Ernest Borgnine

Ernest Borgnine
Borgnine in April 2010.
Born	Ermes Effron Borgnino (1917-01-24) January 24, 1917 Hamden, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1951–present
Spouse(s)	Rhoda Kemins (1949–1958; divorced; 1 child) Katy Jurado (1959–1963; divorced) Ethel Merman (1964–1965; divorced) Donna Rancourt (1965–1972; divorced; 3 children) Tova Traesnaes (1973–present)

Ernest Borgnine (born Ermes Effron Borgnino; January 24, 1917) is an American actor of television and film. His career has spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, including his Academy Award-winning turn in the 1955 film Marty. On television, he played Quinton McHale in the 1962-66 series McHale's Navy and costarred in the mid-1980s action series Airwolf in addition to a wide variety of other roles. Borgnine earned an Emmy nomination at age 92 for his work on the series ER.

Early life

Borgnine was born in Hamden, Connecticut, the son of Anna (née Boselli; died 1949), who immigrated to the United States from Carpi (Modena, Italy), and Camillo Borgnino, who immigrated to the U.S. from Ottiglio (Province of Alessandria, Italy).

His parents separated when he was two years old, and he and his mother went to live in Italy. By 1923, his parents had reconciled, and the family name was changed from Borgnino to Borgnine. The family had settled in North Haven, Connecticut, where he attended public schools. His mother also had the passion to develop her own dance. Anna gave her son a lot of moral support and he stood closely by her at all times.

Naval career

Borgnine joined the United States Navy in 1935, after graduation from James Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut. He was discharged in 1941, but re-enlisted when the United States entered World War II and served until 1945 (a total of ten years), reaching the rank of Gunner's Mate 1st Class. He served aboard the destroyer USS Lamberton (DD-119). His military decorations included the American Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, and the World War II Victory Medal.

In 2004, Borgnine received the honorary rank of Chief Petty Officer from the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry D. Scott—the US Navy's highest ranking enlisted sailor at the time—for Borgnine's support of the Navy and naval families worldwide.

Acting career

After the war was over he returned to his parents' home with no job and no direction. Since he wasn't willing to settle for a dead-end job at one of the factories, his mother encouraged him to pursue a more glamorous profession and suggested that his personality would be well-suited for the stage. He surprised his mother by taking the suggestion to heart, although his father was far from enthusiastic. After graduation, he auditioned and was accepted to the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, so-called for its audiences bartering their produce for admission during the Great Depression. In 1947, he landed his first stage role in State of the Union. Although it was a short role, he won over the audience. His next role was as the Gentleman Caller in Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. In 1949, he had his Broadway debut in the role of a nurse in the play Harvey. More roles on stage led him to being a decades-long character actor.

In 1951, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he eventually received his big break in From Here to Eternity (1953), playing the cruel Sergeant "Fatso" Judson in charge of the stockade, who taunts fellow soldier Angelo Maggio (played by Frank Sinatra). Borgnine built a reputation as a dependable character actor and appeared in early film roles as villains, including movies like Johnny Guitar, Vera Cruz and Bad Day at Black Rock. But in 1955, the actor starred as a warm-hearted butcher in the film version of the television play Marty, which gained him an Academy Award for Best Actor over Frank Sinatra and former Best Actors Spencer Tracy and James Cagney.

Borgnine's film career continued successfully through the 1960s and 1970s, including The Vikings, The Flight of the Phoenix, The Dirty Dozen, Ice Station Zebra, The Poseidon Adventure and The Black Hole. One of his most famous roles became that of Dutch, a member of The Wild Bunch in the 1969 Western classic from director Sam Peckinpah.

Character actor

Borgnine made his TV debut as a character actor in Captain Video and His Video Rangers, beginning in 1951. These two episodes led to countless other television roles that Borgnine would gain in Goodyear Television Playhouse, Short Short Dramas, The Ford Television Theatre, Waterfront, The Lone Wolf, Fireside Theatre, The O. Henry Playhouse, Frontier Justice, Laramie, The Blue Angels, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Run for Your Life, Little House on the Prairie's two-part episode - "The Lord is My Shepherd", The Love Boat, Magnum, P.I., Highway to Heaven with old friend Michael Landon, Murder, She Wrote, Walker, Texas Ranger, Touched by an Angel and the final episodes of ER, among many others.

