Ernest Borgnine

Often cast as a villain but just as adept at portraying heroes, Ernest Borgnine was born Jan. 24, 1917, in Hamden, Conn. After his second stint in the U.S. Navy, he performed in regional theater and made guest appearances on television before debuting on celluloid in 1951's China Corsair.

Borgnine first drew attention in 1953 with his memorable turn as a sadistic sergeant in From Here to Eternity and continued to play heavies in a string of films. But in 1955, he was cast against type as a lovesick butcher in Marty, earning a Best Actor Oscar for his poignant portrayal. Seven years later, he segued to series television and became a household name with the sitcom "McHale's Navy" (1962-66).

For the next four decades, the gap-toothed actor found steady work on the big and small screens, gaining new generations of fans with the action series "Airwolf" (1984-86) and as the voice of an old superhero in "SpongeBob SquarePants" (1999-2011). Borgnine died July 8, 2012.

Filmography