Oscar-winning actor dies aged 95.
Acting legend Ernest Borgnine, star of ‘Marty,’ ‘McHale’s Navy’ and ‘Airwolf,’ has passed away 95-years old after falling victim to renal failure. The Oscar-winning actor’s career spanned over six decades and more than 200 film and television parts.
Harry Flynnn, the Borgnine’s long-time spokesman, said the actor died yesterday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles with his family by his side.
Borgnine built a reputation for playing heavies in early films like ‘From Here to Eternity’ and ‘Bad Day at Black Rock,’ but it was his role as lonely butcher Marty Pilletti in the 1955 film ‘Marty’ that won him his Oscar. The actor beat out the likes of Jimmy Cagney, Frank Sinatra, Spencer Tracy and James Dean for the highly coveted award.
In the past few years the veteran character actor lent his distinctive voice to semi-retired superhero Mermaid Man in ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,’ and appeared alongside Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich in the action ensemble ‘Red.’ He received the lifetime-achievement award at last year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Borgnine is survived by his fifth wife, Tova Traesnaes Borgnine, and his three children, Christofer, Nancee and Sharon.