Recent Obituaries, Classic Films Only

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11. Ernest Borgnine -- passed away at 95

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Oscar-winning-star-Ernest-Borgnine-dies-at-95-3691720.php

Ernest Borgnine, the beefy screen star known for blustery, often villainous roles, but who won the best-actor Oscar for playing against type as a lovesick butcher in "Marty" in 1955, died Sunday. He was 95.

His longtime spokesman, Harry Flynn, told The Associated Press that Borgnine died of renal failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with his wife and children at his side.

Borgnine, who endeared himself to a generation of Baby Boomers with the 1960s TV comedy "McHale's Navy," first attracted notice in the early 1950s in villain roles, notably as the vicious Fatso Judson, who beat Frank Sinatra to death in "From Here to Eternity."

Then came "Marty," a low-budget film based on a Paddy Chayefsky television play that starred Rod Steiger. Borgnine played a 34-year-old who fears he is so unattractive he will never find romance. Then, at a dance, he meets a girl with the same fear.

'Marty' was always my favorite Ernest Borgnine role. He plays such a sweet, tender-hearted man.

Interesting blog post about background on 'Marty'. I never knew that Betsy Blair was married to Gene Kelly, and blacklisted. She eventually moved to Europe, after her role in Marty.

http://picturespoilers.wordpress.com/category/ernest-borgnine/