Ernie: An Autobiography »

We wept at his Oscar-winning role in Marty we gasped when he took on Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity we were riveted by his compelling performances in The Dirty Dozen, Bad Day at Black Rock, and Ice Station Zebra and we laughed at his television sitcom McHale's Navy. We loved all of Ernest Borgnine's many portrayals, but what did we know about the man behind the famous roles? Now for the first time, he tells us in his own words the fascinating story of his life in this witty, candid, and revealing memoir.

For more than fifty years, Ernest-or "Ernie" as he's known to his friends-has been one of the most recognized, celebrated stars in Hollywood as well as a respected, talented actor, and a living legend. Stretching from his childhood as the son of Italian immigrants to a spectacular career that is still thriving in his 91st year, from the early days of live TV to the voiceovers for The Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants, Ernie tells of the trials and tribulations on his road to fame, the friendships he shared with some of the silver screen's biggest stars, and the glamorous leading ladies he loved.

Acclaimed for his ability to play sensitive and tough-guy roles equally well, he was also famous for squaring off against some of Hollywood's most formidable actresses-including Bette Davis in A Catered Affair and Joan Crawford in Johnny Guitar. Recalling his experiences starring in classic movies such as The Poseidon Adventure, The Wild Bunch, and Escape from New York, he reveals personal insights and irresistible stories about cinema's greatest icons-including Spencer Tracy, James Stewart, Kirk Douglas, Montgomery Clift, Gary Cooper, Janet Leigh, Raquel Welch, GeneHackman, Rock Hudson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tony Curtis, Alan Ladd, Glenn Ford, and Burt Lancaster. And with characteristic frankness, he also talks about his off-screen loves and passions.

A must for every film buff, Ernie: An Autobiography is a fascinating memoir-filled with secrets, well-remembered details, and never-before-told stories-of a star who has thrived in the changing world of Hollywood for more than half a century, and endeared himself to legions of fans everywhere.

Publishers Weekly

Oscar-winner Borgnine reflects on a career spanning six decades and totaling more than 190 film and television roles. After a nomadic childhood (Connecticut to Chicago to Italy), Borgnine, born in 1917, returned to Connecticut for high school. Following 10 years in the navy, he studied drama at Hartforda's Randall School and began acting at Virginiaa's Barter Theater, advancing to live TV and Broadway roles. His striking performance as the sadistic Fatso in From Here to Eternity(1953) catapulted his career, and two years later he won an Academy Award for his portrayal of the lonely Bronx butcher in Paddy Chayefskya's Marty. In the 1960s, he was reluctant to do a TV series until an encounter with a teen who recognized Borgnine but couldna't name any of his films prompted the actor to immediately do the TV series McHalea's Navy. Summoning up on-set movie memories, Borgnine unleashes an arsenal of anecdotes, such as Joan Crawforda's hatred of Mercedes McCambridge: "Joan thought she was mocking her... and she let fly a fusillade of insults like Ia've never heard, not even in the Navy." With astute observations on the Hollywood hierarchy and tales about everyone from Lee Marvin and Steve McQueen to Bette Davis and Kim Novak, he writes with an unassuming, no-nonsense tone. His love of filmmaking and his respect for his fellow actors permeates the pages of this engaging and satisfying memoir. (Aug.)

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Foreword   George Lindsey     ix
Preface     xi
In the Beginning...     1
Welcome to America     3
Back Home     9
Connecticut Memories     11
A Little Family History     19
Borgnine's Navy     25
Adventures at Sea     30
Home Again... but Not for Long     42
Postwar Blues     48
All the World Really Is a Stage     53
Escape to New York     61
Escape to L.A.     68
From Here to Eternity... and Beyond     73
Go West, Young Family     81
Good Day at Black Rock     91
Several Close Calls     96
Oscar and Me     102
A Piece of No Action     107
Talkin' Pictures, Part One     111
Talkin' Pictures, Part Two     121
Talkin' Pictures, Part Three: Abroad     129
At Sea Again: McHale's Navy Is Launched     135
Everything's Coming Up Roses-Not     142
The Fourth Estate     147
Back to the Big Screen     150
Back in the Saddle, Big-Time     158
Things Go Downhill for a While     163
Clowning Around     172
The Poseidon Adventure (1972)     174
Havin' More Fun     180
Tova     186
This 'n' That     189
Back in the Sandals Again     195
Sam Peckinpah Again...and Beyond     201
A Couple of Good Friends     208
Back to Work     216
Going Home to TV     223
And Now for Some Things Completely Different     228
More Special Folk     232
Dedicated to the Ones I Love     239
Odds and the End     243
Acknowledgments     247
Index     249