Oscar-winning film star Ernest Borgnine has died in a Los Angeles hospital at the age 95.

The actor, whose bulldog appearance made him a natural for tough-guy roles in films like The Wild Bunch but won an Oscar for playing a sensitive loner in Marty, died on Sunday, his long-time publicist said.

He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, where he had gone for a medical check-up on Tuesday, spokesman Harry Flynn said.

Born on January 24, 1917 in Hamden, Connecticut, Borgnine was primarily known for his supporting roles in comedies such as the popular 1960s television series McHale's Navy and dramas like the World War II film The Dirty Dozen.

The US Navy veteran won an Academy Award for best actor for his role in the 1955 film Marty, which also took home Oscars for best picture, best director and best screenplay.

Borgnine - who began his career as a stage actor and first shot to prominence in Hollywood when he played Sergeant "Fatso" Judson in From Here to Eternity - was also known for his role on the television series Airwolf.

In an interview with AFP in 2007, Borgnine said he would advise aspiring actors to "get a real job before you try to get an acting job."

"Learn about life and then learn your craft. And don't wear dark glasses on screen because you think you're cool. The eyes are an actor's best asset," Borgnine said.

AFP/Reuters


So long, Quint.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating