Ernest Borgnine

Ernest Borgnine was interviewed for two-and-a-half hours in Beverly Hills, CA.  Borgnine talked about his youth and the influence of his mother on his future acting ambitions.  He looked back on his enlistment into the Navy in the mid-30s and his service during World War II.  He talked about his first appearances on television, which included villainous roles on the DuMont children’s science fiction show Captain Video and His Video Rangers.  He spoke about the role for which he is most associated, “Marty,” and his experience working with writer Paddy Chayefsky and director Delbert Mann (who had collaborated on the original television version)— recounting stories about his audition for the part and his win of the Academy Award for Best Actor.  He spoke in detail about the popular 1960s sitcom McHale’s Navy, describing the shooting and giving his impression of the comedic ensemble.  He talked about appearing on The Hollywood Squares, The Tonight Show, and (in an Emmy-nominated performance) the television movie All Quiet on the Western Front.  He chronicled his feature film roles from From Here to Eternity to his work with directors Robert Aldrich and Sam Peckinpah, to the disaster film classic The Poseidon Adventure.  He briefly talked about his later television series: Airwolf, The Single Guy, and Spongebob Squarepants (providing the voice of “Mermaid Man”).  The remarkably vital 91-year-old Borgnine spoke with humor and enthusiasm and a clear zest for life.  The interview was conducted by Henry Colman and Jenni Matz on October 10, 2008.