Borgnine, Ernest 1917–

views updated May 11 2018

Borgnine, Ernest 1917–

(Ermes Effron Borgnino)

PERSONAL

Original name, Ermes Effron Borgnino; born January 24, 1917, in Hamden, CT; son of Charles B. and Anna (maiden name, Bosselli) Borgnino; married Rhoda Kemins, 1948 (divorced, 1959); married Katy Jurado (an actress), 1959 (divorced, 1963); married Ethel Merman (an actress and singer), June 1964 (divorced, July, 1964); married Donna Rancourt, 1965 (divorced, 1972); married Tova Traesnaes (a cosmetics entrepreneur), 1972; children: (first marriage) Nancee, (fourth marriage) Sharon, Christofer. Education: Studied acting at the Randall School of Dramatic Art, Hartford, CT. Avocational Interests: Playing golf.

Addresses: Manager—Bensky Entertainment, 15030 Ventura Blvd., Suite 343, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.

Career: Actor. Barter Theatre, Abingdon, VA, member of repertory company, 1946–50; performed as the Grand Clown for the Great Circus Parade, Milwaukee, WI, beginning 1970s; appeared in television commercials for Pantheon Internet Kiosks, 2004. Military service: U.S. Navy, gunner's mate first class on destroyers, 1935–45.

Member: Masons (Order of the Grand Cross; 33rd degree).

Awards, Honors: Academy Award, National Board of Review Award, New York Film Critics Circle Award, best actor, Cannes Festival Award, best actor, Film Award, best foreign actor, British Academy of Film and Television, 1955, and Golden Globe Award, best motion picture actor—drama, 1956, all for Marty; Prize, Locarno International Film Festival, best actor, 1959, for The Rabbit Trap; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding continued performance by an actor in a series—lead, 1963, for McHale's Navy; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding supporting actor, 1980, for All Quiet on the Western Front; Golden Boot Award, Motion Picture and Television Fund, 1985; Independent Spirit Award nomination, best supporting male, Independent Features Project, 1989, for Spike of Bensonhurst; National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, inductee, 1996; King Vidor Memorial Award, San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, 1997; Daytime Emmy Award nomination, outstanding performer in an animated program, 1999, for All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series; named honorary U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, 2004; honorary mayor, Universal City Studios; star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

Nelson, Mrs. McThing, American National Theatre and Academy Theatre, New York City, 1952.

Also appeared in Harvey, American National Theatre and Academy Theatre.

Film Appearances:

Hu Chang, China Corsair, Columbia, 1951.

Hammert/Joe Castro, The Mob (also known as Remember That Face), Columbia, 1951.

Bill Street, The Whistle at Eaton Falls (also known as Richer Than the Earth and Whistle at Eaton Falls), Columbia, 1951.

Sergeant "Fatso" Judson, From Here to Eternity, Columbia, 1953.

Bull Slager, The Stranger Wore a Gun, Columbia, 1953.

Bill Rachin, The Bounty Hunter (also known as Bounty Hunter), Warner Bros., 1954.

Strabo, Demetrius and the Gladiators, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1954.

Bart Lonergan, Johnny Guitar, Republic, 1954.

Donnegan, Vera Cruz, United Artists, 1954.

Coley Trimble, Bad Day at Black Rock, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1955.

Mike Radin, The Last Command (also known as Last Command and San Antonio de Bexar), Republic, 1955.

Marty Pilletti, Marty, United Artists, 1955.

Morgan, Run for Cover (also known as Colorado), Paramount, 1955.

Bernie Browne, The Square Jungle (also known as Square Jungle), Universal, 1955.

Stadt, Amish farmer, Violent Saturday, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1955.

Lew Brown, The Best Things in Life Are Free, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1956.

Tom Hurley, The Catered Affair (also known as Catered Affair and Wedding Breakfast), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1956.

Shep Horgan, Jubal, Columbia, 1956.

Bernie Goldsmith, Three Brave Men, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1957.

John McBain, The Badlanders (also known as Badlanders), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1958.

Lieutenant Archer Sloan, Torpedo Run, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1958.

King Ragnar, The Vikings, United Artists, 1958.

Eddie Colt, The Rabbit Trap (also known as Rabbit Trap), United Artists, 1959.

