Ernest Borgnine passed away on Sunday.
Although he's probably most remembered as Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale, in the TV comedy McHale's Navy, Borgnine was an accomplished dramatic actor.
He was in classic films, like From Here to Eternity. He won an Oscar for his starring role in Marty. In 1973, Borgnine played Vince Lombardi, Legend in Granite.
For me, Borgnine's most memorable role was as a clown in the Circus Parade.
Most of the obituaries and tributes don't mention Borgnine the clown. That omission makes them seem so inadequate and incomplete.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
While he was known for his roles in the big and little screens, through the years he became one of Milwaukee's favorite sons for his faithful and repeated performances at the city's Great Circus Parade, known for its pageantry and colorful wagons brought from the Circus World Museum in Baraboo.
"He was a wonderful ambassador for Milwaukee," parade co-chair Bill Fox said Sunday. "He brought star status to the parade. He was the first celebrity we ever used, and he was terribly loyal to the parade."
Dave SaLoutos, circus parade director, said: "Milwaukee just took him to heart. The year we tried to put him in a carriage because of his knees, he only went about a block before he got out. He just wanted to see the expression on the kids' faces."
In "Ernie: The Autobiography," Borgnine devotes a chapter to "Clowning Around" in Milwaukee's circus parade, reliving the day he appeared on the "Tonight" show and was asked what he had left to do as an actor.
"I've never been a clown," he answered. The next day he got a call from Milwaukee parade impresario Ben Barkin inviting him to put on a rubber nose and big shoes. Borgnine joined the parade from 1972 to 2002 and wrote: "I treasured it."
The outfit and makeup Borgnine wore in Milwaukee was, he told the Journal Sentinel, just what he had wanted to wear when he first imagined himself as a clown: a crumpled fedora, an oversized checkered coat and size 16 red, white and blue shoes made for him by the Allen Edmonds shoe factory in Port Washington.
Borgnine sat in a makeup chair for more than an hour to don the classic smiling clown grease paint for every parade.
Every year that Borgnine appeared in the parade, he first held court in a usually sweltering open circus tent at the show grounds, signing autographs and letting fans take pictures with him.
His tattered ragman clown outfit contrasted with the tailored "Ringmaster" tails and top hat worn by his wife, Tova, when she joined him in the parade.
In his role as "Chief Parade Clown," he tossed candy to the crowds along the parade route, laughing and waving. It was a performance that he loved, and Milwaukee loved him back. During the 2009 parade, the Borgnines drew a standing ovation all along the route.
"This is the best parade ever," said Borgnine, who was then 92.
It was clear Borgnine loved being a clown.
He fit the role so well, perfect casting.
He brought so much joy to Milwaukee.
Those were the days.
Rest in peace, Ernie.
Thanks for the smiles.
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Watch Gino Salomone interview Ernest Borgnine in 2010. He calls his appearances in the Circus Parade "the greatest days of my life."
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Read: Ernest Borgnine - Oscar Winner, Patriot.
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