Oscar-winning actor Ernest Borgnine dead at 95
Actor Ernest Borgnine, whose barrel-chested, bulldog looks made him a natural for tough-guy roles in films like "From Here to Eternity" but who won an Oscar for playing a sensitive loner in "Marty," died on Sunday at age 95, his publicist said.
The real-life U.S. Navy veteran who became a household name during the 1960s by starring as the maverick commander of a World War Two patrol boat in the popular television comedy "McHale's Navy," died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, longtime spokesman Harry Flynn said.
Borgnine, who continued to work until very recently, had been the oldest living recipient of an Academy Award for best actor, Flynn said.
A statement from the actor's family said he "had been in excellent health until a recent illness." Flynn said Borgnine recovered from unspecified surgery he underwent a month ago but his condition deteriorated rapidly after he visited the hospital on Tuesday for a medical checkup.
His last screen credit was the lead role of an aging nursing home patient in a film set for release later this year, "The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez." The performance earned Borgnine a best actor award at the Newport Beach Film Festival, where it debuted in April, Flynn said.
With his burly profile, gruff voice and gap-toothed leer, Borgnine was on the verge of being typecast as the bad guy early in his career, following a string of convincing performances as the heavy in such films as "Johnny Guitar" in 1954 and "Bad Day at Black Rock in 1955."
Borgnine's most memorable turn as a menacing tough guy was his breakout role in the 1953 Oscar-winning film "From Here to Eternity" as the sadistic Sergeant "Fatso" Judson, who terrorizes and eventually kills Frank Sinatra's character, Private Angelo Maggio.
But Borgnine broke free from the bad-guy rut and won his own Oscar with a rare leading-man role in 1955's "Marty," playing a warm-hearted New York butcher who lamented, "One fact I gotta face is that, whatever it is that women like, I ain't got it."
In addition to his Academy Award, Borgnine's work in "Marty" led to more sympathetic roles in such films as "Jubal" (1956) and "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (1956).
Critic Bosley Crowther described Borgnine's Oscar-winning performance in "Marty," a film version of a television play by Paddy Chayevsky, as "a beautiful blend of the crude and strangely gentle and sensitive."
Some critics hinted that Borgnine was a "Marty" in real life, but the actor, who was married five times, took exception by saying, "I'm no playboy, but I'm no dumb slob either."
"Marty" also won Oscars for best picture, best director and adapted screenplay.
"Ernie is the nicest man I've ever worked with," said Sidney Lanfield, who directed him on the TV sitcom "McHale's Navy." "When he says, 'Hello! How are you?' or 'Glad to see you!' you can bet the line has not been rehearsed."
The television show, in which he starred as the skipper of a misfit PT boat crew skirting Navy regulations while chasing Japanese submarines, ran on ABC from the fall of 1962 until August 1966 and reinvigorated Borgnine's career. Funnyman Tim Conway co-starred as McHale's ensign.
He starred again as Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale in a 1964 big-screen adaptation of the TV show, and returned to supporting character work in such movies such as "The Flight of the Phoenix" (1965), "The Dirty Dozen" (1968), Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch" (1969) and "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972).
He appeared in dozens of films in all.
He was born Ermes Effron Borgino in Hamden, Connecticut, and did not take up acting until after a 10-year hitch in the U.S. Navy, including a stint during World War II as a gunner's mate on a destroyer in the Pacific.
"I just couldn't see myself going into a factory where I saw these pasty-faced fellows walking in and walking out after stamping their cards," Borgnine once said.
Using money he earned from the G.I. Bill, Borgnine studied at the Randall School of Dramatic Arts in Hartford and performed on stage for several years at a Virginia theater.
His first Hollywood job was a low-budget picture, "China Corsair," in 1951, starring in ethnic makeup as the Chinese proprietor of a gambling club.
He made his Broadway debut in the 1949 Mary Chase comedy "Harvey," and after a trio of early-'50s films appeared on Broadway again in 1952 in another Chase production, "Mrs. McThing," this time opposite Helen Hayes.
Hayes ended up being a godmother to the eldest of Borgnine's three children, daughter Nancee, by his first wife.
Borgnine returned to series television as co-star of the mid-1980s action film "Airwolf." And in 1988 he portrayed a mafia chief in the big-screen film "Spike of Bensonhurst."