Boris Mitrov, Man on a String (also known as Confessions of a Counterspy and Ten Years of a Counterspy), Columbia, 1960.

Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino, Pay or Die, Allied Artists, 1960.

Pete Stratton, Go Naked in the World, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1961.

Peppino Navarra, Il Re di Poggioreale (also known as Black City), 1961.

Pickpocket, The Last Judgement (also known as Il giudizio universale and Le jugement dernier), 1961.

Sante Carbone, I briganti italiani (also known as Seduction of the South, Les Guerilleros, and The Italian Brigades), 1961.

Roo, Season of Passion (also known as Summer of the Seventeenth Doll and Summer of the 17th Doll), United Artists, 1961.

Lucius, Barabbas (also known as Barabba), Columbia, 1962.

Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale, McHale's Navy, Universal, 1964.

Trucker Cobb, Flight of the Phoenix (also known as The Flight of the Phoenix), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1965.

Barney Yale, The Oscar, Embassy, 1966.

Sergeant Otto Hansbach, Chuka (also known as Chuka: The Gunfighter), Paramount, 1967.

General Sam Worden, The Dirty Dozen, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1967.

Boris Vaslov, Ice Station Zebra, Filmways/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1968.

Barney Sheehan, The Legend of Lylah Clare (also known as Legend of Lylah Clare), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1968.

Bert Clinger, The Split, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1968.

(Uncredited) Himself, The Man Who Makes the Difference (documentary short), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1968.

Don Pedro Sandoval, Vengeance Is Mine (also known as Quei disperati che puzzano di sudore et di morte, A Bullet for Sandoval, Desperate Men, Those Desperate Men Who Smell of Dirt, and Los Desperados), Atlantida, 1969.

Dutch Engstrom, The Wild Bunch, Warner Bros., 1969.

Fat Cat, The Adventurers, Paramount, 1970.

Sheriff Harve, Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? (also known as War Games), Cinerama, 1970.

Bill Green, Bunny O'Hare, American International Pictures, 1971.

Emmett Clemens, Hannie Caulder, Paramount, 1971.

Dictator, Rain for a Dusty Summer, Do-Bar, 1971.

Captain Perkins, Ripped Off (also known as The Boxer, Counter Punch, Murder in the Ring, Ripped-Off, Tough Guy, and L'uomo dalla pelle dura), Cinema Shares, 1971.

Al Martin, Willard, Cinerama, 1971.

Himself, Film Portrait (documentary), Anthology Film Archives, 1972.

Mike Rogo, The Poseidon Adventure, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1972.

Hoop, The Revengers (also known as Los Vengadores), National General, 1972.

Himself, The World of Sport Fishing (documentary), Allied Artists Pictures Corp., 1972.

Shack, Emperor of the North Pole (also known as Emperor of the North), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973.

Chief diver Don "Mack" Mackay, The Neptune Factor (also known as The Neptune Disaster, Underwater Odyssey, and An Underwater Odyssey), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973.

Cy, Law and Disorder, Columbia, 1974.

Jonathan Corbis, The Devil's Rain, Bryanston, 1975.

Santoro, Hustle, Paramount, 1975.

Adam Smith, Sunday in the Country (also known as Vengeance Is Mine and Blood for Blood), American International Pictures, 1975.

Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (also known as Won Ton Ton), Paramount, 1976.

Lou, Shoot, Avco-Embassy, 1976.

Angelo Dundee, The Greatest, Columbia, 1977.

Lyle Wallace, Convoy, United Artists, 1978.

John Canty, Crossed Swords (also known as The Prince and the Pauper), Warner Bros., 1978.

Harry Booth, The Black Hole, Buena Vista, 1979.

Rann, The Ravagers (also known as Ravagers), Columbia, 1979.

Firat, The Double McGuffin, Mulberry Square, 1979.

Tom Conti, When Time Ran Out (also known as Earth's Final Fury and The Day the World Ended), Warner Bros., 1980.

Isaiah Schmidt, Deadly Blessing, United Artists, 1981.

Cabbie, Escape from New York (also known as John Carpenter's "Escape from New York"), Avco-Embassy, 1981.

Clint, High Risk (also known as Los Gringos), American Cinema, 1981.

