He's most likely more known for his film work than what he did on television, but he was a man who could virtually play any character that audiences completely loved.

Ernest Borgnine, who won an Oscar the only time he was nominated in 1955, died July 8 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He was 95.

Borgnine won the Oscar for Marty, a lonely butcher looking for love in a film that itself would win Best Picture in 1955. In fact, the Oscar win would become a focal point of the 1994 film "Quiz Show" when contestant Herb Stempel became angry because he was asked to throw the question, even though he knew it (and it was one of his favorite movies).

Borgnine got his break through television with the likes of "Captain Video and his Video Rangers" and "Goodyear Playhouse" in 1951. He also appeared in "Laramie" in 1960, "Wagon Train," "McHale's Navy," "Future Cop" and "The Love Boat."

In 1984 he joined the cast of "Airwolf," an action series centered around a super helicopter that would be used to help people. In the 1990s, he would play the doorman in "The Single Guy" and make appearances on a number of shows in the early 2000s including "7th Heaven," "The District" and "ER."

His final television appearance would be in 2011 production "Love's Christmas Journey."

Borgnine would be nominated for three Emmys, including one for "McHale's Navy" in 1963, "Hallmark Hall of Fame" in 1980 and "ER" in 2009.

Ernest Borgnine was born Jan. 25, 1917 in Hamden, Conn., which was also the home of "ALF" creator Paul Fusco. He was a first generation Italian-American who first joined the U.S. Navy in 1935, and returned when World War II broke out.

He published his autobiography "Ernie" in 2008, which talked about not only his career, but many aspects of his personal life, which he freely shared with anyone who would listen.

Borgnine was married five times, but his final marriage was to cosmetics developer Tova Traesnaes in 1973, who survives. He is also survived by a son and two daughters.

In 2008, Steve Doocy of "Fox and Friends" asked Borgnine what his secret was to long life. He whispered in his ear (but it was picked up by his microphone: "I masturbate a lot."

However, he shared a more family-friendly tip to longevity to the Los Angeles Times in 2008:

"I do an awful lot of reading," he said. "It keeps me busy. I try to keep my mind going always. That is the thing that counts. You can have your body not feeling so good, but if your mind is working, you got it made."