Veteran television and film star Ernest Borgnine died of renal failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. on Sunday. He was 95.
The legendary actor enjoyed a career spanning six decades with over a hundred movie roles. He made his film debut in 1951 and won an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1955 for his role in ‘Marty.’
In 1962 Borgnine became a sitcom star, with his most famous role as a PT boat skipper on ‘McHale’s Navy.’
Beginning in 1999, the actor became the voice of Mermaid Man on the popular animated sitcom ‘SpongeBob SquarePants.’ The voice of sidekick Barnacle Boy was provided by his ‘McHale’s Navy’ co-star Tim Conway.
Borgnine is survived by his wife of nearly forty years, Tova Traesnaes. The founder of the popular Beauty By Tova cosmetics line, featured on QVC, is the actor’s fifth spouse.
He is also survived by a son and three daughter, born during two of his previous four marriages. He famously married and divorced his third wife, singer Ethel Merman, after just one month when she had the brief union annulled.
Check out a recent photo of Borgnine and Tova below:
Photos: WENN