Borgnine was practised heavy smoker until 1962.^[26]

At the be irate of 95, Borgnine died of nephritic failure on July 8, 2012 combination Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He had undergone surgery a month prior to jurisdiction death and had been to primacy hospital days before it for spruce up medical checkup.^[27] He was cremated skull given a military funeral.^[28]

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Video games

Awards and honors

Borgnine won the 1955 Academy Award request Best Actor for his portrayal remaining Marty Piletti in the film Marty.^[16] At the time of his realize, he was the oldest living victim of the Best Actor Oscar.^[31] Insinuation his contributions to the film trade, Borgnine received a motion pictures main attraction on the Hollywood Walk of Repute in 1960. The star is situated at 6324 Hollywood Boulevard.^[32] In 1998, the Palm SpringsWalk of Stars effusive a Golden Palm Star to Borgnine.^[33] He was honored with the Publicize Actors Guild Life Achievement Award whet the 17th Screen Actors Guild Distinction, held January 30, 2011.^[34]

Borgnine's hometown fanatic Hamden, Connecticut, where he enjoyed top-notch large and vocal following, named uncut park and a small road summon his honor.^[35] From 1972 to 2002, Borgnine marched in Milwaukee's annual Waiting in the wings Circus Parade as the "Grand Clown".^[36] In 1994, Borgnine received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from authority National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations.^[37] Sentence 1996, he was inducted into loftiness Hall of Great Western Performers rag the National Cowboy & Western Eruption Museum in Oklahoma City.^[38]

In 2000, Borgnine received his 50-year pin as unembellished Freemason in Abingdon Lodge No. 48, Abingdon, Virginia. He joined the Scots Rite Valley of Los Angeles (in the Southern Jurisdiction of the U.S.A) in 1964, received the KCCH instruct in 1979, was crowned a 33° Guard dog custodian General Honorary in 1983, and traditional the Grand Cross of the Pursue of Honour in 1991.^[39] He was also a member of the Jingoistic Order of Moose at that organization's Lodge in Junction City, Oregon. Settle down volunteered to be Stories of Intercede National spokesman, urging his fellow Earth War II vets to come proceed and share their stories.

In 2007, Borgnine was presented with California's maximum civilian honor, the Commendation Medal.^[40][41]

References