Sergeant Willy Dunlop, Super Fuzz (also known as Supersnooper, Super-Snooper, and Poliziotto superpio), Avco-Embassy, 1981.

Lieutenant Bob Carrigan, Young Warriors (also known as The Graduates of Malibu High), Cannon, 1983.

The White Stallion, 1984.

Frank Fletcher, Codename: Wild Geese (also known as Codename Wildgeese, Code Name: Wild Geese, and Geheimecode Wildganse), Entertainment, 1985.

Ben Robeson, The Manhunt (also known as Manhunt, Caccia all'uomo, Mad Dog, and Cane arrabbiato), Samuel Goldwyn, 1986.

Isola del Tesoro, 1986.

Red Riding Hood (also known as Cannon Movie Tales: Red Riding Hood), 1987.

Victor, Qualcuno paghera? (also known as The Opponent), 1987.

Baldo Cacetti, Spike of Bensonhurst (also known as Throw Back!), Film Dallas, 1988.

Any Man's Death, 1988.

Bischof, Real Men Don't Eat Gummi Bears (also known as Gummibarchen kusst man nicht), [Germany], 1989.

Professor Braun, Laser Mission (also known as Soldier of Fortune), Interfilm L.A./Azimuth, 1989.

Colonel Smith, Skeleton Coast (also known as Coast of Skeletons), Silvertree, 1989.

The Big Turnaround, 1989.

Victor, The Opponent, Dania, 1990.

Captain Morrison, Moving Target (also known as Bersaglio sull'autostrada), Laguna Productions, 1990.

Coach, L'ultima partita (also known as Opponent and The Last Match), 1990.

Ernie, Mountain of Diamonds, 1991.

Himself, Mistress (also known as Hollywood Mistress), Rainbow Releasing/Tribeca Productions, 1992.

Ernest, La classse americaine, Warner Bros. TV, 1993.

Doctor, Tides of War (also known as Cancellate Washington), Arrow Releasing, 1994.

Grandfather, Spirit of the Season, 1994.

Arty, Captiva Island (also known as Captiva), R S Entertainment, 1995.

The Outlaws: Legend of O. B. Taggert, Northern Arts Entertainment, 1995.

Voice of Carface, All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 (animated; also known as All Dogs Go to Heaven II), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1996.

The Wild Bunch: An Album Montage (documentary short), Warner Bros., 1996.

Grandfather, Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders, 1996.

Cobra, McHale's Navy, Universal, 1997.

Caesar, Gattaca (also known as The Eighth Day), Columbia, 1997.

Himself, Ernest Borgnine: On the Bus (documentary), GoodTimes Home Video, 1997.

Ted Denslow, BASEketball, Universal, 1998.

Voice of Kip Killagin, Small Soldiers, DreamWorks, 1998.

Carface, An All Dogs Christmas Carol, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Family Entertainment, 1998.

Lucky, 12 Bucks, 1998.

Hotis Brown, Abilene, Independent Artists, 1999.

Grandpa, Mel, 1999.

Franklin Lyle, The Last Great Ride, 1999.

Ben Quinn, The Lost Treasure of Sawtooth Island, 1999.

Nate, Castlerock, 2000.

Godfather Mariano, The Kiss of Debt, Mackinac Media, 2000.

Himself, Sir John Mills' Moving Memories (documentary), Carlton, 2000.

J. Edgar Hoover, Hoover, 2000.

Judge DuPont, Whiplash, 2002.

(Segment USA) 11′09″01-September 11 (also known as 11 minutes 9 secondes 1 image, 11 septembre 2001, 11′09″01: Onze minutes, neuf secondes, un cadre, Eleven Minutes, Nine Seconds, One Image: September 11, Onze minutes neuf secondes, un cadre, and September 11), Empire Pictures, 2002.

Michael Bolini, Barn Red, 2003.

Narrator, The American Hobo (documentary), Echelon Entertainment, 2003.

Lucas Moat, The Long Ride Home, Lions Gate Films, 2003.

Rolling Star, Blueberry (also known as Blueberry: L'experience secrete and Renegade), Columbia TriStar, 2004.

Himself, Passion & Poetry: The Ballad of Sam Peckinpah (documentary), 2005.

Grandpa, 3 Below, Dream Entertainment, 2005.

