Ernest Borgnine

His mother, Anna (Boselli; 1894–c. 1949), hailed from Carpi, near Modena, while his father Camillo Borgnino (1891–1975) was a native of Ottiglio near Alessandria.

Borgnine's parents separated when he was two years old, and he then lived with his mother in Italy for about four and a half years.

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 was born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24, 1917, in Hamden, Connecticut, the son of Italian immigrants.

By 1923, his parents had reconciled, the family name was 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.

He took to sports while growing up, but showed no interest in acting.

Borgnine joined the United States Navy in October 1935, after graduation from high school.

He served aboard the destroyer/minesweeper USS Lamberton (DMS-2) and was honorably discharged from the Navy in October 1941.

In January 1942, he reenlisted in the Navy after 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 once again honorably discharged from the Navy.

He served a total of almost 10 years in the Navy and obtained the grade of gunner's mate first class.

His military awards include the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, American Campaign Medal with 3⁄16" bronze star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

In 1947, Borgnine landed his first stage role in State of the Union.

Although it was a short role, he won over the audience.

Borgnine's film career began in 1951 and included 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 the unconventional lead in many films, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1956 for Marty (1955), which also won the 1956 Academy Award for Best Picture.

Borgnine then 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).

In 1997, Borgnine received the United States Navy Memorial, Lone Sailor Award.

He was known as the original voice of Mermaid Man on SpongeBob SquarePants from 1999 until his death in 2012.

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.

In 2007, he received the California Commendation Medal.

Borgnine returned to his parents' house in Connecticut after his Navy discharge without a job to go back to and no direction.

In a British Film Institute interview about his life and career, he said:

"After World War II, we wanted no more part in war. I didn't even want to be a Boy Scout. I went home and said that I was through with the Navy and so now, what do we do? So I went home to mother, and after a few weeks of patting me on the back and 'You did good,' and everything else, one day she said, 'Well?' like mothers do. Which meant, 'All right, you gonna get a job or what?'"

He took a local factory job, but was unwilling to settle down to that kind of work.

His mother encouraged him to pursue a more glamorous profession, and suggested to him that his personality would be well suited for the stage.

He surprised his mother by taking the suggestion to heart, although his father was far from enthusiastic.

Borgnine earned his third Primetime Emmy Award nomination at age 92 for his work on the 2009 series finale of ER.

In 2011, Borgnine remembered,

"She said, 'You always like getting in front of people and making a fool of yourself, why don't you give it a try?' I was sitting at the kitchen table and I saw this light. No kidding. It sounds crazy. And 10 years later, I had Grace Kelly handing me an Academy Award."

He studied acting at the Randall School of Drama in Hartford, then moved to Virginia, where he became a member of the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia.

It had been named for the director's allowing audiences to barter produce for admission during the cash-lean years of the Great Depression.