Ernest Borgnine made a lasting impact on film and television, entertaining audiences for decades. He is best known for playing Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale in the ABC sitcom McHale’s Navy, which aired from 1962 to 1966. But long before becoming a Hollywood star, Borgnine showed his sense of duty and commitment to his country through his service in the United States Navy.
Ernest Borgnine’s early life
Ernest Borgnine was born Ermes Effron Borgnino in Hamden in January 1917. His childhood included a period of family upheaval, as his parents separated when he was about two years old. His mother, Anna, subsequently took him to Italy, where the two lived for roughly four and a half years.
Following his parents’ reconciliation, Borgnine and his mother moved back to the United States. Around this time, the family altered its surname from “Borgnino” to the Anglicized form “Borgnine.”
Service with the US Navy during World War II
After graduating from high school in 1935, Ernest Borgnine joined the U.S. Navy, where he served primarily on the USS Lamberton (DD-119). He was honorably discharged in October 1941, but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he re-enlisted. This time, he served aboard the USS Sylph (PY-12), a patrol yacht operating along the Atlantic Coast.
During the Second World War, Borgnine demonstrated his dedication and skill as a sailor, eventually rising to the rank of gunner’s mate first class. His hard work and service earned him several military honors, including the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal with a Bronze Star, and the American Defense Service Medal with a Fleet Clasp.
Ernest Borgnine’s decision to pursue an acting career
After leaving the US Navy, Ernest Borgnine went back to his parents’ home, unsure about his next steps.
In an interview with the British Film Institute, he shared, “After World War II, we wanted no more part in war. I didn’t even want to be a Boy Scout. I went home and said that I was through with the Navy and so now, what do we do? So I went home to mother, and after a few weeks of patting me on the back and ‘You did good,’ and everything else, one day she said, ‘Well?’ like mothers do. Which meant, ‘All right, you gonna get a job or what?'”
Seeing Borgnine’s interest in performing, his mother encouraged him to try acting. He then trained at the Randall School of Drama in Connecticut and joined an acting group at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. A few years later, he earned a role on Broadway in Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Harvey.
An Academy Award and the success of McHale’s Navy
After gaining recognition on the Broadway stage, Ernest Borgnine transitioned to Hollywood, where he was initially cast in rugged and villainous roles. His career-defining moment came in 1955 with the film Marty, in which he portrayed a gentle Bronx butcher struggling with loneliness. His moving performance earned him critical acclaim and won him the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 28th Oscars—beating out Hollywood heavyweights like James Dean, Frank Sinatra, Spencer Tracy, and James Cagney.
Borgnine later became a staple on the small screen. In 1962, he starred as Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale in the popular ABC comedy McHale’s Navy. The series followed the misadventures of a PT boat crew during World War II and ran for four successful seasons. Its popularity led to a spin-off, Broadside (1964–65), and multiple film adaptations, solidifying Borgnine’s reputation as a dynamic and beloved entertainer.
Ernest Borgnine’s later career and legacy
In 1969, Ernest Borgnine delivered a career-defining and often discussed performance as Dutch Engstrom in The Wild Bunch. More than a decade later, he portrayed Dom Santini on the hit television series Airwolf (1984–1987), bringing to life a seasoned veteran of both World War II and the Korean War.
Borgnine’s prolific career spanned into the 2010s, featuring roles in films like BASEketball (1998), All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 (1996), and Red (2010). He also reached a younger audience as the voice of Mermaid Man on the long-running Nickelodeon series SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–present).
Ernest Borgnine passed away on July 8, 2012, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from kidney failure at the age of 95. He was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, where a memorial bench now honors his enduring legacy.