Ernest Borgnine Dies

He was cool as Mermaid Man in Sponge Bob

Another of the great ones gone!  He was superb as "Shack" in my all-time favorite train film.

A very versatile actor, I've enjoyed the many movies and television shows in which he appeared.

I thought he was very funny in Escape from New York.

My favorite was his third film. Marty.....Don't forget "Bad Day at Black Rock" with those beautiful Cinemascope color shots of a Southern Pacific F unit painted in Black Widow pulling Daylight cars. Go figure.His favorite thing? Fishing and traveling the U.S. with his wife in their RV. Don

Too bad. Great actor..

HERE TO ETERNITY-WILD BUNCH-MARTY

I was just watching him in the McHale's Navy remake last night. Andy Griffith, Ernest Borgnine - Who's next? Yogi Berra? Larry King? The Pope? They die in threes.

For many years we had a big traditional circus parade in Milwaukee and he was in the parade as a clown. His wife played part also. He was one of the great ones. He loved being a clown.

Now there is a Great Actor. He will be missed.

mchales navy---the best!

Actors with his versatility are rare.  He played a brutal thug in From Here to Eternity, a pathologically shy butcher looking for love in Marty, and was just as adept at light comedy in McHale's Navy.  And he was utterly convincing in all of them.

So long, Mr. Borgnine, and thanks for all the memorable films.

How could anybody not fall in love with the SP Daylight color scheme after watching "Bad Day at Black Rock?"  The opening of the movie features the train charging through the desert.  Ernest Borgnine was masterful as a villain.  Spencer Tracy was the WWII veteran hero but I thought the gorgeous (and air-conditioned) SP passenger train and its crisply dressed conductors had a starring supporting role representing the fleeting presence of civilization in that desolate and depraved desert town.  

A farewell salute to Ernest Borgnine, a great actor - he was doing something right to live to 95 years old.

Sad day.  One of my favorite actors - I grew up watching him on Airwolf and re-runs of McHale's Navy, not to mention all of the great film roles, including his role as Shack (EotN is also my favorite train film).

Andy

I really liked him . . . and will miss him. 

"You don't ride on my train without a ticket."

I grew up watching Ernest Borgnine on McHale's Navy and thought he was terrific as a comedic actor.  The first time I watched From Here to Eternity which was after watching him on McHale's Navy I could not believe how menacing he was as Fatso Judson the Stockade Sergeant.  When you look at the number of diverse roles he played during his career you can't help but come to the realization that he was the quintessential actor.  When I read about his passing I felt a real twinge of sadness.

Borgnine is/was one of my all-time favorite actors, and has appeared in some of my favorite movies.  I was very saddened to learn of his passing yesterday.

Earnest Borgnine had the ability, with his character acting, to make the viewer either hate, or like him, some versatility. 

Frank Sinatra credited Ernest Borgnine with teaching Sinatra how to act for his role of Maggio, in "From Here To Eternity," which helped Sinatra win the Academy Award.

Then, Earnest Borgnine, as a mild mannered butcher, wins his Academy Award for his role of "Marty."

From a mean, sadistic Fatso Judson, in 'From Here To Eternity," to a kind, nice man in 'Marty."

Wow!

Ralph-RJL

I too grew up on McHale's Navy.  It wasn't until I became an adult though that I realized that he had *already* been around for so long in many diverse roles and already had his Oscar in the 50's.  Amazingly, he was still working (in his 90's) last year.  He even was nominated for an Emmy for his poignant role in the last episode of ER.

Reading about his life I was struck by a couple of things.  He was married *5* times.  The first 4 lasted a few years each except for Ethel Merman which only lasted a month.  But the last one...  the one he married when he was 56 years old...  lasted almost 40 years until his death.

The other thing was that he was blessed to be working in a craft that he loved.  How else could he still be at it when most of his peers were either dead or long retired?

On a lighter note, the Wikipedia article about his roles listed him in a movie called "Emperor of the North Pole" [sic].    I knew he was "Grand Clown" of the Milwaukee circus parade for 30 years but I never knew he was also Santa Claus.    This would doubtless shock Tim Allen. 

Finally, there is really nothing sad about this death to me.  He lived such a full life.  Full of adventure.  Full of sorrow.  Full of joy.  Full of achievement.  Full of love.  If you miss him, you don't have to look far.  Watch him in one of his many roles.

The IMDB has that movie listed both with and without the word "pole" in the title.  F-Troop and McCale's Navy were two of my favorite shows as a kid!  Loved himn as the Centurion in "Jesus of Nazareth" too!

Jon 

He was on SNL late last year....still sharp as a tack. Sad to see him go....but sounds like he was happy to the end. Better than some folks you see go down hill slowly for many years. RIP

Some of my favorite roles were in The Dirty Dozen and other war movies, The Poseidan Adventure and I remember him playing Vince Lombardi in a made for TV movie.  My dad was all over that when it came on.

He joined the US Navy during the depression (1935), was discharged in 1941, but after Pearl Harbor, he reenlisted and served honorably through 1945.

He spent a total of ten-years in the Navy, and achieved the rank of Gunner's Mate, First Class. In 2004, he was awarded the Honorary Rank of Chief Petty Officer by the US Navy.

A GOOD man and a GREAT actor!

As long as the Library of Congress preserves his wonderful works all of our lives will always be a little fuller because Ernest Borgnine was here.

All of a sudden I feel the need to watch "Emperor of the North". I know it was not his best role, but it just goes to show just how great of an actor he was. Ernest could make us hate him or love him, he was truely a master of his craft. 

nobody could have played the " Shack" any better .rest in peace marty . in his memory, we are watching  the movie this weekend.-jim

My wife is a librarian and she's bringing me home Bad Day at Black Rock, which I haven't seen before.  Thanks for the suggestion.  

The above picture of the gentleman standing beside the passenger car looks like Spencer Tracy

What a great idea...  I'm going to scare up my copy.

Another great idea...

Eric, wait tell you see all the new young actors that became big. It's a great underrated movie. You have never seen Walter Brennan like this, I think it's his best movie. I'd be interested what you think of it. Don

There's a very unpleasant side on getting old(er): the heroes of my childhood are leaving the stage, so to speak. I liked Ernest Borgnine. His characters had that temper and drive.

I keep my fingers crossed, a few days ago I saw The Eiger Sanction with one of my other heroes, Clint Eastwood. It's fascinating: the story line being not that spectacular, but the acting, photography and that fantastic music score, all together creating a great picture.

American film industry, I just love it!

Kieffer

Watched Bad Day at Black Rock last night.  Awesome SP Black Widow / Daylight action at the beginning and end.  The F units sound just like a Lionel!  Maybe they put railsounds in them.  That Is Spencer Tracy next to the train in that picture.  He gives Ernie a couple karate chops and flips him over with a move straight out of pro wrestling in one scene- with one arm.  I don't know how they did that, but it was precious.

Emperor Of The North was a great movie.  I always believed Ernest Borgnine

and Lee Marvin had a great chemistry on film.  May they both Rest In Peace.

Many thanks,

Billy C