Steamtrain, Rail Kings, Red Distribution, 2005.

La cura del gorilla, 2006.

Bill, Oliviero Rising, 2006.

Judge Holliday, Chinaman's Chance, 2006.

Strange Wilderness, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2006.

Also appeared in Captain Hankel; Madam Capri and Her Girls; Strike Force.

Film Executive Producer:

Hoover, 2000.

Television Appearances; Series:

Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale, McHale's Navy, ABC, 1962–66.

Officer Joe Cleaver, Future Cop, ABC, 1977.

Dominic Santini, Airwolf (also known as Air Wolf and Lone Wolf), CBS, 1984–85.

Manny Cordova, The Single Guy, NBC, 1995–97.

Voice of Carface, All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series (animated), syndicated, 1996–.

Voice of Mermaid Man, SpongeBob SquarePants (animated; also known as SpongeBob), Nickelodeon, 1999–2002.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Centurion, Jesus of Nazareth (also known as Gesu di Nazareth), NBC, 1977.

J. Edgar Hoover, Blood Feud, syndicated, 1983.

Marcus, The Last Days of Pompeii, ABC, 1984.

Lion, Alice in Wonderland (also known as Alice through the Looking Glass), CBS, 1985.

Billy Bones, L'isola del tesoro (also known as Der schatz im all, Space Island, and Treasure Island in Outer Space), RAI-2, 1987.

Pedro El Triste, Oceano (also known as Ocean), 1989.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Deputy Sam Hill, Sam Hill: Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster? (also known as Sam Hill: Who Killed Mr. Foster?), NBC, 1971.

Sam Paxton, The Trackers (also known as No Trumpets, No Drums), ABC, 1971.

Vince Boselli, Twice in a Lifetime, NBC, 1974.

Natale in casa d'appuntamento (also known as Christmas Time in a Brothel, Christmas at the Brothel, Holiday Hookers, and Love by Appointment), 1976.

Sam Brisbane, Fire!, NBC, 1977.

Dom Cimoli, The Ghost of Flight 401, NBC, 1978.

Stanislaus Katczinsky, All Quiet on the Western Front, CBS, 1979.

Mickey Doyle, Carpool, CBS, 1983.

Jerry, Masquerade, 1983.

Senator Brighton, Love Leads the Way, The Disney Channel, 1984.

General Sam Worden, The Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission (also known as The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission), NBC, 1985.

General Sam Worden, The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission, NBC, 1987.

General Sam Worden, The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission (also known as The Dirty Dozen: Fatal Mission), NBC, 1988.

Sal "The Salami" Piccolo, Jake Spanner, Private Eye (also known as Hoodwinked, Jack Spanner, Back on the Case, and The Old Dick), USA Network, 1989.

Emil Danzig, Appearances, NBC, 1990.

Gantz, Any Man's Death, 1990.

Ernie, Mountain of Diamonds (also known as Burning Shore, Gluhender himmel, La montagna dei diamanti, and La montagne de diamants), 1991.

Dr. Gustav Gruber, Tieraerztin Christine, 1993.

Hans Kroger, Der Blaue Diamant (also known as Hunt for the Blue Diamond), 1993.

Dr. Gustav Gruber, Tieraerztin Christine II: Die Versuchung, 1995.

Grandpa, Me!, HBO, 1999.

The faerie king, The Blue Light, 2004.

Eugene Lawson, The Trail to Hope Rose, Hallmark Channel, 2004.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale, "Seven Against the Sea" (pilot for McHale's Navy), Alcoa Premiere, ABC, 1962.

Joe Cleaver, Future Cop, ABC, 1976.

Joe Cleaver, The Cops and Robin (also known as Cops and Robin), NBC, 1978.

Take One Starring Jonathan Winters, NBC, 1981.

Dominic Santini, Airwolf, CBS, 1984.

Television Appearances; Specials:

The 28th Annual Academy Awards, NBC, 1956.

The General Motors 50th Anniversary Show, NBC, 1957.

Presenter, The 29th Annual Academy Awards, NBC, 1957.

Presenter, The 30th Annual Academy Awards, NBC, 1958.

The Andy Williams Show, NBC, 1963.

The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1967.

What's Up, America?, NBC, 1971.

