Ernest Borgnine built an extraordinary legacy across film and television, entertaining audiences for generations. He is best known for starring as Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale in the hit ABC comedy McHale’s Navy, which ran from 1962 to 1966. Long before becoming a household name, however, Borgnine demonstrated his sense of duty and national pride through his service in the United States Navy.
Ernest Borgnine’s early life
Ernest Borgnine entered the world as Ermes Effron Borgnino in Hamden, Connecticut, in January 1917. His early childhood was marked by upheaval; after his parents separated when he was just two years old, he and his mother, Anna, relocated to Italy, where they remained for roughly four and a half years.
When his parents eventually reunited, Ernest and his mother returned to the United States. It was during this period that the family chose to Anglicize their surname, changing it from “Borgnino” to the more streamlined “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 one of his most iconic and debated performances as Dutch Engstrom in The Wild Bunch. Over a decade later, he took on the role of Dom Santini in the popular TV series Airwolf (1984–1987), portraying a battle-hardened veteran of both World War II and the Korean War.
Borgnine’s acting career extended well into the early 2010s, with notable appearances in films such as BASEketball (1998), All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 (1996), and Red (2010). He also gained a new generation of fans by lending his voice to Mermaid Man on the beloved Nickelodeon show SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–present).
Ernest Borgnine passed away on July 8, 2012, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center due to kidney failure, aged 95. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, where a memorial bench was later dedicated to commemorate his legacy.