Monday, July 09, 2012

RIP, Ernest Borgnine


 Sad to hear that the great Ernest Borgnine has died at 95. While he will be remembered for many classic roles -- including "From Here to Eternity," "The Dirty Dozen," "McHale's Navy" and his Oscar-winning performance in "Marty" -- I first "discovered" him as the bad guy in "The Double McGuffin," a film I saw in the theater when I was 12 then watched repeatedly on HBO the summer we got cable. With (my idol) Lisa Welchel, hunky Vincent Spano and the exceptionally glamorous Elke Sommer (my other idol), it was hard not to love. And even though Borgnine played an international terrorist, it would all work out fine as the kids were able to stop his diabolical plot. (And who could resist that gaptoothed smile?)


He was also the Mafia boss in the lost Paul Morrissey film "Spike of Bensonhurst," but I was so mesmerized by Sasha Mitchell that I barely remember anything else!

May he rest in peace. 

2 comments:

Liza said...

another one of our great heros from the good ol days gone.R.I.P. Mr Borgnine you were a wonderful actor and person.

The Honourable Husband said...

And ex-husband of Ethel Merman, by the way.