★★★★★ 0/5

Ernest Borgnine, class act.

The SAG Lifetime Achievement Award for 94yo Ernest Borgnine is a wonderful recognition for his body of work.

8
Leave a comment

I can’t really let yesterday’s Screen Actor’s Guild Awards be put to bed without due acknowledgement of Ernest Borgnine’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

At 94 years old, it is a wonderful recognition for his body of work in both film (From Here to Eternity, Marty, The Poseidon Adventure) to television (McHale’s Navy, Airwolf, SpongeBob Squarepants).

He was gracious in his acceptance speech.

“We are a privileged few who have been chosen to work in this field of entertainment. I hope we will never let our dedication to our craft fail,” he said. “Thank you so very much.”

His best known television work was the sitcom McHale’s Navy. After thousands of young men signed up for the US Navy, officials once credited Borgnine as being their greatest recruitment weapon.

After earlier film work, Borgnine decided to return to television in 1964 after a kid selling chocolate door-to-door could name all of his favorite TV stars — but thought Borgnine looked only vaguely familiar. “I called my agent and said, ‘Is the part in McHale’s Navy still open?’ People asked how could I go back into TV, but I said, ‘It’s all entertainment.’ ”

Borgnine has since retained links with the forces, having visited every military hospital on US soil. What a guy.

Thanks to his recurring role as Mermaid Man on Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants, Borgnine is a now hit with kids.

“I did a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and when I was through someone said, ‘There a bunch of little girls here; would you mind saying hello?’ So I walk out, and this woman is telling them I’ve made a lot of pictures and television, and not one of them knew me.

So I said, ‘How many of you know SpongeBob? Suddenly I had to sign more pictures and do every kind of thing except take them home.”

Yesterday he said of the award honour, “It’s beyond comprehension.

“It makes you ask, am I really worth it? That’s what life is all about.”

He also gave advice to the young actors trying to emulate his long career. “Keep studying.” He urged them to always be “watching people, learning what life is about.”

Class.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

8 Responses

  1. Ernest Borgnine will always be my favourite actor. I have watched quite a few of his movies over the years and have never been disappointed. I personally believe that he is best actor ever in motion picture history. His dedication to the movie industry and the way he conducts himself is quite remarkable. It’s a pity the younger generation doesn’t stand up and take note of what an actor should behave like. I have never met Ernest but, i bet it would be a privelage to do so. I grew up with him as a small boy. I remember i saw the Poseidon Adventure 25 times as a nine year old
    where my uncle worked in the cinemas. I totally appreciated the wonderful acting scenes between the actors. What a talented bunch of people.
    Ernest thanks for your efforts!

  3. Ernest was indeed a class act,loved him in Mchales Navy,have to buy that on DVD as the series was well written,well produced,that combined with a fantastic team of actors all combined to make a great TV sees.

  4. Have we all forgotten his homophobic comments regarding Brokeback Mountain?

    Exceprt:

    ” … While Borgnine’s work ethic is admirable — he has three films due out this year — his personal politics are less than laudable. Four years ago, he waded into the discussion about the merits of the movie “Brokeback Mountain,” the first film to feature A-list talent in a gay love story. As Borgnine told Entertainment Weekly, “I didn’t see it and I don’t care to see it. I know they say it’s a good picture, but I don’t care to see it.” Then he added, “If John Wayne were alive, he’d be rolling over in his grave!” -“

  5. Absolutely the best – a great actor, a great man.

    He’s been to Australia a couple of times, notably to make “Summer of the 17th Doll” back in 1959 and has appeared twice on the Logie Awards, in 1982 and 1990. Also he was in a documentary on sports fishing in the early 70s with Bob Dyer (Pick A Box), don’t know if these scenes were filmed in Australia.

    One of the urban myths was that “McHale’s Navy” was one of Kerry Packer’s alltime favorite shows and Ernest Borgnine his favorite actor — one of the reasons why the show was still shown in prime time afternoons in the mid-late 1970s, despite it being in black and white. Also it was one of the few American shows that mentioned cities in Australia on a regular basis (as well as the 1964 movie) as the show’s first three seasons were set in New Caledonia (but filmed on the Universal backlot)

  6. Well done Ernest B.
    He must be amongst the last of that great generation of actors who were huge international stars yet controlled their egos and maintained their sense of perpective. And kept their private lives private. Actual Ladies and Gentlemen.
    People like Gregory Peck, William Holden, Henry Fonda, Chuck Heston and so on. Can’t think of too many current actors who will be missed when they retire.
    Maybe George Clooney.

  8. Ernie has always been a gentleman and a team-player. I had the great honor of meeting him several times thru his Poseidon costar, Carol Lynley, and he is as warm & generous a man as you’ll ever meet in Hollywood. In spite of his mysterious lightening-quick marriage to Broadway legend Ethel Merman, he has one of the happiest and most enduring unions in show business with his lovely wife Tova. Don’t be fooled: he’s sharp as a tack, but occasionally misses out in a conversation because of his hearing loss.

Leave a Reply