Working well into his 90s, Borgnine earned an Emmy nomination for his 2009 guest appearance on the final two episodes of the television hospital drama "ER," playing the husband of a dying elderly woman. The following year, he notched a cameo role as a CIA records keeper in the spy thriller "Red."
He performed voice work for animated productions late in his life, including "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "All Dogs Go to Heaven."
Borgnine's 1964 marriage to singer-actress Ethel Merman barely lasted a month. He said it broke up because fans paid more attention to him than her during their honeymoon.
The longest of Borgnine's five marriages was his last - to Tova Traesnaes, whom he married in 1973. Despite his rough looks, Borgnine appeared in ads touting the face-rejuvenating powers of beauty products from a company she started.
His filmogrpahy:
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1951 China Corsair
Hu Chang
The Whistle at Eaton Falls Bill
Street
The Mob Joe
Castro
1953 Treasure of
the Golden Condor Bit part
The Stranger Wore a Gun Bull
Slager
From Here to Eternity Staff
Sergeant James R. "Fatso" Judson
1954 Johnny Guitar
Bart Lonergan
Demetrius and the Gladiators Strabo
The Bounty Hunter Bill
Rachin
Vera Cruz Donnegan
1955 Bad Day at
Black Rock Coley Trimble
Violent Saturday Stadt,
Amish Farmer
Marty Marty Piletti Academy Award for Best Actor
BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
National Board of Review Award for Best Actor
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
Run for Cover Morgan
The Last Command Mike
Radin
The Square Jungle Bernie
Browne
1956 Jubal Shep Horgan
The Catered Affair Tom
Hurley
The Best Things in Life Are Free Lew Brown
Three Brave Men Bernard
F. "Bernie" Goldsmith
1958 The Vikings Ragnar
The Badlanders John
"Mac" McBain
Torpedo Run Lieutenant
/ Lieutenant Commander Archer "Archie" Sloan
1959 The Rabbit
Trap Eddie Colt Locarno International Film Festival
Award for Best Actor
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Roo Webber
1960 Man on a
String Boris Mitrov
Pay or Die Police
Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino Nominated
– Golden Laurel
1961 Go Naked in
the World Pete Stratton
Black City Peppino
Navarra
The Last Judgement Pickpocket
The Italian Brigands Sante
Carbone
Barabbas Lucius
1964 McHale's Navy
Lt. Commander Quinton McHale, Sr Spin-off of the series of the same name
1965 The Flight of
the Phoenix Trucker Cobb
1966 The Oscar Barney Yale
1967 Chuka Sergeant Otto Hansbach
The Dirty Dozen Major
General Worden
1968 The Man Who
Makes the Difference Himself Documentary short film
The Legend of Lylah Clare Barney
Sheean
The Split Bert
Clinger
Ice Station Zebra Boris
Vaslov
1969 The Wild
Bunch Dutch Engstrom
A Bullet for Sandoval Don
Pedro Sandoval
1970 The
Adventurers Fat Cat
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? Sheriff Harve
1971 Sam Hill: Who
Killed Mr. Foster? Deputy Sam
Hill
Willard Al Martin
Bunny O'Hare Bill
Green / William Gruenwald
Hannie Caulder Emmett
Clemens
The Trackers Sam
Paxton
Rain for a Dusty Summer The
General
1972 The World of
Sport Fishing Himself Documentary
Film Portrait
Ripped Off Captain
Perkins
The Revengers Hoop
The Poseidon Adventure Detective
Lieutenant Mike Rogo
1973 Emperor of
the North Pole Shack
The Neptune Factor Chief
Diver Don MacKay
Legend in Granite Vince
Lombardi
1974 Twice in a
Lifetime Vince Boselli
Law and Disorder Cy
Vengeance Is Mine Adam
Smith
1975 The Devil's
Rain Jonathan
"John" Corbis
Hustle Santuro
1976 Holiday
Hookers Max
Shoot Lou
1977 Fire! Sam Brisbane
The Greatest Angelo
Dundee
Crossed Swords John
Canty
1978 The Ghost of
Flight 401 Dom Cimoli
Cops and Robin Joe
Cleaver
Convoy Natoosha County
Sheriff Lyle 'Cottonmouth' Wallace of Arizona
1979 Ravagers Rann
The Double McGuffin Mr.
