Ernest Borgnine

	Ernest Borgnine
	; Publicity photo for McHale's Navy, 1962
	Background information
Born as:	Ermes Effron Borgnino
Born	Jan 24, 1917; Hamden, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	Jul 8, 2012 - at age 94; Los Angeles, California, U.S.; Cancer, Renal failure
Buried:	Forest Lawn (Hollywood Hills)
Spouse(s):	Rhoda Kemins; (1949 - 1958) divorced; ; Katy Jurado; (1959 - 1963) divorced; ; Ethel Merman; (1964 - 1964) divorced; ; Donna Rancourt; (1965 - 1972) divorced; ; Tova Traesnaes; (1973 - );
Occupation:	Actor (1947–2012)
	Editor's note about articles in this category

Military Service World War II
Allegiance :	United States
Branch:	United States Navy
Rank/Rate:	Gunner's mate First class (Chief Petty Officer (Honorary 2004))
Battles:	World War II, Battle of the Atlantic
Awards/Medals:	American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

Ernest Borgnine (born Ermes Effron Borgnino; January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012) was an American actor whose career spanned over six decades. He was noted for his gruff but relaxed voice and gap-toothed Cheshire Cat grin. A popular performer, he also appeared as a guest on numerous talk shows and as a panelist on several game shows.

Borgnine's film career began in 1951, showcasing supporting roles in China Corsair (1951), From Here to Eternity (1953), Vera Cruz (1954), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), and The Wild Bunch (1969). He also played unconventional lead roles in many films, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Marty (1955), which also won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Borgnine starred as the title character in the sitcom McHale's Navy (1962–1966) and co-starred as Dominic Santini in the action series Airwolf (1984–1986).

Borgnine earned his third Primetime Emmy Award nomination at age 92 for his work on the 2009 series finale of ER. He was also known as the original voice of "Mermaid Man" on SpongeBob SquarePants from 1999 until his death in 2012.

Early life and education

Borgnine was born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24, 1917, in Hamden, Connecticut. He was the son of Italian immigrants. His mother, Anna (née Boselli), hailed from Carpi, near Modena, while his father, Camillo Borgnino, was a native of Ottiglio, near Alessandria. Borgnine's parents separated when he was two years old, and he lived with his mother in Italy for about four and a half years. By 1923, his parents had reconciled, the family name changed from Borgnino to Borgnine, and his father changed his first name to Charles. Borgnine had a younger sister, Evelyn Borgnine Velardi (1925–2013). The family settled in New Haven, Connecticut, where Borgnine graduated from James Hillhouse High School. While growing up, he participated in sports but showed no interest in acting.

Military service

Borgnine joined the United States Navy in October 1935, shortly after graduating from high school. He served aboard the destroyer/minesweeper USS Lamberton (DD-119 / DMS-2) and was honorably discharged from the Navy in October 1941. In January 1942, he reenlisted in the Navy following the attack on Pearl Harbor. During World War II, he patrolled the Atlantic Coast on an antisubmarine warfare ship, the patrol yacht USS Sylph (PY-12). In September 1945, he was honorably discharged from the Navy once again. Over almost 10 years of service, he achieved the rank of gunner's mate first class. His military awards include the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal with "A" Device, the American Campaign Medal bronze star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Later honors

In 1997, Borgnine received the United States Navy Memorial Lone Sailor Award ^↗. On December 7, 2000, Borgnine was named the Veterans Foundation's Veteran of the Year.

In October 2004, Borgnine received the honorary title of chief petty officer from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry D. Scott. The ceremony for Borgnine's naval advancement was held at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. He received the special honor for his naval service and support of naval personnel and their families worldwide.

== Personal life and deat ==h

Borgnine with his future wife, Katy Jurado, in 1958. Borgnine was married five times. His first marriage, from 1949 to 1958, was to Rhoda Kemins, whom he met while serving in the Navy. They had one daughter, Nancee (born May 28, 1952). He was then married to actress Katy Jurado from 1959 to 1963. Borgnine's tumultuous marriage to actress and singer Ethel Merman in 1964 lasted only 42 days. Merman described the marriage in her autobiography as a solitary blank page. Borgnine's friend Tim Conway later stated: "Ernie is volatile. I mean, there's no question about that, and Ethel was a very strong lady. So you put two bombs in a room, something is going to explode, and I guess it probably did."

From 1965 to 1972, Borgnine was married to Donna Rancourt, with whom he had a son, Christopher (born August 9, 1969), and two daughters, Sharon (born August 5, 1965) and Diana (born December 29, 1970). His fifth and final marriage was to Tova Traesnaes; they remained married from February 24, 1973, until his death.

In 2000, Borgnine received his 50-year pin as a Freemason at Abingdon Lodge No. 48 in Abingdon, Virginia. He joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Los Angeles in 1964, was awarded the Knights Commander of the Court of Honor (KCCH) in 1979, was crowned a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1983, and received the Grand Cross of the Court of Honour in 1991.

Borgnine was a heavy smoker until 1962.

At the age of 95, Borgnine died of renal failure on July 8, 2012, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He had undergone surgery a month before his death and had visited the hospital days earlier for a medical checkup. He was cremated and given a military funeral.

Awards and honors

Borgnine won the 1955 == Academy Award == for Best Actor for his portrayal of Marty Piletti in the film Marty. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living recipient of the Best Actor Oscar. For his contributions to the film industry, Borgnine received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. The star is located at 6324 Hollywood Boulevard. In 1998, the Palm Springs Walk of Stars dedicated a Golden Palm Star to Borgnine. He was honored with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award at the 17th Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 30, 2011.

Borgnine's hometown of Hamden, Connecticut, where he had a large and enthusiastic following, named a park and a small road in his honor. From 1972 to 2002, Borgnine participated in Milwaukee's annual Great Circus Parade as the "Grand Clown. " In 1994, Borgnine received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. In 1996, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

In 2000, Borgnine received his 50-year pin as a Freemason at Abingdon Lodge No. 48 in Abingdon, Virginia. He joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Los Angeles (in the Southern Jurisdiction of the U.S.A.) in 1964, received the KCCH in 1979, was crowned a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1983, and obtained the Grand Cross of the Court of Honour in 1991. He was also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose at that organization's lodge in Junction City, Oregon. He volunteered to serve as the Stories of Service National spokesman, urging his fellow World War II veterans to come forward and share their stories.

In 2007, Borgnine received California's highest civilian honor, the Commendation Medal.