Vince Lombardi, Portrait in Granite: The Vince Lombardi Story (also known as Legend in Granite: The Vince Lombardi Story, ABC, 1973.

The Rowan and Martin Special, NBC, 1973.

Himself, Sandy in Disneyland, CBS, 1974.

Presenter, The 46th Annual Academy Awards, NBC, 1974.

Himself/Fatso, The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Frank Sinatra, 1977.

Superstunt, NBC, 1978.

The 50th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1978.

Jonathan, Little House Years, NBC, 1979.

The American Film Institute Salute to James Stewart, CBS, 1980.

Take One Starring Jonathan Winters, NBC, 1981.

James Bond: The First 21 Years, Thames, 1983.

The Funniest Joke I Ever Heard, ABC, 1984.

The Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1987.

This is Your Life, NBC, 1987.

The Television Academy Hall of Fame, Fox, 1990.

MGM: When the Lion Roars (documentary; also known as The MGM Story), TNT, 1992.

50 Years of Television: A Celebration of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997.

Interviewee, Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western (documentary), TNT, 1997.

50 Years of Television: A Celebration of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997.

The Best of Hollywood (also known as 50 Years: The Best of Hollywood), 1998.

Frank Sinatra: The Very Good Years, PBS, 1998.

The 70th Annual Academy Awards, 1998.

Himself, AFI's 100 Years … 100 Stars, CBS, 1999.

William Holden: An Untamed Spirit (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 1999.

Tim Conway: Just Clowning Around (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 1999.

The 2000 MTV Movie Awards, MTV, 2000.

Himself, AFI's 100 Years, 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies (also known as AFI's 100 Years … 100 Thrills), CBS, 2001.

The 75th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2003.

Time Machine: When Cowboys Were King, 2003.

Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade (documentary), Starz!, 2004.

Also appeared in Billy the Kid.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

"The Copper," Goodyear Television Playhouse (also known as Goodyear Playhouse), 1951.

Gus White, "Night Visitor," Ford Theatre, 1954.

"The Poachers," Fireside Theatre, NBC, 1955.

Himself, "Ernest Borgnine," This Is Your Life, NBC, 1956.

Toast of the Town, CBS, 1956, 1957.

Jim Morrison, "Black Creek Encounter," Zane Grey Theatre (also known as Dick Powell's "Zane Grey Theater" and The Westerners), CBS, 1957.

Willy Moran, "The Willie Moran Story," Wagon Train, NBC, 1957.

"The Reformation of Calliope," The O. Henry Playhouse, 1957.

Cop, "The Flashback Show," Make Room for Daddy (also known as The Danny Thomas Show), 1957.

Host, "Human Bomb," Navy Log, 1957.

"Two Lives Have I," Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (also known as Herald Playhouse, Schlitz Playhouse, and The Playhouse), 1958.

Willy Moran, "Around the Horn," Wagon Train, NBC, 1958.

Major Prescott, "Circle of Fire," Laramie, NBC, 1959.

Estaban Zamora, "The Estaban Zamora Story," Wagon Train, NBC, 1959.

Jim Morrison, "Black Creek Encounter," Frontier Justice, 1959.

Boone Caudie, "Ride the Wild Wind," Laramie, NBC, 1960.

Willie, "A Gun for Willie," Zane Grey Theatre (also known as Dick Powell's "Zane Grey Theater" and The Westerners), CBS, 1960.

Earl Packer, "The Earl Packer Story," Wagon Train, NBC, 1961.

Matty Moran, "The Legend That Walks Like a Man," The General Electric Theatre (also known as G. E. Theater), CBS, 1961.

"The Blue Leaders," The Blue Angels, 1961.

MacHale, "Seven Against the Sea," Alcoa Premiere, 1962.

Major David Orlovsky, "The Bar Mitzvah of Major Orlovsky," The General Electric Theatre (also known as G. E. Theater), CBS, 1962.

Himself, The Andy Williams Story, NBC, 1963.

Host, The Hollywood Palace, ABC, 1964.

Indian, "The Indian Girl Story," Wagon Train, NBC, 1965.

Melvin Freebie, "The Blue-Eyed Horse," Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (also known as The Chrysler Theater and Universal Star Time), NBC, 1966.

Harry, "Time and a Half on Christmas Eve," Run for Your Life, 1966.

