Ernest Borgnine

Date of Birth
24 January 1917, Hamden, Connecticut, USA

Birth Name
Ermes Effron Borgnine

Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)

His parents were Charles who had emigrated from Ottiglio (AL), Italy and Anna who had emigrated from Carpi (MO), Italy. As an only child, Ernest enjoyed most sports, especially boxing, but took no real interest in acting. At 18, after graduating from high school in New Haven, and undecided about his future career, he joined the navy, where he stayed for ten years until leaving in 1945. After a few factory jobs, his mother suggested that his forceful personality could make him suitable for a career in acting, and Borgnine promptly enrolled at the Randall School of Drama in Hartford.

Spouse
Tova Borgnine (24 February 1973 - present)
Donna Rancourt (30 June 1965 - 1 January 1972) (divorced) 3 children
Ethel Merman (27 June 1964 - 28 July 1964) (divorced)
Katy Jurado (31 December 1959 - 3 June 1963) (divorced)
Rhoda Kemins (2 September 1949 - 29 August 1958) (divorced) 1 child