Ernest Borgnine enjoyed a long and impactful career in Hollywood, leaving behind a lasting legacy in both film and television. Among his most iconic roles was Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale in the ABC sitcom McHale’s Navy (1962–66). Before achieving fame as an actor, Borgnine served honorably in the US Navy.
Ernest Borgnine’s early life
Ernest Borgnine, originally named Ermes Effron Borgnino, was born in Hamden, Connecticut in January 1917. Just two years later, his parents divorced, prompting him to move to Italy with his mother, Anna, where they lived for four and a half years.
After his parents reconciled, Anna and Borgnine went back to the United States. It was then that the family decided to change their last name 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, spending much of his service aboard the USS Lamberton (DD-119).
He received an honorable discharge in October 1941, but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he re-enlisted. This time, he was assigned to the Atlantic Coast and served aboard the USS Sylph (PY-12), a patrol yacht.
During the Second World War, Borgnine demonstrated exceptional dedication, rising to the rank of gunner’s mate first class. His service earned him several awards, including the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal with a 3/16 Bronze Star, and the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp.
Ernest Borgnine’s decision to pursue an acting career
After leaving the US Navy, Ernest Borgnine went back to his parents’ home, unsure about his next steps.
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?'”
Seeing Borgnine’s interest in performing, his mother encouraged him to try acting. He then trained at the Randall School of Drama in Connecticut and joined an acting group at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. A few years later, he earned a role on Broadway in Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Harvey.
An Academy Award and the success of McHale’s Navy
After gaining recognition on Broadway, Ernest Borgnine made the move to Hollywood, where he initially took on supporting and villainous roles. His career soared when he landed the lead in the 1955 film Marty, which received widespread critical acclaim. Borgnine’s portrayal of the title character earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 28th Oscars, where he won over other distinguished nominees like James Dean, Frank Sinatra, Spencer Tracy and James Cagney.
Borgnine also left a lasting mark on television. In 1962, he took on the role of Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale in the popular ABC sitcom McHale’s Navy, set during World War II. The show centered around McHale, commander of a US Navy PT boat, and ran successfully for four seasons. It also led to the spin-off Broadside (1964-65) and several 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 died on July 8, 2012, from kidney failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at the age of 95. He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, and a memorial bench was later dedicated in his memory.