Perhaps the great Ernest Borgnine is best known for his Oscar winning performance in Marty or for the role as McHale from McHale’s Navy.
For me, he will be forever admired for two other roles. The Poseidon Adventure is the best disaster movie of all time. The way in which, Borgnine, Gene Hackman, and Roddy McDowall played off each other makes for some of the greatest scenes ever put forth. Borgnine’s portrayal of a stubbon, control-hungy officer who breaks when his wife dies is captivating. Then again, Borgnine could captivate in any role.
Super Fuzz (or SuperSnooper depending on who you ask) is a cult classic…a virtually unknown cult classic. Borgnine portrays Sgt. Willy Dunlop, the partner of Super Fuzz – a super hero who gained his powers from red powder residue that came out of a nuclear explosion. Borgnine steals the show and his hilarious in it.
Borgnine was an amazing versatile actor who was as brilliant and talented as one could be. He will be greatly missed.