Ernest Borgnine

Lore & Background

Borgnine's film career began in 1951 and included supporting roles in The Whistle at Eaton Falls (1951), From Here to Eternity (1953), Vera Cruz (1954), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), and The Wild Bunch (1969). He played the unconventional lead in many films, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Marty (1955), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Borgnine starred as the title character in the sitcom McHale's Navy (1962–1966) and co-starred as Dominic Santini in the action series Airwolf (1984–1986). Borgnine earned his third Primetime Emmy Award nomination at age 92 for his work on the 2009 series finale of ER. He was the voice of Mermaid Man on SpongeBob SquarePants from 1999 until his death in 2012.

Reader's Guide

Borgnine joined the United States Navy in October 1935, after graduation from high school. He served aboard the destroyer/minesweeper and was honorably discharged from the Navy in October 1941. In January 1942, he re-enlisted in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During World War II, he patrolled the Atlantic Coast on an antisubmarine warfare ship, the patrol yacht. In September 1945, he was once again honorably discharged from the Navy. He served a total of almost 10 years in the Navy and obtained the grade of gunner's mate first class. His military awards include the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with 'A' Device, American Campaign Medal with bronze star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Did You Know?

• Borgnine's first film role was in The Whistle at Eaton Falls (1951), not China Corsair.
• He re-enlisted in the Navy in January 1942, not immediately after the Pearl Harbor attack.

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