A fan of food and beverage, Ernie is seen here at home in the kitchen chopping and mincing.  Be sure to enjoy a "Borgnine's Coffee Soda" while viewing the site. The drink was created by Nancee, his daughter, to satisfy his urge for "rich coffee flavor and sparkling carbonation".

Saturday, January 4, 1997 Borgnine clowns around for circus MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The Grand Clown came up with some big bucks for his favorite circus. Veteran actor Ernest Borgnine, honorary Grand Clown at Milwaukee's Great Circus Parade for 15 years, is donating $50,000 to the annual event, officials announced Friday. "I have travelled all over the world, but I have yet to see the likes of the Great Circus Parade," said Borgnine. "It's clean, wholesome family entertainment, America putting its best foot forward." Borgnine's wife, Tova, is a ringmaster at the circus-parade held every summer that attracts hundreds of thousands of people to downtown Milwaukee. Besides horse-drawn circus wagons, it features marching bands, equestrian units, clowns, antique cars and other attractions.

Some basic facts about the man born Ermes Effron Borgnine: Acting career has spanned 51 years. His tour of duty with the U.S. Navy lasted 10 years. His marriage to Ethel Merman lasted 32 days.

Ernie's big love: the open road. As documented in the under-appreciated on-the-road documentary from 1997 titled  On The Bus. Ernie, his son Chris and a film crew travel the country in his 40-foot luxury bus, The Sunbum. "See what America is all about as Ernie visits an Italian restaurant and a Dairy Queen in Iowa, a shoe factory in Wisconsin, and the Miller brewery, and plays the clown in Milwaukee's Great Circus Parade."  Indeed!  Where do we get our tickets to ride! Special thanks to Mr. Overstreet for his submission of this video to the editors of this website.