Ernest Borgnine carved out a distinguished acting career that traversed decades, etching his name into Hollywood lore. Among his most iconic portrayals was that of Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale in the ABC sitcom McHale’s Navy (1962-66). Prior to gracing the silver screen, Borgnine lived a remarkable life in the US Navy, serving throughout the entirety of the Second World War.
Ernest Borgnine’s early life
Born in Hamden, Connecticut, in January 1917, Ermes Effron Borgnino, more commonly known as Ernest Borgnine, came into the world. Just two years after his birth, his parents underwent a divorce, leading to a relocation to Italy with his mother, Anna, where they resided for four and a half years.
Upon the reconciliation of his parents, Anna and Borgnine returned to the United States. It was during this time that the family opted to change their surname from “Borgino” to “Borgnine.”
Service with the US Navy during World War II
After graduating from high school in 1935, Ernest Borgnine enlisted in the US Navy. He spent a significant portion of his military career stationed aboard the USS Lamberton (DD-119). In October 1941, he received an honorable discharge, but, in response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Borgnine re-enlisted and was deployed to the Atlantic Coast, serving aboard the USS Sylph (PY-12), a patrol yacht.
Throughout the Second World War, Borgnine distinguished himself, reaching the rank of gunner’s mate first class by the conflict’s conclusion. His exemplary service earned him several decorations, including the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal with 3/16 Bronze Star and the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp.
Ernest Borgnine’s decision to pursue an acting career
Following his discharge from the US Navy, Ernest Borgnine returned to his parents’ home, facing uncertainty about his future.
In an interview with the British Film Institute, he shared, “After World War II, we wanted no more part in war. I didn’t even want to be a Boy Scout. I went home and said that I was through with the Navy and so now, what do we do? So I went home to mother, and after a few weeks of patting me on the back and ‘You did good,’ and everything else, one day she said, ‘Well?’ like mothers do. Which meant, ‘All right, you gonna get a job or what?'”
Recognizing Borgnine’s penchant for performance, his mother suggested he pursue acting. After training at the Randall School of Drama in Connecticut, he joined an acting troupe at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. Within a few years, he’d secured a role on Broadway, featuring in Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Harvey.
An Academy Award and the success of McHale’s Navy
Ernest Borgnine began acting in Hollywood shortly after hitting Broadway. While he started off playing villains and background characters, he was given the opportunity to star in 1955’s Marty, which became a critical smash. For his portrayal of the film’s title character, Borgnine won the Oscar for Best Actor at the 28th Academy Awards, beating out such legends as James Dean, Frank Sinatra, Spencer Tracey and James Cagney.
Borgnine didn’t just star in movies – he also delved into television. In 1962, he began his portrayal as Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale on the ABC hit sitcom, McHale’s Navy. Taking place during the Second World War, the series focused around his character’s role as the commanding officer of a US Navy PT Boat. The show ran for four seasons before being pulled, and spawned the short-lived spin-off, Broadside (1964-65), and a number of films.
Ernest Borgnine’s later career and legacy
In 1969, Ernest Borgnine undertook one of his most renowned and contentious roles, Dutch Engstrom in The Wild Bunch. More than a decade later, he appeared in another beloved TV series, Airwolf (1984-87), portraying Dom Santini, a seasoned veteran of both World War II and the Korean War.
Continuing his career in Hollywood well into the early 2010s, Borgnine left a mark with memorable performances in films, such as BASEketball (1998), All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 (1996), and Red (2010). Even younger audiences were treated to his distinctive voice as Mermaid Man in the popular Nickelodeon cartoon, SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-present).
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Ernest Borgnine passed away on July 8, 2012, from kidney failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, aged 95. The actor was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, where a memorial bench was subsequently dedicated in his honor.