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Ernest Borgnine

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Ernest Borgnine was a famous American actor with a very long career.

Ernest Borgnine-oscar
Ernest Borgnine-oscar

He was known for his relaxed, gruff voice and a wide, gap-toothed grin. People loved seeing him on TV and in movies for over sixty years. He could play many different kinds of people on screen. Sometimes he played tough villains in Western movies like *Vera Cruz*. Other times, he played kind and warm characters that people really cared about.

Ernest Borgnine-oscar
Ernest Borgnine-oscar

Before he became a star, Borgnine served in the United States Navy.

Ernest-Borgnine 2004
Ernest-Borgnine 2004

He joined the Navy in 1935 after finishing high school in Connecticut. He served for almost ten years in total. During World War II, he worked on a ship patrolling the Atlantic Coast. He earned several awards, like the World War II Victory Medal. Later, the Navy gave him a special honor in 2004. They named him an honorary chief petty officer at a ceremony in Washington, DC.

Ernest-Borgnine 2004
Ernest-Borgnine 2004

Borgnine did not start out wanting to be an actor. He actually liked sports more than acting when he was young.

Ernest Borgnine-oscar
Ernest Borgnine-oscar

His mother encouraged him to try the stage because of his personality. He studied at the Randall School of Drama in Hartford. Then, he joined the Barter Theatre in Virginia to learn more. He made his Broadway debut in New York City in 1949. Soon, he moved to Los Angeles to find even bigger roles in movies.

Ernest Borgnine-oscar
Ernest Borgnine-oscar

His biggest moment came in 1955 with the film *Marty*.

Ernest Borgnine-Betsy Blair in Marty trailer
Ernest Borgnine-Betsy Blair in Marty trailer

In this movie, he played a warmhearted butcher named Marty Piletti. This role was very important because it won him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

Ernest Borgnine-oscar
Ernest Borgnine-oscar

He also became a star on television. He played a funny skipper named Quinton McHale in the show *McHale's Navy*.

Later, he played a helicopter pilot named Dominic Santini on the action series *Airwolf*.

Even when he was older, Borgnine worked with great energy.

Ernest Borgnine 2009
Ernest Borgnine 2009

He was often the very first person to arrive on a film set. He was also usually the last person to leave at night. He even did voice acting for a cartoon character. From 1999 until 2012, he was the voice of Mermaid Man on *SpongeBob SquarePants*. He remained a busy and passionate performer throughout his whole life.

Ernest Borgnine 2009
Ernest Borgnine 2009
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🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:Ernest-Borgnine 2004.JPEG
Ernest-Borgnine 2004.JPEG
File:Ernest Borgnine-Betsy Blair in Marty trailer.jpg
Ernest Borgnine-Betsy Blair in Marty trailer.jpg
File:Ernest Borgnine-oscar.jpg
Ernest Borgnine-oscar.jpg
File:Ernest Borgnine McHale McHale's Navy dress whites 1962.JPG
Ernest Borgnine McHale McHale's Navy...
File:McHale and Crew McHales Navy 1962.JPG
McHale and Crew McHales Navy 1962.JPG
File:Ernest Borgnine in McHales Navy 1962.JPG
Ernest Borgnine in McHales Navy 1962.JPG
File:President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan with Ernest Borgnine and Tova Borgnine.jpg
President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan...
File:Ernest Borgnine 2009.jpg
Ernest Borgnine 2009.jpg
File:Jurado-Borgnine-Badlanders.jpg
Jurado-Borgnine-Badlanders.jpg
File:Ernest Borgnine (Old Milwaukee Days, June 1973) (retouched).jpg
Ernest Borgnine (Old Milwaukee Days, June...
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