With his heavy build, wall-eyed visage and crooked smile, Borgnine was typecast as villains and creeps, from From Here to Eternity to The Wild Bunch. His best role though is Marty, where he plays as a sensitive, lovelorn loser. Borgnine carries this, awkward, ugly little man through heartbreak, pathos and unrestrained joy with amazing panache. He's a genuine role model for guys unlucky in love but unwilling to give up.
Borgnine will also be remembered for his TV work. McHale's Navy remains popular, and Airwolf has its fans. For my part, I'll always associate him with the senile superhero Mermaid Man from SpongeBob SquarePants, my childhood favorite: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEVIL!
I read Borgnine's autobiography Ernie a year or two ago. He came off as an extremely likeable man, surprised by his success, honest about his failings and content with a long, full life. His self-effacement in interviews and TV appearances was always refreshing. And unlike most stars, he made a genuine effort to reach out to fans. I don't begrudge him an oft-rocky personal life: that comes with the territory in Hollywood.
RIP Ernest Borgnine, you will most definitely be missed.
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