Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/23723
Ernest Borgnine at home in October with SAG President Ken Howard. ACTOR TO ACTOR CLICK HERE TO WATCH INTERVIEW I n advance of the SAG Awards telecast on January 30, where Ernest Borgnine will receive the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, SAG President Ken Howard sat down with “Ernie” to discuss his venerable career. Te following is an abridged version of their conversation, which can be viewed in its entirety on SAG.org. Say hello to Ernest Borgnine… The Whistle at Eaton Falls, 1951 KEN HOWARD: One of the many perks of being president of Screen Actors Guild is I have the opportunity to interview each year’s Life Achievement Award winner. Last year, it was Betty White, who is a dear friend, and that was great fun. Tis year it’s Ernest Borgnine. Ernie, my family moved to Manhasset, Long Island when I was 10 years old, in 1954. And as it happened, right behind us lived Delbert and Ann Mann. ERNEST BORGNINE: Oh my goodness. KH: And Ann Mann and my mother became very, very good friends. So as a little kid I heard the whole progress of Marty and how thrilled he [director Delbert Mann] was that it worked out that it was you. EB: He was a sweetheart, he really was. It all came about when Rod Steiger was doing “Judd” in Oklahoma!, a part Marty, 1955 I wanted badly, and he got it instead. So Delbert came down where we were shooting a picture called Vera Cruz. Bob Aldrich was directing. Delbert came down to get some advice on how to shoot outdoors…and he had this script of Marty under his arm. And Bob Aldrich said, “Can I read this script?” And he said, “Sure!” So, a couple of weeks later at a party, they asked Bob, “Who in your estimation could play the part?” He said, “You know, I know of only one fellow!” God bless him. He said, “Ernie Borgnine.” …“Ernie Borgnine? What are you talking about? He plays a killer! Spits knives!”… “Nooo, Ernie Borgnine is an actor.” [laughs] And so they took a chance. Little did we know then that the picture, actually, was to be made as a tax loss. Tey wanted to only make half the picture, shelve it, and call it quits! And the tax man said, “No, no, no, no. Tey passed a rule and you have to make the whole picture.” So they finished the picture for, you know, practically nothing. I made $5,000 on the picture, quite literally, realizing I would have done it for nothing. My first starring role! And the rest is history. KH: Tat’s a great story. I know you had a stage background. Tell me a little bit about the Barter Teatre, because I know you were working on stage and off stage, and it was a real apprenticeship for you. EB: Te Barter Teatre was very instrumental in helping me…I learned how to drive a truck. I learned how to wash flats—you know, the scenery. I learned everything you could possibly learn about backstage, doing lighting, doing everything, even sewing costumes. And one day they said, “Didn’t you want to be an actor?” I said, “Yes!” Tey said, “Good, we’ve got a part for you!” I said, “Oh, boy! Where’s the script?”…“Oh, no, you don’t have to worry about a script. The Badlanders, 1958 McHale’s Navy, 1962-66 52 SCREEN ACTOR - Fall/Winter 2010 SAG.org Chris Pizello/AP