Firat
The Black Hole Harry
Booth
1980 When Time Ran
Out Detective Sergeant Tom Conti
Super Fuzz Sergeant
Willy Dunlop
1981 High Risk Clint
Escape from New York Cabbie
Deadly Blessing Isaiah
Schmidt Nominated – Razzie Award for
Worst Supporting Actor
1983 Young
Warriors Lieutenant Bob
Carrigan
Carpool Mickey
Doyle
1984 Code Name:
Wild Geese Fletcher
Love Leads the Way: A True Story Senator Brighton
Man Hunt Ben
Robeson
1985 Alice in
Wonderland The Lion
1988 Skeleton
Coast Colonel Smith
The Opponent Victor
Spike of Bensonhurst Baldo
Cacetti Nominated – Independent
Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
The Big Turnaround Father
Lopez
Moving Target Captain
Morrison
1989 Gummibärchen
küßt man nicht Bischof
Laser Mission Professor
Braun
Jake Spanner, Private Eye Sal
Piccolo
1990 Any Man's
Death Herr Gantz
Appearances Emil
Danzig
Tides of War Doctor
1991 The Last
Match Coach
Mountain of Diamonds Ernie
1992 Mistress Himself Cameo
1993 Tierärztin
Christine Dr. Gustav Gruber
Hunt for the Blue Diamond [de] Hans Kroger
1994 Outlaws: The
Legend of O.B. Taggart Sheriff
Laughton
1995 Tierärztin
Christine II: The Temptation Dr. Gustav
Gruber
Captiva Island Arty
1996 The Wild
Bunch: An Album in Montage Himself Voice; Documentary
All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 Carface
Carruthers Voice
Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders Grandfather
1997 Ernest
Borgnine on the Bus Himself Documentary
McHale's Navy Admiral
Quinton McHale, Sr. (a.k.a. Cobra) Based
on the series of the same name
Gattaca Caesar
1998 Small
Soldiers Kip Killigan Voice
BASEketball Ted
Denslow
12 Bucks Lucky
Mel Grandpa
An All Dogs Christmas Carol Carface
Carruthers Voice
1999 Abilene Hotis Brown
The Lost Treasure of Sawtooth Island Ben Quinn
The Last Great Ride Franklin
Lyle
2000 Castle Rock Nate
Hoover J. Edgar Hoover
Also executive producer
The Kiss of Debt Godfather
Mariano
2002 11'09"01
September 11 Pensioner (Segment: "United States of
America")
Whiplash Judge
DuPont
2003 The American
Hobo Narrator Documentary
The Long Ride Home Lucas
Moat
2004 Blueberry Rolling Star
Barn Red Michael
Bolini
The Trail to Hope Rose Eugene
The Blue Light Faerie
King
2005 That One
Summer Otis Garner
3 Below Grandpa
Rail Kings Steamtrain
2006 The
Bodyguard's Cure Jerry Warden
2007 Oliviero
Rising Bill
A Grandpa for Christmas Bert
O'Riley Nominated – Golden Globe
Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
2008 Strange
Wilderness Milas
I Am Somebody: No Chance in Hell [it] Judge Holliday
Frozen Stupid Frank
Norgard
2010 Enemy Mind Command Voice
The Genesis Code Carl
Taylor
Red Henry /
Recordskeeper
Another Harvest Moon Frank
2011 Night Club Albert Accolade Competition for Leading Actor
Frank Currier Actor's Award
SINY Film Festival Award for Best Actor
The Lion of Judah Slink
Voice
Love's Christmas Journey Nicolas
Snatched Big
Frank Baum
2012 The Man Who
Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez Rex
Page
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1951 Captain Video
and His Video Rangers Nargola 3 episodes
Goodyear Playhouse Sgt.
