In 2007, Borgnine became the first Oscar winner for Best Actor to be still alive on his 90th birthday.
Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1996.
Involved in an air crash in 1996.
Is a Master Mason and has been elevated to the 33rd Degree in Scottish Rite.
Is an active Freemason and is presently the Honorary Chairman of the Scottish Rite RiteCare Program, which sponsors 175 Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinics, Centers, and Programs nationwide.
Is an active Republican.
Is the only actor to star in all four 'Dirty Dozen' films.
Lives in the same Beverly Hills, CA home that he bought in 1965.
Made a special Academy Awards appearance in 1998, at the The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998) (TV), and in 2005 at the The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003) (TV) and participated in the Oscar Winners Tribute sequence along with other Academy Award winners.
On February 5 2007, he received California's highest civilian honor, the California Commendation Medal. It was presented to him on the set of A Grandpa for Christmas (2007) (TV) by Major General William H. Wade II, Adjutant General and Commander of the California National Guard for a lifetime of exceptionally meritorious service as well as recognizing Borgnine's "heartfelt advocacy on behalf of military personnel and veterans on many fronts, including the California National Guard".
On March 3, 2006, he was given a standing ovation when introduced at the National Italian American Foundation's salute to the Academy Awards, which was celebrating 78 years of Italian-American Oscar winners and nominees. Former Motion Picture Producers Association of America chief Jack Valenti co-chaired the dinner, and Italian-Americans in attendance included Connie Stevens, Dom DeLuise, Robert Loggia and Al Martino as well as Italian actor Franco Nero.
Referenced in 'Weird Al' Yankovic's song "Your Horoscope for Today."
Remained good friends with Tim Conway during and after "McHale's Navy" (1962).
Speaks fluent Italian.
There is an instrumental techno track called "Theme From 'Ernest Borgnine'" by the artist Squarepusher on the album 'Feed Me Weird Things' (1996, Rephlex Records UK).
Tortilla Flats, a restaurant in New York City, has had an obsession with Ernest Borgnine since the mid-80s. A booth is completely covered in his photos, and they have a yearly Ernest Borgnine night. Staff members are put through rigorous Borgnine trivia training when hired. While he had no involvement in the restaurant, he has made occasional visits, and wore one of their shirts when filming "Captiva Island" (1995).
Twice-wed Borgnine married thrice-wed Broadway diva Ethel Merman in 1964. Their marriage was dissolved after 32 days. They had announced their impending nuptials at the legendary New York night spot P.J. Clarke's, but Borgnine, who was riding high as the star of "McHale's Navy" (1962) at the time, said the marriage began unraveling on their honeymoon, when he received more fan attention than she did. The competitive Merman was left seething. "By the time we got home, it was hell on earth," Borgnine recalled in a 2001 interview. "And after 32 days I said to her, 'Madam, bye.'" Borgnine went on to marry a third time, but Merman remained single after her divorce. In her 1978 biography, she devoted a chapter of her autobiography to the marriage: It consisted of one blank page.
Was presented with the Screen Actors Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award in January 2011 by Morgan Freeman and Tim Conway.
Was the very first "center square" on "The Hollywood Squares" (1965) (during its premiere week in October 1966).
Was/is good friends with: Eddie Albert, Michael Landon, Telly Savalas, George Kennedy, Angie Dickinson, Don Rickles, Frank Sinatra, Montgomery Clift and George Lindsey.