Melissa Gilbert has said that her favorite Little House on the Prairie episode of all time is the 1975 two-part "The Lord is My Shepherd" in which she co-starred with Borgnine. He played the mysterious mountain-man Jonathon who uttered the classic line, "I think I will" in response to his deep desire to eat his porridge.

In 2009, at the age of 92, Borgnine earned an Emmy nomination for his performances in the final two episodes of the long-running NBC medical series ER.

Television roles

McHale's Navy

In 1962, Borgnine joined the ranks of other sitcom stars such as John Forsythe, Andy Griffith, Danny Thomas, Alan Young, Fred MacMurray and Buddy Ebsen. That same year he signed a contract with Universal Studios for the lead role as the gruff but lovable skipper Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale in what began as a serious one-hour 1962 episode called Seven Against the Sea for Alcoa Premiere. Just like the McHale character, Borgnine was a longtime navy man in real life. This World War II sitcom also starred two formerly unknown comedians/actors, the late Joe Flynn as Capt. Wallace B. Binghamton and Tim Conway as Ensign Charles Parker. Both of them got along very well with Borgnine, especially Conway. The insubordinate crew of PT-73 helped the show become an overnight success during its first season, although it did not land in the Top 30 until 1963, when it tied with Hazel in the ratings. Borgnine thrived on the adulation from fans for their favorite Navy man. He received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1963. At the end of the fourth season in 1966 low ratings and repetitive story lines brought McHale's Navy to an end. Borgnine was not happy about the show’s cancellation and was concerned about what television role he might play in the future. He also starred in the 1964 film version of the series and later appeared in a cameo performance in the 1997 remake.

Airwolf

Borgnine returned to a new contract with Universal Studios in 1983, for a co-starring role opposite Jan-Michael Vincent, on Airwolf. After he was approached by producer Donald P. Bellisario, who had been impressed by Borgnine's guest role as a wrestler in a 1982 episode of Magnum, P.I., he immediately agreed. He played Dominic Santini, a helicopter pilot, in the series which became an immediate hit. Borgnine's strong performances belied his exhaustion due to the grueling production schedule, and the challenges of working with his younger, troubled series lead. The show was cancelled by CBS in 1986.

The Single Guy

He auditioned a third time for a co-starring role opposite Jonathan Silverman in The Single Guy as doorman Manny Cordoba, which lasted two seasons. According to Silverman, Borgnine would come to work with more energy and passion than all other stars combined. He was the first person to arrive on the set every day and the last to leave.

Other activities

Also in 1996, Borgnine toured the US on a bus to meet his fans and see the country. The trip was the subject of a 1997 documentary, Ernest Borgnine on the Bus. He also served one year as the Chairman of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, visiting patients in many Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.

Ernest Borgnine is a Freemason and a 33rd° Scottish Rite Mason in the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction. He is also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose at that organization's Lodge in Junction City, OR.

Ernest Borgnine has volunteered to be Stories of Service National spokesman, urging his fellow World War II vets to come forward and share their stories.

Work since 1999

Borgnine in October 2004

Since 1999, Borgnine has provided his voice talent to the comedy cartoonSpongeBob SquarePants as the elderly superhero Mermaid Man (where he is once again paired up with his McHale's Navy co-star Tim Conway as the voice of Mermaid Man's sidekick Barnacle Boy). He has expressed affection for this role, in no small part for its popularity among children. Borgnine also appeared on The Simpsons episode "Boy-Scoutz N the Hood" as himself in addition to a number of television commercials. In 2000, he was the executive producer of Hoover, in which he is the only credited actor.

In 2007, 90-year-old Borgnine starred in the Hallmark original film A Grandpa for Christmas. He played a man who, after his estranged daughter is in a car accident, discovers that he has a granddaughter he never knew about. She is taken into his care, and they soon become great friends. Borgnine received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television for his performance. At 90, he was the oldest Golden Globe nominee ever.