Himself, The Hollywood Squares, NBC, 1966, 1967, 1976.

TV viewer, "The Little Black Book: Part 2," Get Smart, 1968.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1971, 1973, 1979.

The Dean Martin Show, NBC, 1971, 1972.

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, NBC, 1973.

Jonathan, "The Lord Is My Shepherd: Part 2," Little House on the Prairie, NBC, 1974.

Earl Gianelli, "Mr. White Death," Magnum, P.I., 1982.

Dominic Rosselli, "Venetian Love Song/The Arrangement/Arrividerci, Gopher/The Gigolo: Parts 1 & 2," The Love Boat, ABC, 1982.

Buster Ryan, "Here's Another Fine Mess," Matt Houston, 1983.

Guido Liggo, "Another Kind of War, Another Kind of Peace," Highway to Heaven, 1986.

Cosmo Ponzini, "Death Takes a Dive," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1987.

Colonel Tom Cody, "My Shining Hour," Jake and the Fatman, 1989.

Debbie Reynolds' Movie Memories, 1991.

Eddie Phillips, "Birds of a Feather Flock to Taylor," Home Improvement, ABC, 1992.

Voice of himself, "Boy Scoutz N the Hood," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 1993.

Frank Nardino, "Rising Sun," The Commish, 1993.

Frank Nardino, "A Christmas Story," The Commish, 1994.

Voice of Brain's father, Pinky and the Brain (animated), The WB, 1996.

Artemus Sullivan, "Yesterday's Heroes," JAG, CBS, 1998.

Antonio Birelli, "The Last Untouchable," Early Edition, CBS, 1999.

Lawrence Yaeger, "Legacy," Chicken Soup for the Soul, PAX, 2000.

Eddie Ryan, "The Avenging Angel," Walker, Texas Ranger, CBS, 2000.

Himself, "The Poseidon Adventure Backstory," Backstory (also known as Hollywood Backstories), AMC, 2001.

Max, "The Blue Angel," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2002.

Joe, "The Known Soldier," 7th Heaven (also known as Seventh Heaven), The WB, 2002.

Frank Collero, "Alienation of Affection," Family Law, CBS, 2002.

Mike Murphy, "Last Waltz," The District, CBS, 2003.

Late Show with David Letterman (also known as The Late Show), NBC, 2004.

Also appeared as Nargola, Captain Video and His Video Rangers, Dumon.

RECORDINGS:

Video Games:

Voice of Mermaid Man, SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge, THQ, 2001.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, 4th ed., St. James Press, 2000.

Periodicals:

Movieline, volume 7, issue 8, 1996, p. 30.

Borgnine, Ernest

views updated May 23 2018

BORGNINE, Ernest



Nationality: American. Born: Ermes Effron Borgnino in Hamden, Connecticut, 24 January 1917 (some sources say 1915 or 1918). Education: Attended New Haven Public Schools; studied acting at Randall School of Dramatic Art, Hartford, Connecticut. Military Service: 1935–45—served in U.S. Navy, mainly as gunner's mate on destroyers. Family: Married 1) Rhoda Kemins, 1948 (divorced 1959), daughter: Nancy; 2) the actress Katy Jurado, 1959 (divorced 1963); 3) the singer Ethel Merman, 1964 (divorced 1964); 4) Donna Rancourt, 1964 (divorced 1972), children: Sharon and Christopher; 5) Tova Traesnaes Newman, 1972. Career: After graduation from high school worked as truck driver for short time; 1946–50—in repertory at Barber Theater, Abingdon, Virginia; 1951—film debut inChina Corsair; 1952—Broadway debut in Mrs. McThing; active on television from 1950s; 1962–66—in TV comedy series McHale's Navy; 1984—in TV mini-series Last Days of Pompeii; 1984–85—in TV series Airwolf; 1995–96—in TV series The Single Guy. Awards: Best Actor, Cannes Festival, Best Actor Academy Award, Best Actor, New York Film Critics, and Best Foreign Actor, British Academy, for Marty, 1955. Address: c/o Harry Flynn, The Flynn Company, 1110 Hortense Street, North Hollywood, CA 91602, U.S.A.


