Academy Award Actor Ernest Borgnine Dead at 95

Film and television actor Ernest Borgnine, who won an Academy Award for 1955's "Marty," has died on July 8th at the age 95. His manager said Borgnine died of kidney failure Sunday afternoon. Ernest is survived by his wife, Tova, and children who were at his side at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Winning an Oscar in 1955 for his role as a lovesick butcher in the film ‘Marty,’ Borgnine’s career spanned more than six decades. Marty was a surprise hit, was nominated for eight Oscars (including Best Picture and Best Director for Mann) and won four, including Borgnine's unexpected win over a very crowded field which included his co-star in Bad Day at Black Rock,Spencer Tracy, and a posthumous nod to James Dean (who had died the previous September in a car crash) for his role in East of Eden.

The Oscar helped keep the actor in the game and the next seven years included a mix of TV and film work including A Catered Affair, Jubal, The Vikings and various "Playhouse" appearances on the small screen. Borgnine began acting after serving in the Navy during World War II, making his film debut in 1951′s ‘Whistle at Eaton Falls.’ Over the years Borgnine appeared in such acclaimed films as ‘Bad Day at Black Rock,’ ‘From Here to Eternity,’ ’Jubal,’ ‘Flight of the Phoenix,”The Vikings,’ ‘The Dirty Dozen,’ ‘The Poseidon Adventure,’ ‘The Vikings,’ ‘Escape from New York,’ ‘Gattaca’ and ‘The Wild Bunch’.

An immensly talented and versatile actor, Ernest Borgnine was among the most recognizable faces on both film and television screens. Alongside his credits in film, Borgnine was well known for his roles in the 1962-66 comedy series ‘McHale’s Navy’ and the 1984–1986 action-adventure series ‘Airwolf.’ Borgnine became the oldest performer to receive a Golden Globe nomination when he was acknowledged for the 2007 television movie ‘A Grandpa for Christmas,’ and in 2009, at age 92, he was nominated for an Emmy for his guest performance in the final season of ‘ER.’ The younger generation probably knows him best from the popular children’s show ‘Spongebob Square Pants,’ as the voice of “Mermaid Man”. Rest in peace Ernest Borgnine...the world has lost a Great Icon....First Andy Griffith and now Ernest Borgnine....two great men lost to the acting world.

-Brian Lansangan

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