On April 2, 2009, Borgnine starred in the last episode of the long-running medical series ER. His role was that of a husband whose long marriage ended with his wife's death. In his final scene, Borgnine's character is in a hospital bed lying beside his just-deceased wife. His performance garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, his third nomination and his first in 29 years (since being nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special in 1980 for All Quiet on the Western Front).

In 2009, at age 92, he was the main character in Another Harvest Moon, directed by Greg Swartz and also starring Piper Laurie and Anne Meara. On October 2, 2010, Borgnine appeared as himself in a sketch on Saturday Night Live. On October 15, 2010 he appeared in his latest movie, Red, which was filmed earlier that year.

Autobiography

Borgnine's autobiography Ernie was published by Citadel Press in July 2008. Ernie is a loose, conversational recollection of highlights from his acting career and notable events from his personal life.

In the wake of the book's publication, he began a small promotional tour, visiting independent bookstores in the Los Angeles area to promote the book's release and meet some of his fans.

Personal life

Borgnine has been married five times. He was first married to Rhoda Kemins (1949–1958), whom he met while serving in the Navy; They had one daughter, Gina (born August 18, 1952). Then he married actress Katy Jurado (1959–1963) Borgnine once referred to his second ex-wife this way: "Beautiful, but a tiger."

He later married singer Ethel Merman (1964); the marriage barely lasted a month. Their divorce was finalised on May 25, 1965. Borgnine married Donna Rancourt (1965–1972), with whom he had a son, Christopher (born August 9, 1969) and two daughters, Sharon (born August 5, 1965) and Diana (born December 29, 1970). His fifth and current marriage to Tova Traesnaes (February 24, 1973 to date).

He has one sister, Evelyn Velardi (b. 1926). His mother, Anna Borgnine, died in 1949, after a long battle against tuberculosis, just days before his first wedding.

On January 24, 2007, Borgnine celebrated his 90th birthday at a bistro in West Hollywood, California. Guests included his wife Tova, decades-long friend Tim Conway, Dennis Farina, Army Archerd, Andy Granatelli, Bo Hopkins, Burt Young, Steven Bauer, his son Cris Borgnine, grandson Anthony Borgnine, Connie Stevens, David Gerber, Debbie Reynolds, Joe Mantegna, Norm Crosby and many more.

On February 24, 2008, Borgnine celebrated the 35th anniversary of his marriage to cosmetics maker Tova Traenaes.

He is a member of the Lambda chapter of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

A street was named in Borgnine’s honor in his hometown of Hamden, Connecticut, where he still enjoys a large and vocal following. There is also a Mexican-themed restaurant in New York City with a shrine dedicated to Borgnine.

For 30 years (1972–2002), Borgnine marched in Milwaukee's annual Great Circus Parade as the "Grand Clown."

Awards and nominations

Borgnine won the 1955 Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Marty Piletti in the film Marty.

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Ernest Borgnine has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6324 Hollywood Blvd. In 1996, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

He was honored with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award at the 17th annual SAG Awards, held January 30, 2011. The awards editorial department The Envelope of the Los Angeles Times criticized the SAG's decision due to Borgnine's "personal politics" and remarks concerning the film Brokeback Mountain. "I didn’t see it and I don’t care to see it. I know they say it’s a good picture, but I don’t care to see it." Borgnine added, "If John Wayne were alive, he’d be rolling over in his grave!"

Each year, a dinner is held in Borgnine's honor by Tortilla Flats, a Mexican restaurant in Manhattan's West Village. February 2010 was the eighteenth consecutive year for the celebration. In addition to sitting in booths decorated with his photos, dinner guests answer trivia questions while wearing sailor hats and Borgnine masks.