Films as Actor:

1951

China Corsair (Nazzaro) (as Hu Chang); The Whistle at Eaton Falls (Siodmak) (as Bill Street); The Mob (Parrish) (as Joe Castro)

1953

The Stranger Wore a Gun (de Toth) (as Bull Slager); From Here to Eternity (Zinnemann) (as Fatso)

1954

Johnny Guitar (Nicholas Ray) (as Bart Lonergan); Demetrius and the Gladiators (Daves) (as Strabo); The Bounty Hunter (de Toth) (as Rachin); Vera Cruz (Aldrich) (as Donnegan)

1955

Bad Day at Black Rock (John Sturges) (as Coley Trimble); Marty (Delbert Mann) (title role); Run for Cover (Nicholas Ray) (as Morgan); Violent Saturday (Fleischer) (as Stadt); The Last Command (Lloyd) (as Mike Radin); The Square Jungle (Jerry Hopper) (as Bernie Browne)

1956

Jubal (Daves) (as Shep Horgan); The Catered Affair (Richard Brooks) (as Tom Hurley); The Best Things in Life Are Free (Curtiz) (as Lew Brown)

1957

Three Brave Men (Dunne) (as Bernie Goldsmith)

1958

The Vikings (Fleischer) (as King Ragnar); The Badlanders (Daves) (as John McBain); Torpedo Run (Pevney) (as Lt. Archer Sloan)

1959

The Rabbit Trap (Leacock) (as Eddie Colt)

1960

Man on a String (de Toth) (as Boris Mitrov); Pay or Die (Wilson) (as Lt. Joseph Petrosino)

1961

Go Naked in the World (MacDougall) (as Pete Stratton); Il re di Poggioreale (Coletti); II giudizio universale (The Last Judgment) (De Sica); Barabba (Barabbas) (Fleischer) (as Lucius); Season of Passion (Norman) (as Roo); I briganti italiani (Les Guerilleros) (Camerini)

1964

McHale's Navy (Montagne) (as Lt. Cdr. Quinton McHale)


1966

Flight of the Phoenix (Aldrich) (as Trucker Cobb); The Oscar (Rouse) (as Barney Yale)

1967

The Dirty Dozen (Aldrich) (as Gen. Worden); Chuka (Douglas) (as Sgt. Otto Hahnsbach)

1968

The Legend of Lylah Clare (Aldrich) (as Barney Sheean); The Split (Flemyng) (as Bert Clinger); Ice Station Zebra (John Sturges) (as Boris Vaslov)

1969

The Wild Bunch (Peckinpah) (as Dutch Engstrom); Vengeance Is Mine (Buchs)

1970

Los desperados (A Bullet for Sandoval) (Buchs) (as Don Pedro Sandoval); The Adventurers (Gilbert) (as Fat Cat); Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? (War Games) (Averback) (as Sheriff Harve)

1971

Willard (Daniel Mann) (as Al Martin); Rain for a Dusty Summer (Lubin) (as dictator); Hannie Caulder (Kennedy) (as Emmett Clemens); Un uomo dalla pelle dura (Ripped-Off; The Boxer) (Prosperi)

1972

The Revengers (Daniel Mann) (as Hoop); The Poseidon Adventure (Neame) (as Mike Rogo); Bunny O'Hare (Oswald) (as Bill Green)

1973

The Neptune Factor (An Underwater Odyssey; The Neptune Disaster) (Petrie) (as Don "Mack" MacKay); Emperor of the North Pole (Emperor of the North) (Aldrich) (as Shack)

1974

Law and Disorder (Passer) (as Cy)

1975

Sunday in the Country (Trent) (as Adam Smith); The Devil's Rain (Fuest) (as Corbis); Hustle (Aldrich) (as Santoro)

1976

Natale in Casa di Appuntamento (Christmas at the Brothel) (Nannuzzi); Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (Winner); Shoot (Hart) (as Lou)

1977

The Prince and the Pauper (Crossed Swords) (Fleischer) (as John Canty); The Greatest (Gries) (as Angelo Dundee)

1978

The Cops and Robin (Reisner—for TV); Convoy (Peckinpah) (as Lyle Wallace)

1979

The Black Hole (Nelson) (as Harry Booth); Ravagers (Compton) (as Rann); The Double McGuffin (Camp) (as Firat)

