Jim Varney

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9.6 Superb
15 votes

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Biography

Recent Role:
Slinky Dog on The Wonderful World of Disney (1997)
Gender:
Male
Born:
6-15-1949
Died:
2-10-2000
Birthplace:
Lexington, Kentucky
Birth Name:
James Albert Varney, Jr
Born on June 15, 1949, Jim Varney always wanted to act. He began his acting career in high school, and won a number of state level competitions for drama. He finally made it to television when he was asked to do a commercial for Ernest, a character created by John Cherry. Ernest advertised products like Braums, Dairy Products, Potato Chips, Trucks, Sprite and Mello Yellow. Then he landed the role of Evens Wyatt on The Rousters, that lasted for 2 years. He played on Pink Jeff and Ladies and then finally went to the big screen as Ernest with Ernest Goes to Camp. He… More also starred in Hey Vern It\'s Ernest. in 1988. The series was cancelled after 13 episodes. He continued to work as Ernest and eventually graduated to movies like The Beverly Hillbillies, Wilder Napalm, Toy Story, Three Ninjas, High Noon at Mega Mountain, Snowboard Academy, and Treehouse Hostage . He had a gruff voice because he was a heavy smoker. He started smoking when he saw a James Bond movie on the silver screen. In 1999, he found out he had lung cancer. He threw his cigarettes out, but the doctors told him he that the cancer was already at the terminal stage. The treatment options were over. He died peacefully in his sleep, February 10, 2000, around 4:45 A.M. He made millions laugh and thousands smile. No one can ever forget Ernest...

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  •  
    9.8 Superb
    A Lovely Man.....Gone Much Too Soon! hide show

    Jim Varney was a childhood favorite of mine! Such a gentle man, with such a quiet charm about him. I could never have seen anyone else in the role of Jed Clampett in the film version of the "Beverly Hillbillies", but Mr. Varney. He was perfect as Jed, even if the film was a real box-office flop. I enjoyed the "Ernest" character to a point, but I really liked Mr. Varney when he branched out into other roles that showed him to be a much better actor than he was ever given true credit for. I just wish that he had been able to stay around with us a little longer, he was just grand!!!

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    koberfan Added Jul 15, 2007 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    Jim Varney is great hide show

    Jim Varney was a very funny and hilairoius actor and his imitations were funny. Sadly Jim Varney is no longer with us but we can still watch his movies. His charecters Ernest, Jed, Auntie Nelda, Aster Clampett, everyone is just funny and a lot of his movies were great. He is my favorite actor and I'm trying to help you like him as well. Movies include: The Beverly Hillbillies, Ernest movies, Toy Story, Atlantis 1, The Rousters, and Daddy and Them. I hope that if you are going to watch them you will enjoy all his movies. Thenks for reading.

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    garfield2710 Added Jan 22, 2006 All my reviews
 

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