The Passing of a Legend. Ernest Borgnine 1917-2012

The sad news spread out from Hollywood today that the great Ernest Borgnine had passed away.

Born to Italian parents, Emes Effron Borgnine was a first generation American. It wasn’t until he was in his 302 that he decided to take up acting but his craggy features, definitive voice and unmistakable talent made him a sure fire success.

Known to many as Lt. Commander Quinton McHale from the 60s TV show McHale’s Navy he soon became a globally recognisable star with turns in ‘The Dirty Dozen’ (1967) and ‘Ice Station Zebra’ (1968) But it was perjhaps his role as ‘Dutch Engstrom’ in Sam Peckinpah’s ‘The Wild Bunch’ (1969) that made people really stand up and take notice. Later he was seen playing the cop, Rogo, in ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ (1972)

In 78 he worked once again with Peckinpah, playing the abusive Sheriff Lyle ‘Cottonmouth’  Wallace in the Kris Kristofferson starring ‘Convoy’.

It was in 79 that I first noticed him. On a trip to the cinema to see the Disney movie ‘The Black Hole’. Playing crew member Harry Booth. I was 9 years old and this was the first time I remember seeing him in anything. I didn’t have to wait too long to see him again though as in 81 he played, for me, his greatest role. The simple, cowardly but lovable Cabbie in John Carpenters classic ‘Escape From New York’.

In 84 he became known to thousands of children as Dominic Santini the flight engineer on the family show ‘Airwolf’. Running from 84 to 87 the adventures of the super advanced helicopter and its 2 man crew kept children gripped to the screen on many a Saturday afternoon.

In 87 and 88 he made 2 TV sequels to the Dirty Dozen but neither reached the quality and fun of the original. Over the years he has appeared on both the big and small screen consistently and over the last 12 years has become known a new generation of children (be it in voice alone) as Mermaid Man a regular character in the much loved children’s cartoon ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’.

He had just finished filming ‘The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez’ directed by Elia Petridis. Ernest plays Rex Page, a man who is bitter after living a life without any meaning. Something Ernest can be sure he didn't do.

So when you next have a drink please raise a glass to the greatest of  New York Cabbies, Ernest Borgnine.  

Till next time….

The Voice has spoken.