Who was Tova Borgnine's husband Ernest Borgnine?

ERNEST and Tova Borgnine were married for nearly 40 years.

On Saturday, February 26, 2022, Tova Borgnine passed away.

Who was Tova Borgnine's husband Ernest?

Born on January 24, 1917, Ernest Borgnine was a beloved actor with a decades-long career.

A native of Connecticut, Ernest's parents were Italian immigrants.

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When they briefly separated during his toddler years, Ernest lived with his mother in Italy.

His parents reunited in 1923, and two years later he had a younger sister: Evelyn.

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After graduating from James Hillhouse High School, Ernest joined the United States Navy.

Although he was honorably discharged in 1941, Ernest reenlisted following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

After returning from World War II, he moved back in with his parents and began working at a local factory.

While Ernest had no previous acting experience, his mother encouraged him to pursue a career in entertainment.

He began studying at the Randall School of Drama before moving to Virginia and joining the Barter Theatre.

By 1949, Ernest had landed a role on Broadway in New York City.

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What was Ernest Borgnine's net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ernest Borgnine had an estimated net worth of around $15million.

Throughout his nearly 60-year career, Ernest appeared in a number of films:

  • Captain Video
  • The Whistle at Eaton Falls
  • From Here to Eternity
  • Johnny Guitar
  • Vera Cruz
  • Bad Day at Black Rock
  • Marty
  • The Wild Bunch
  • The Flight of the Phoenix
  • The Dirty Dozen
  • Ice Station Zebra
  • The Poseidon Adventure
  • Emperor of the North
  • Convoy
  • The Black Hole
  • Escape from New York

The quickly-established actor also appeared in a multitude of television shows, including:

Ernest was also well-known by the younger generations, voicing Mermaid Man in the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants.

How many times was Ernest Borgnine married?

Ernest Borgnine was married a total of five times in his life.

He and Rhoda Kemins tied the knot in 1949, separating nearly a decade later in 1958.

Together, they share one daughter: Nancee.

From 1959 until 1963, Ernest was married to actress Katy Jurado.

He briefly married singer Ethel Merman in 1964, their marriage only lasting a total of 42 days.

After his third divorce was finalized in 1965, Ernest married Donna Rancourt.

They share three children together: Christopher, Sharon, and Diana.

On February 24, 1973, Ernest married Tova Traesnaes.

The two remained together until his death in July of 2012.

What happened to Ernest and Tova Borgnine?

On July 8, 2012, Ernest Borgnine died from kidney failure while at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

He was 95 years old at the time of his death.

His widow, Tova, passed away on February 26, 2022, aged 80.

A cause of death has not yet been released.

"With a Halo of Heaven, she captured our hearts, minds, and senses giving us a Signature that shared our beauty. With an eye for detail and design her jewelry brought sparkle to each and every day," her team wrote in a post on Instagram.

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The post continued: "With her stories, we took a journey with her from Hollywood to distant lands feeling as though we stood beside her. From our hearts, thank you Tova for the grace, beauty, elegance, and joy you brought to us all.

"It is with heavy hearts we share of the peaceful passing of Tova Borgnine, our Founder, Leader, and Friend. Forever the sparkle in our hearts."

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