Ernest Borgnine: 10 Trademark Roles

From Here to Eternity (1953)

Ernest Borgnine | As bullying Staff Sergeant James R. ''Fatso'' Judson, Borgnine landed his breakthrough role. Standing out in an Oscar-caliber cast, he was chilling as the merciless — Everett Collection

As bullying Staff Sergeant James R. ''Fatso'' Judson, Borgnine landed his breakthrough role. Standing out in an Oscar-caliber cast, he was chilling as the merciless tormentor of Montgomery Clift's Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt. Though ''Fatso'' met an untimely demise, Borgnine's performance lived on in viewers' minds. —Lanford Beard

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Marty (1955)

Ernest Borgnine | Borgnine earned an Academy Award for his heartbreaking turn as schlumpy Bronx butcher Marty Piletti, who is torn between a chance at love and the — Everett Collection

Borgnine earned an Academy Award for his heartbreaking turn as schlumpy Bronx butcher Marty Piletti, who is torn between a chance at love and the put-downs of his friends and family. In one classic scene, Marty tells his Ma (Esther Minciotti), ''Sooner or later, there comes a point in a man's life when he's gotta face some facts. And one fact I gotta face is that, whatever it is that women like, I ain't got it.'' We beg to differ. —Lanford Beard

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McHale's Navy (1962-66)

Ernest Borgnine | Borgnine, who had served in the Navy before moving to Hollywood, drew on his real-life experience for the title role in this popular World War — Everett Collection

Borgnine, who had served in the Navy before moving to Hollywood, drew on his real-life experience for the title role in this popular World War II-set sitcom. Flashing his trademark gap-toothed grin, he landed his first Emmy nomination in 1963 and starred in a 1964 film adaptation. The series would become not only one of Borgnine's calling cards but also one of his most cherished roles. —Lanford Beard

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The Dirty Dozen (1967)

Ernest Borgnine | In this classic war film, Borgnine starred as Major General Worden, a military official who dispatches a group of criminal soldiers on a pre-D-Day mission — Everett Collection

In this classic war film, Borgnine starred as Major General Worden, a military official who dispatches a group of criminal soldiers on a pre-D-Day mission into Nazi-occupied France. Borgnine reprised his role in three made-for-TV movies in the 1980s, though none were as timeless as the '60s original. —Bronwyn Barnes

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The Wild Bunch (1969)

Ernest Borgnine | Borgnine saddled up next to William Holden, Ben Johnson, and Warren Oates in this ultra-violent Western about a gang of aging outlaws planning one final — Everett Collection

Borgnine saddled up next to William Holden, Ben Johnson, and Warren Oates in this ultra-violent Western about a gang of aging outlaws planning one final score. Borgnine later claimed that his performance in his character's face-down-in-the-dirt death scene moved director Sam Peckinpah to tears. —Bronwyn Barnes

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The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

Ernest Borgnine | In this action epic, Borgnine played Rogo, the gruff but ultimately big-hearted galoot who was one of the few to actually escape the sinking ship. — Everett Collection

In this action epic, Borgnine played Rogo, the gruff but ultimately big-hearted galoot who was one of the few to actually escape the sinking ship. —Lynette Rice

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Escape from New York (1981)

Ernest Borgnine | Who you calling menacing? Borgnine left behind some of those bad boy roles to play the happy and helpful cabbie in John Carpenter's Escape from — Everett Collection

Who you calling menacing? Borgnine left behind some of those bad boy roles to play the happy and helpful cabbie in John Carpenter's Escape from New York, starring Kurt Russell. —Lynette Rice

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Airwolf (1984-1987)

Ernest Borgnine | Borgnine played Dominic Santini, a former World War II fighter pilot who acted as a surrogate father/mentor to Jan-Michael Vincent's Stringfellow Hawke in this CBS — Everett Collection

Borgnine played Dominic Santini, a former World War II fighter pilot who acted as a surrogate father/mentor to Jan-Michael Vincent's Stringfellow Hawke in this CBS series about a high-tech helicopter (think Knight Rider, but in the air). Borgnine's Santini seemingly always had a smile on his face, although we'd be smiling too if we got to ride around in a secret military chopper. —Dalton Ross

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SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-2012)

Ernest Borgnine | Borgnine was the voice behind Mermaid Man, the — ahem — mature superhero in Nick's cartoon show set in a pineapple under the sea. He — Everett Collection

Borgnine was the voice behind Mermaid Man, the — ahem — mature superhero in Nick's cartoon show set in a pineapple under the sea. He paired with his McHale's Navy co-star Tim Conway, who voiced the part of MM's sidekick Barnacle Boy. —Lynette Rice

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ER (2009)

Ernest Borgnine | In perhaps his final signature role, Borgnine earned an Emmy nomination for his appearance as Paul Manning in the NBC drama's final episode. Playing a

In perhaps his final signature role, Borgnine earned an Emmy nomination for his appearance as Paul Manning in the NBC drama's final episode. Playing a man coming to terms with the impending death of his wife of 72 years, the then-92-year-old showed off an impressive range many of us forgot he had. —Dalton Ross