Lenahan Episode: "The
Copper"
1951, 1952 The
Philco Television Playhouse Mathew
O'Rourke 2 episodes
1954 The Lone Wolf
Saks Episode:
"The Avalanche Story (a.k.a. The Reno Story)"
The Danny Thomas Show Cop
Episode: "Rusty Runs
Away"
Ford Theatre Gus
White Episode: "Night
Visitor"
Waterfront Jack
Bannion 2 episodes
1957 Navy Log Host Episode: "Human Bomb"
1957–61 Wagon
Train Willy Moran / Earl Packer /
Estaban Zamora 4 episodes
1957, 1960 Dick
Powell's Zane Grey Theatre Willie
/ Big Jim Morrison 2
episodes
1959, 1960 Laramie
Boone Caudie / Major
Prescott 2 episodes
1961 The Blue
Angels Unknown Episode: "The Blue Leaders"
1962–1966 McHale's
Navy Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale
Nominated – Primetime Emmy
Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1963)
1966 Run for Your
Life Harry Martin Episode: "Time and a Half on Christmas
Eve"
1967 Get Smart Guard Episode: "Where-What-How-Who Am I?"
1968 Get Smart TV Viewer Episode: "The Little Black Book: Part 2"
1971 The Trackers Sam Paxton Television film
1973 Legend in
Granite Vince Lombardi Television film
1974 Little House
on the Prairie Jonathan Episode: "The Lord is my
Shepherd"
Twice in a Lifetime Vince
Lombardi Television film
1976–1977 Future
Cop Cleaver 7 episodes
1977 Jesus of
Nazareth The Roman Centurion
Fire Sam
Brisbane Television film
1978 The Ghost of
Flight 401 Dom Cimoli Television film
1979 All Quiet on
the Western Front Stanislaus Katczinsky Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
1982 Magnum, P.I. Earl "Mr. White Death" Gianelli Episode: "Mr. White Death"
The Love Boat Dominic
Rosselli Episode: "The
Italian Cruise"
1983 Blood Feud J. Edgar Hoover Television film
Masquerade Jerry Episode: "Pilot"
Carpool Mickey
Doyle Television film
1984 The Last Days
of Pompeii Marcus Miniseries
Love Leads the Way: A True Story Senator Brighton Television
film
1984–1986 Airwolf
Dominic Santini
1985 The Dirty
Dozen: Next Mission Major General
Worden Television film
1986 Highway to
Heaven Guido Liggio Episode: "Another Kind of War,
Another Kind of Peace"
1987 Treasure
Island in Outer Space Billy Bones
The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission Major General Worden Television
film
Murder, She Wrote Cosmo
Ponzini Episode: "Death Takes a
Dive"
1988 The Dirty
Dozen: The Fatal Mission Major
General Worden Television film
1989 Ocean Pedro El Triste Miniseries
Jake Spanner, Private Eye Sal
Piccolo Television film
Jake and the Fatman Col.
Tom Cody Episode: "My Shining
Hour"
1992 Home
Improvement Eddie Phillips Episode: "Birds of a Feather Flock to
Taylor"
1993 The Simpsons Himself (voice) Episode: "Boy-Scoutz n the Hood"
1993–1994 The
Commish Frank Nardino 2 episodes
1995–1997 The
Single Guy Doorman 43 episodes
1996–1999 All
Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series Carface
Caruthers (voice) 6 episodes
1998 JAG Artemus Sullivan Episode: "Yesterday's Heroes"
1998 Pinky and the
Brain Father (voice) Episode: "The Third Mouse/The
Visit"
1999 Early Edition
Antonio Birelli Episode: "The Last Untouchable"
[35]
1999–2012 SpongeBob
SquarePants Mermaid Man
(voice)
2000 Walker, Texas
Ranger Eddie Ryan Episode: "The Avenging Angel"
2002 Touched by an
Angel Max Blandish Episode: "The Blue Angel"
7th Heaven Joe Episode: "The Known Soldier"
Family Law Frank
Collero Episode: "Alienation of
Affection"
2003 The District Uncle Mike Murphy Episode: "Last Waltz"
2004 The Trail to
Hope Rose Eugene Television film
2007 A Grandpa for
Christmas Bert O'Riley Television film
2009 ER Paul Manning Episodes: "Old Times" and "And in the End..."
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor
in a Drama Series
Aces 'N' Eights Thurmond
Prescott Television film
The Wishing Well Big
Jim Television film
2010 Saturday
Night Live Himself Cameo in "What Up With
That" sketch
2011 Love's
Christmas Journey Nicholas Television film
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