Year	Award	Category	Title	Result
1955	Academy Award	Best Actor	Marty	Won
	BAFTA Award	Best Foreign Actor	Marty	Won
	Golden Globe Award	Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama	Marty	Won
	NBR Award	Best Actor	Marty	Won
	NYFCC Award	Best Actor	Marty	Won
1962	Emmy Award	Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead)	McHale's Navy	Nominated
1979	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special	All Quiet on the Western Front	Nominated
1999	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program	All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series	Nominated
2007	Golden Globe Award	Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television	A Grandpa for Christmas	Nominated
2009	Emmy Award	Outstanding Guest Actor - Drama	ER	Nominated
2009	Lifetime Achievement Award	from the Rhode Island International Film Festival		Won
2011	Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award	from the Screen Actors Guild		Won

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1951	China Corsair	Hu Chang
	The Whistle at Eaton Falls	Bill Street
	The Mob	Joe Castro
1953	From Here to Eternity	Staff Sergeant James R. "Fatso" Judson
	The Stranger Wore a Gun	Bull Slager
1954	Johnny Guitar	Bart Lonergan
	Demetrius and the Gladiators	Strabo
	The Bounty Hunter	Bill Rachin
	Vera Cruz	Donnegan
1955	Bad Day at Black Rock	Coley Trimble
	Marty	Marty	Academy Award for Best Actor BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama National Board of Review Award for Best Actor New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
	Run for Cover	Morgan
	Violent Saturday	Stadt, Amish Farmer
	The Last Command	Mike Radin
	The Square Jungle	Bernie Browne
1956	Jubal	Shep Horgan
	The Catered Affair	Tom Hurley
	The Best Things in Life Are Free	Lew Brown
	Three Brave Men	Bernard F. "Bernie" Goldsmith
1958	The Vikings	Ragnar
	The Badlanders	John "Mac" McBain
	Torpedo Run	Lieutenant Archer "Archie" Sloan
1959	Summer of the Seventeenth Doll	Roo Webber
	The Rabbit Trap	Eddie Colt	Locarno International Film Festival Award for Best Actor
1960	Man on a String	Boris Mitrov
	Pay or Die	Police Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino	Nominated—Golden Laurel
1961	Black City	Peppino Navarra
	The Italian Brigands	Sante Carbone
	Go Naked in the World	Pete Stratton
	The Last Judgement	Pickpocket
	Barabbas	Lucius
1964	McHale's Navy	Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale	Spin-off of the series of the same name
1965	The Flight of the Phoenix	Trucker Cobb
1966	The Oscar	Barney Yale
1967	The Dirty Dozen	Major General Worden
	Chuka	Sergeant Otto Hansbach
1968	The Man Who Makes the Difference	Himself	Documentary short film
	The Legend of Lylah Clare	Barney Sheean
	Ice Station Zebra	Boris Vaslov
	The Split	Bert Clinger
1969	The Wild Bunch	Dutch Engstrom
	A Bullet for Sandoval	Don Pedro Sandoval
1970	The Adventurers	Fat Cat
	Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?	Sheriff Harve
1971	Rain for a Dusty Summer	The General
	Willard	Al Martin
	Bunny O'Hare	Bill Green / William Gruenwald
	Hannie Caulder	Emmett Clemens
1972	The World of Sport Fishing	Himself	Documentary
	Film Portrait	Himself	Documentary
	The Revengers	Hoop
	The Poseidon Adventure	Detective Lieutenant Mike Rogo
	Ripped Off	Captain Perkins
1973	Emperor of the North Pole	Shack
	The Neptune Factor	Chief Diver Don MacKay
1974	Law and Disorder	Cy
	Vengeance Is Mine	Adam Smith
1975	The Devil's Rain	Jonathan "John" Corbis
	Hustle	Santuro
1976	Shoot	Lou
1977	The Greatest	Angelo Dundee
1978	Crossed Swords	John Canty
	Convoy	Sheriff Lyle "Cottonmouth" Wallace
1979	Ravagers	Rann
	The Double McGuffin	Firat
	The Black Hole	Harry Booth
1980	When Time Ran Out	Detective Sergeant Tom Conti
	Super Fuzz	Sergeant Willy Dunlop
1981	Escape from New York	Cabbie
	Deadly Blessing	Isaiah Schmidt	Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor
	High Risk	Clint
1983	The Graduates of Malibu High	Lieutenant Bob Carrigan
1984	Code Name: Wild Geese	Fletcher
1985	Man Hunt	Ben Robeson
1987	Skeleton Coast	Colonel Smith
	The Opponent	Victor
1988	The Big Turnaround	Father Lopez
	Moving Target	Captain Morrison
	Any Man's Death	Herr Gantz
	Spike of Bensonhurst	Baldo Cacetti	Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
1989	Real Men Don't Eat Gummi Bears	Bischof
1990	The Last Match	Coach
	Tides of War	Doctor
	Laser Mission	Professor Braun
1992	Mistress	Himself	Cameo
1994	The Outlaws: Legend of O.B. Taggart	Unknown
1995	Captiva Island	Arty
1996	The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage	Himself	Voice; Documentary
	Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders	Grandfather
	All Dogs Go to Heaven 2	Carface Carruthers	Voice
1997	Ernest Borgnine On the Bus	Himself	Documentary
	McHale's Navy	Admiral Quinton McHale, Sr. (a.k.a. Cobra)	Based on the series of the same name
	Gattaca	Caesar
1998	12 Bucks	Lucky
	Small Soldiers	Kip Killigan	Voice
	BASEketball	Ted Denslow
	Mel	Grandpa
1999	The Last Great Ride	Franklin Lyle
	Abilene	Hotis Brown
	The Lost Treasure of Sawtooth Island	Ben Quinn
2000	The Kiss of Debt	Godfather Mariano
	Castle Rock	Nate
	Hoover	J. Edgar Hoover	Also executive producer
2002	Whiplash	Judge DuPont
	11'09"01 September 11	Pensioner	Segment "United States of America"
2003	Barn Red	Michael Bolini
	The American Hobo	Narrator	Documentary
	The Long Ride Home	Lucas Moat
2004	Blueberry	Rolling Star
2005	That One Summer	Otis Garner
	3 Below	Grandpa
	Rail Kings	Steamtrain
2006	La Cura del gorilla	Jerry Warden
	Frozen Stupid	Frank Norgard
2007	Oliviero Rising	Bill
2008	Strange Wilderness	Milas
	I Am Somebody: No Chance in Hell	Judge Holliday
2009	Another Harvest Moon	Frank
2010	The Genesis Code	Carl Taylor
	Red	Henry, The Records Keeper
2011	Night Club	Albert
	The Lion of Judah	Slink
	Snatched	Big Frank Baum

