Jim Varney Biography
Born: June 15, 1949
Date of Birth: June 15, 1949
A native to Lexington Kentucky, Jim Varney's interest in theatre began as a teenager, winning state titles in drama competitions while a student at Lafayette High School. From playing Scrooge in a local childrens theatre at the age of 15, he sprang into professional work in night clubs and coffee houses.
He moved to Nashville to pursue his acting career, and with an advertising executive, began to use his signature character (Ernest P. Warrell) first appearing in commercials in 1980 and eventually graduating to star status in features and a children's TV program.
With the success of the Ernest TV commercials, Varney moved the character to features with Ernest Goes To Camp(1987). Although eight more Ernest movies were to follow, Varney widened his scope to include other characters such as a newly rich hillbilly, in The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) and as a slinky toy dog in Toy Story (1995 and 1999).
Varney passed away in February of 2000 from lung cancer.