1980

When Time Ran Out (Earth's Final Fury) (Goldstone) (as Tom Conti)

1981

Escape from New York (Carpenter) (as Cabbie); Deadly Blessing (Craven) (as Isaiah); High Risk (Raffill) (as Clint); Super Fuzz (Supersnooper) (Corbucci) (as Willy Dunlop)

1983

Young Warriors (Foldes) (as Lt. Bob Carrigan); Blood Feud (Newell—for TV); Carpool (Swackhamer—for TV) (as Mickey Doyle)

1984

The White Stallion (Fournier); Codename Wildgeese (Dawson) (as Fletcher); Love Leads the Way (Delbert Mann)

1985

The Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission (McLaglen—for TV) (as Gen. Worden); Alice in Wonderland (Harry Harris) (as Lion)

1986

Manhunt (Ludman) (as Ben Robeson); Isola del tesoro (Dawson)

1987

Skeleton Coast (Coast of Skeletons) (Cardos) (as Col. Smith); The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission (Katzin—for TV) (as Gen. Worden)

1988

The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission (Katzin—for TV) (as Gen. Worden); Spike of Bensonhurst (Morrissey) (as Baldo Cacetti); Jake Spanner, Private Eye (Katzin—for TV)

1989

Ociano (Deodato—for TV); Turnaround

1990

Laser Mission (Soldier of Fortune) (Davis) (as Prof. Braun); Any Man's Death (Clegg—for TV) (as Gantz); Last Match (Ludman); The Opponent (Martino) (as Victor); Appearances (Phelps—for TV) (as Emil Danzig); Moving Target (Mattei) (as Captain Morrison); Tides of War (Rossati)

1992

Mistress (Primus) (as himself)

1993

Tieraerztin Christine (Retzer—for TV) (as Dr. Gruber); Der Blaue Diamant (Retzer—for TV) (as Hans Kroger)

1995

The Legend of O. B. Taggert; Tieraerztin Christine II (Retzer—for TV) (as Dr. Gruber); Captiva Island (Biffar)

1996

All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 (Sabella, Leker) (voice)

1997

McHale's Navy (Spicer) (as Cobra); Gattaca (Niccol) (as Caesar)

1998

BASEketball (Zucker) (as Ted Denslow)



Publications


On BORGNINE: articles—

Current Biography 1956, New York, 1956.

Ecran (Paris), July 1978.

Ciné Revue (Paris), 14 May 1981 and 14 October 1982.

Films Illustrated (London), June 1981.

Jacobs, A. J., "Borgnine's Lives," in Entertainment Weekly, 6 October 1995.


* * *

Ernest Borgnine, best known as a supporting player, has one of the most familiar faces in movies and television. It is a difficult one to forget; burly, gap-toothed, and pug-ugly, with bushy black eyebrows, and a smile that can suggest warmhearted affability or gleeful sadism. Borgnine has won acclaim playing roles appropriate to both smiles.

Portrayals in two Academy Award-winning films display these sides of his screen persona. In 1953, he co-starred as the brutal sergeant "Fatso" Judson who got his kicks treading on Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity. But two years later Borgnine, usually associated with villainous roles, especially in Westerns, did an about-face and won the Best Actor award as the lonely, gentle butcher in the title role of Marty, a part he got by default when Rod Steiger, the actor who originated the character of Marty in Paddy Chayefsky's award-winning television drama, was unable to do the film version because he was busy making the film version of the hit Broadway musical Oklahoma! Borgnine's familiarity with audiences stems in part from his stint on the long-running television sitcom McHale's Navy (1962–66), in which he starred as the scheming but good-hearted Captain McHale, playing mother hen to a wacky crew of misfits. Borgnine returned to series television in 1995, playing opposite comic Jonathan Silverman in the NBC sitcom The Single Guy.

In films, however, Borgnine's commanding presence has been put to its best use in menacing or villainous roles. One of his most memorable performances was as a weary member of a doomed gang of outlaws in a changing West in the Sam Peckinpah classic The Wild Bunch, which underwent a major restoration and theatrical rerelease in 1995 to mark the film's 25th anniversary. Whether in Westerns, disaster films, or biblical epics, Borgnine is at his most sublime when in a lumbering, blustering rage.

—Donald Liebenson, updated by John McCarty

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