Ernest Borgnine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ernest Borgnine
Publicity photo for McHale's Navy, 1962
Born	Ermes Effron Borgnino (1917-01-24)January 24, 1917 Hamden, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	July 8, 2012(2012-07-08) (aged 95) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1947–2012
Spouse(s)	Rhoda Kemins ​ ​ (m. 1949; div. 1958)​ Katy Jurado ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1963)​ Ethel Merman ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1964)​ Donna Rancourt ​ ​ (m. 1965; div. 1972)​ Tova Traesnaes ​ (m. 1973)​
Children	4
Military career
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1935–1945
Rank	Petty officer first class
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Navy Good Conduct Medal (2) American Defense Service Medal with "A" Device American Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal
Signature

Ernest Borgnine (born Ermes Effron Borgnino; January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012) was an American actor. His acting career lasted for over 60 years! People knew him for his deep, friendly voice and his big, gap-toothed smile. He was a popular actor who appeared in many movies and TV shows.

Borgnine started his film career in 1951. He played important supporting roles in movies like From Here to Eternity (1953) and The Wild Bunch (1969). He also starred in many films, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1956 for his role in Marty (1955). This movie also won the Best Picture award that year. Ernest Borgnine became even more famous on TV. He starred in the sitcom McHale's Navy (1962–1966) and the action series Airwolf (1984–1986).

Later in his career, Borgnine was nominated for an Emmy Award at age 92 for his work on the TV show ER. Many kids know his voice as Mermaid Man from the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants. He voiced this character from 1999 until he passed away in 2012.

Early Life

Ernest Borgnine was born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24, 1917, in Hamden, Connecticut. His parents were immigrants from Italy. When he was two years old, his parents separated, and he lived with his mother in Italy for about four and a half years.

By 1923, his parents got back together. The family changed their last name from Borgnino to Borgnine. Ernest also had a younger sister, Evelyn. The family settled in New Haven, Connecticut. Ernest went to James Hillhouse High School there. He enjoyed sports but wasn't interested in acting at all when he was young.

Naval Service

Borgnine wearing a chief petty officer's cap in October 2004

After high school, Borgnine joined the United States Navy in October 1935. He served on a ship called the USS Lamberton. He left the Navy in October 1941. However, after the attack on Pearl Harbor in January 1942, he joined the Navy again. During World War II, he patrolled the Atlantic Coast on an anti-submarine ship.

In September 1945, he was honorably discharged from the Navy for the second time. He served almost 10 years in the Navy and became a gunner's mate first class. He received several military awards for his service.

• Navy Good Conduct Medal
• American Defense Service Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal

In 1997, Borgnine received the Lone Sailor Award from the United States Navy Memorial. In October 2004, he was given the honorary title of chief petty officer for his service and support of Navy families.

Good Conduct Medal – Navy

American Defense Service Medal – Second award: one 3⁄16-inch bronze star

American Campaign Medal

World War II Victory Medal

Acting Career

Starting Out

After leaving the Navy, Borgnine returned home without a job. He tried working in a factory, but he didn't like it. His mother thought he had a great personality and suggested he try acting. He was surprised but decided to give it a try!

He studied acting at the Randall School of Drama in Hartford. Then, he joined the Barter Theatre in Virginia. This theater was famous because during the Great Depression, people could trade food for tickets. In 1947, Borgnine got his first stage role. He did so well that the audience loved him.

In 1949, Borgnine moved to New York. He made his Broadway debut in a play called Harvey.

Films

Borgnine and Betsy Blair in a trailer for Marty, 1955

Borgnine's first movie role was in The Whistle at Eaton Falls (1951). He then moved to Los Angeles. His big break came in the movie From Here to Eternity (1953). In this film, he played Sergeant "Fatso" Judson, a tough character. Early in his career, he often played villains in movies like Johnny Guitar and Bad Day at Black Rock.

In 1955, Borgnine starred in Marty. He played a kind butcher. For this role, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. This was a huge honor!

His film career continued to be successful for the next 30 years. He appeared in many famous movies, including:

• The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
• The Dirty Dozen (1967)
• The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
• The Black Hole (1979)
• Escape from New York (1981)

One of his most famous roles was Dutch in the Western movie The Wild Bunch (1969).

