Ernest Borgnine-Forever Smiling and Loving People
He was the insecure middle-aged man in “Marty” and earned an Academy Award. He terrorized Frank Sinatra and Montgomery Clift in “From Here to Eternity” as the sado-masochistic Fatso. He brought smiles to television viewers as a seafaring and conniving Sgt. Bilko-type- Quintin McHale in McHale’s Navy. He starred in films and television and was perceived by all as a quality actor who seemed to avoid the scandals of Hollywood and still maintain a joy of living. There was a quality to Borgnine that made you wish he were your neighbor because his honesty and dignity shone through in every role he took.
“I’d like people to know I’m a good guy, not the kind of person depicted on some of the shows I’ve done.”
Born to Italian immigrants, the family name was changed from Borgnino to Borgnine. The family settled in New Haven, Connecticut. His high school years were normal and uneventful. There was an interest in boxing, but nothing deeper than a passing curiosity. After high school, Ernie, at 18 years old, joined the Navy. It was his life for ten years, and he developed a strong passion for the armed forces. In 1945, he left the Navy and, as a challenge from his mother, who claimed he was an entertaining fellow, got into show business. He spent four years in dramatics school while supporting himself doing odd jobs.
In the late 1940s, he began to get stage roles. He debuted as a male nurse in a production of “Harvey.” After a few local shows, Ernie took his Mother’s suggestion further by moving to Hollywood. By 1951, he had a small role in “The Whistler at Eaton Falls.” Though a small contribution on screen, he was noticed. His breakout role was as the evil Sgt. “Fatso” Judson in “From Here to Eternity.” He was not the only rookie in the film business. Not only did he play with major stars like Burt Lancaster and Montgomery Clift, but with the most popular singer in the country, Frank Sinatra. As you might know if you saw the film, Ernie made you easily hate him-he killed Sinatra. The critics all singled him out for praise.
He waited patiently for the next meaningful role….and it came in a well-written story. Ernie became Marty Piletti. The film was simply called “Marty.” Made in 1955 for a budget of $300,000, the simple but poignant film earned Borgnine a Best Actor Academy Award. The director, Delbert Mann won Best Director, the writer, Paddy Chayefsky won Best Writing, and behold, this gem won Best Motion Picture. It was nominated for four additional awards.
Borgnine distinguished himself that year against such competition as Frank Sinatra, Spencer Tracy, James Dean and James Cagney. During the next thirty years Borgnine constantly worked regularly in films and television. We saw in “Ice Station Zebra” playing a Russian spy. He appeared in “Johnny Guiter”, “Bad Day at Black Rock,” “The Poseidon Adventure,” “Escape from New York,” “The Wild Bunch,” “The Flight of the Phoenix” and the “Dirty Dozen”.
From 1962 until 1966, he was Lt.Commander Quinton McHale in the television show McHale’s Navy. He has co-starred or guested on many television shows, from Airwolf to ER.
Wherever he was, working or vacationing, he made visits with veterans. In 1996, he bought a bus and toured the country to meet his fans.
He played in over 100 films and in a career that spanned 61 years, he even expanded into doing voice-overs. He received the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement award as well as honorary doctorates and accolades from veteran groups.
Ernest Borgnine died July 8, 2012, at age 95 of renal failure. His pallbearers included Tim Conway, Leonard Nimoy, Gary Sinise, and Joan Rivers.
Contributed by staff writer George Khoury