Ernest Borgnine, one of the most dependable character actors from the 1950s onwards has died aged 95. Starting off in bit parts, he got his big break as Sgt ‘Fatso’ Judson in the Best Picture Oscar Winner From Here To Eternity. From them on he was a regular fixture on film and TV.
In 1955 he took on the title role in the boxing drama Marty, which won him a Best Actor Oscar (ahead of James Dean in East Of Eden, no less). In many ways he was lucky to get the role, as Marty started out as a TV movie with Rob Steiger, but when it was remade for the big screen, it was decided Steiger wasn’t a big enough name and so Borgnine got the job.
Ernest also starred in The Viking and McHale’s Navy, with the latter taking him to TV as well, with a successful run that ran from 1962-1966. To many he will be best remembered for The Dirty Dozen, The Wild Bunch or as Pogo on the Poseidon Adventure.
Although his fame waned after the 70s, 1980s audiences got to know him in Airwolf. He’s actually kept working right up to 2012, although usually in small parts and despite his incredibly advanced age. Borgnine passed away from renal failure at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, surrounded by his family.