Ernest Borgnine
A character actor with a unforgettable grin who shifted from menacing heavies to a beloved, Oscar-winning everyman in mid-century American cinema.
1917–2012 (age 95)·American actor·Birthday: January 24·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Ernest Borgnine's journey to an Academy Award was anything but predictable. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he used the G.I. Bill to study acting, his rugged looks initially typecasting him as villains in films like 'From Here to Eternity.' Then came 'Marty' in 1955, a modest film about a lonely Bronx butcher. Borgnine's tender, vulnerable performance shattered his tough-guy image and won him the Oscar, proving his depth. He never settled, moving seamlessly between film and a burgeoning television career, most famously as the cheerful commander of 'McHale's Navy.' For decades, his exuberant presence and distinctive laugh made him a welcome fixture, whether in action films, children's movies like 'The Black Hole,' or as a voice actor. His career, spanning into his nineties, stands as a testament to durable talent and an unpretentious love for the work.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Ernest was born in 1917, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ernest Was Born
The biggest hits of 1917
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Ernest's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1917Born
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Started school
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1930Became a teenager
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Could drive
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1935Could vote
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Turned 21
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1947Turned 30
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 40
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 50
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 60
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 70
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 80
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2012Died at 95
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his heartfelt performance in 'Marty' (1955).
- Starred as Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale in the popular television series 'McHale's Navy.'
- Received an Emmy nomination for his final television role in the hospital drama 'ER.'
- Maintained a continuous acting career in film and television for over six decades.
Did You Know?
He served in the United States Navy for ten years, from 1935 to 1945.
He was the first actor to publicly present an Academy Award while wearing a beard.
He voiced Mermaid Man on the animated series 'SpongeBob SquarePants.'
He married five times; his marriage to singer Ethel Merman in 1964 lasted only 32 days.
“I just look for the good parts. I don't care whether I'm a heavy or a nice guy, as long as it's a good part.”