Television and Later Works

Borgnine started his TV career in 1951 on Captain Video and His Video Rangers. After that, he appeared in many other TV shows. These included Little House on the Prairie, The Love Boat, and Murder, She Wrote.

McHale's Navy

Ron Foster with Borgnine as McHale in the original dramatic version Seven Against the Sea in 1962

With Tim Conway in McHale's Navy in 1962

Borgnine, Tim Conway, Gary Vinson and Carl Ballantine (in top bunk) in McHale's Navy in 1962

With Rochelle Rac and Jane Dulo in 1962

Publicity photo of Borgnine in McHale's Navy in 1963

In 1962, Borgnine got the main role in a new TV show called McHale's Navy. He played Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale, a friendly but tough Navy skipper. The show was a comedy about a group of Navy men during World War II. It became very popular right away.

Borgnine loved how much fans enjoyed his character. In 1963, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role. The show ran for four seasons and ended in 1966.

Airwolf and Other Roles

In 1983, Borgnine returned to TV in the show Airwolf. He played Dominic Santini, a helicopter pilot. The show was a big hit. Borgnine worked very hard on the show, which ran until 1986.

He also appeared in the comedy The Single Guy as a doorman named Manny Cordoba. His co-star, Jonathan Silverman, said that Borgnine always had more energy than anyone else on set.

In 1996, Borgnine toured the United States on a bus to meet his fans. This trip was even made into a documentary called Ernest Borgnine on the Bus. He also helped hospitalized veterans by visiting many hospitals. In 1997, he appeared in a new McHale's Navy movie.

Last Works

Starting in 1999, Borgnine became the voice of Mermaid Man on the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants. He really enjoyed this role because kids loved it so much. After he passed away, Nickelodeon showed all the Mermaid Man episodes to honor him.

In 2007, Borgnine starred in the film A Grandpa for Christmas. He played a man who finds out he has a granddaughter he never knew about. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his performance. At 90 years old, he was the oldest Golden Globe nominee ever!

Borgnine's autobiography, Ernie, was published in 2008. It shared stories from his acting career and personal life. In 2009, he appeared in the final season of the TV series ER. His performance earned him another Emmy nomination.

His last film was The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez, which he finished in late 2011.

Personal Life

Borgnine, Nancy Reagan, Tova Borgnine and President Ronald Reagan in 1987

Borgnine at the Creative Arts Emmys in 2009

Ernest Borgnine was married five times. His first marriage was to Rhoda Kemins, and they had one daughter, Nancee. He was also married to actress Katy Jurado. His marriage to singer Ethel Merman was very short, lasting only 42 days.

He then married Donna Rancourt, and they had three children: Cristopher, Sharon, and Diana. His fifth and last marriage was to Tova Traesnaes. They were married from 1973 until his death in 2012.

Borgnine was also a Freemason. He received several high honors within the organization.

Death

Ernest Borgnine passed away on July 8, 2012, in Los Angeles. He was 95 years old. The movie The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) was dedicated to his memory.

Honors

Borgnine as "Grand Clown" in Milwaukee's annual Great Circus Parade in 1973

Ernest Borgnine's hometown of Hamden, Connecticut, named a park and a small road after him. From 1972 to 2002, he marched in Milwaukee's annual Great Circus Parade as the "Grand Clown".

In 1994, Borgnine received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. In 1996, he was added to the Western Performers Hall of Fame. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from Lakeland College in 1997.

In 1998, he received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in California. In 2006, he was given honorary citizenship in Ottiglio, Italy, where his father was born.

Film Awards and Nominations

Borgnine won the 1955 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Marty. When he passed away, he was the oldest living person to have won the Best Actor Oscar.

For his great work in movies, Borgnine received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. It is located at 6324 Hollywood Boulevard.

He was honored with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2011, which is a very special award for actors who have had a long and successful career.

Grace Kelly presents the Oscar for Best Actor to Borgnine for his performance in Marty, 1956

Filmography

Film

Television

Video Games

See also

In Spanish: Ernest Borgnine para niños