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1961	The Blue Angels	Unknown	Episode "The Blue Leaders"
1962-1966	McHale's Navy	Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale
1971	Sam Hill: Who Killed Mr. Foster?	Deputy Sam Hill	TV movie
	The Trackers	Sam Paxton	TV movie
1973	Legend in Granite	Vince Lombardi	TV movie
1974	Twice in a Lifetime	Vince Boselli	TV movie
	Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan	Episode "The Lord is my Shepherd"
1976-1977	Future Cop	Cleaver
1977	Jesus of Nazareth	The Roman Centurion	Miniseries
	Fire!	Sam Brisbane	TV movie
1978	The Ghost of Flight 401	Dom Cimoli	TV movie
	Cops and Robin	Joe Cleaver	TV movie
1979	All Quiet on the Western Front	Stanislaus Katczinsky	Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
	Holiday Hookers	Max	TV movie
1982	Magnum, P.I.	Earl Gianelli (a.k.a. Mr. White Death)	Episode "Mr. White Death"
1983	Blood Feud	J. Edgar Hoover	Miniseries
	Carpool	Mickey Doyle	TV movie
	Masquerade	Jerry	Pilot episode
1984	Love Leads the Way: A True Story	Senator Brighton	TV movie
	The Last Days of Pompeii	Marcus	Miniseries
1984-1986	Airwolf	Dominic Santini
1985	The Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission	Major General Worden	Sequel to The Dirty Dozen
	Alice in Wonderland	The Lion	TV movie
1987	Space Island	Billy Bones	Miniseries
	The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission	Major General Worden	Sequel to The Dirty Dozen
1988	The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission	Major General Worden	Sequel to The Dirty Dozen
1989	Ocean	Pedro El Triste	Miniseries
	Jake Spanner, Private Eye	Sal	TV movie
1990	Appearances	Emil Danzig	TV movie
1991	Home Improvement	Eddie Phillips	Episode "Birds of a Feather Flock to Taylor"
	Mountain of Diamonds	Ernie	TV movie
1993	Tierärztin Christine	Dr. Gustav Gruber	TV movie
	Hunt for the Blue Diamond	Hans Kroger	TV movie
	The Simpsons	Himself	Voice; Episode "Boy-Scoutz n the Hood"
1995	Tierärztin Christine II: The Temptation	Dr. Gustav Gruber	TV movie
1995-1997	The Single Guy	Doorman
1996-1999	All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series	Carface Caruthers	Voice
1998	JAG	Artemus Sullivan	Episode "Yesterday's Heroes"
1999-present	SpongeBob SquarePants	Mermaid Man	Voice
2000	Walker, Texas Ranger	Eddie Ryan	Episode "The Avenging Angel"
2002	7th Heaven	Joe	Episode "The Known Soldier"
2003	The District	Uncle Mike Murphy	Episode "Last Waltz"
2004	The Blue Light	Faerie King	TV movie
	The Trail to Hope Rose	Eugene	TV movie
2007	A Grandpa for Christmas	Bert O'Riley	TV movie Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
2008	Aces 'n Eights	Thurmond Prescott	TV movie
2009	ER	Paul Manning	Episodes "Old Times" and "And in the End..." Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2010	Saturday Night Live	Himself	Celebrity cameo in "What Up With That" sketch

