Ernest Borgnine, From Heavy to Funnyman

Ernest Borgnine won an Academy Award in 1955 for "Marty."

By Bob Bong
 Southland Savvy

Ernest Borgnine spent the better part of six decades as an actor and was performing almost to the end.

He died last week of kidney failure. He was 95 and had recently finished work on “The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez,” a film about a bitter old man who finds fame among the Latino workers at a nursing home.

Perhaps best known as the conniving skipper of PT-73 in television’s “McHale’s Navy,” Borgnine had no trouble finding work in films and on television.

He moved back and forth between TV and film with relative ease.

He was often cast as a movie villain in his early years, but managed to take home the Best Actor Oscar for his performance as an Italian butcher who somehow finds love in “Marty” in 1955.

His TV career included “McHale’s Navy,” “Airwolf” and “The Single Guy.” He also lent his voice to animated shows including “SpongeBob Square Pants.” In 2009, at age 92, he was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in the final two episodes of “ER.”

Borgnine’s personal life was almost as remarkable as his film career. He was married five times including a 38-day marriage to Ethel Merman in 1964. Other wives included actress Katy Jurado.

Among his film roles was Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi in “Legend in Granite.” He also appeared as a general in all four “Dirty Dozen” films. Didn’t know there were three made-for-TV sequels, did you?

Other performances included “Bad Day at Black Rock,” “Johnny Guitar,” “Emperor of the North,” and “Ice Station Zebra.”

One of his funnier roles was as the cabbie that chose to stay in New York in the Kurt Russell adventure film “Escape from New York.”

He also appeared in a bit part as the record keeper in Bruce Willis’ spy adventure “Red” in 2010.

You can see how good an actor he was by checking out these six movies available on video, DVD, on-demand and through streaming services.

“From Here to Eternity” (1953) – Borgnine is a brutal MP who beats Frank Sinatra’s character to death in the stockade in this film about military life in Hawaii in the days leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Other stars include Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Montgomery Clift, Donna Reed and Jack Warden.

“Marty” (1955) – Borgnine took home the Academy Award for his performance as an Italian butcher who unexpectedly finds love in this wonderful film, beating out Frank Sinatra, James Dean, James Cagney and Spencer Tracy. Other stars include Betsy Blair and Jerry Paris.

“The Wild Bunch” (1969) – Borgnine stars as one of the title bunch who find themselves hunted after a robbery in this Sam Peckinpah Western bloodbath. Other stars include William Holden, Robert Ryan, Warren Oates, Ben Johnson, Strother Martin and L.Q. Jones.

“The Vikings” (1958) – Borgnine stars as Viking king Ragnar in this epic film about two brothers fighting each other as much as the English. Other stars include Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and James Donald.

“The Poseidon Adventure” (1972) – Borgnine is one of the survivors trying to find a way out after a luxury liner hits a tidal wave and capsizes in this epic disaster film. Other stars include Gene Hackman, Red Buttons, Jack Albertson, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters and Pamela Sue Martin.

“A Grandpa for Christmas” (2007) – Borgnine stars as former song-and-dance man who discovers he has a granddaughter when he must take care of his estranged daughter after she’s in a car accident right before Christmas in the made-for-television Hallmark movie. Other stars include Tracy Nelson, Jamie Farr, Katherine Helmond and Juliette Goglia.

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