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge	Mermaid Man	Based on SpongeBob SquarePants

Quotes

• Ernest: "Spencer Tracy was the first actor I've seen who could just look down into the dirt and command a scene. He played a set-up with Robert Ryan that way. He's looking down at the road and then he looks at Ryan at just the precise, right minute. I tell you, Rob could've stood on his head and zipped open his fly and the scene would've still been Mr Tracy's."

• Ernest: "The trick is not to become somebody else. You become somebody else when you're in front of a camera or when you're on stage. There are some people who carry it all the time. That, to me, is not acting. What you've gotta do is find out what the writer wrote about and put it into your mind. This is acting. Not going out and researching what the writer has already written. This is crazy!"

• Ernest: "Everything I do has a moral to it. Yes, I've been in films that have had shootings. I made The Wild Bunch (1969), which was the beginning of the splattering of blood and everything else. But there was a moral behind it. The moral was that, by golly, bad guys got it. That was it. Yeah."

• Ernest: "Ever since they opened the floodgates with Clark Gable saying, 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn,' somebody's ears pricked up and said, 'Oh boy, here we go!'. Writers used to make such wonderful pictures without all that swearing, all that cursing. And now it seems that you can't say three words without cursing. And I don't think that's right."

• Ernest on drugs: "No, I've never done anything. At least, not to my knowledge. I once took a bunch of goofballs by accident. They looked like candy. They were in a little bowl at a party. I grabbed a hand full and went to town. That was some New Years Eve. I didn't have a coherent thought till February."

• Ernest on his marriage to Ethel Merman: "Biggest mistake of my life. I thought I was marrying Rosemary Clooney."

• Ernest on his $5,000 salary for playing the eponymous lead in Marty (1955), which won him a Best Actor Oscar: "...I would have done it for nothing."

• Ernest on Women's Rights: "They tried it the wrong way. You can't expect anyone to take you seriously if you burn your undies and tell me I'm a pig. That's why it failed. Too many ugly broads telling me that they don't want to sleep with me. Who wanted you anyway?"

References

• "Ernest Borgnine". Biographies in Navy History. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. March 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-23.

External links

• Ernest Borgnine at IMDb
• Ernest Borgnine at the Internet Broadway Database
• Ernest Borgnine at the TCM Movie Database
• Ernest Borgnine at AllMovie
• Video interview with Ernest Borgnine from the Archive of American Television