James Albert "Jim" Varney, Jr. (June 15, 1949 – February 10, 2000) was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for his character Ernest P. Worrell, originally created by Nashville advertising agency Carden and Cherry in the 1980s. The character was used in numerous television commercial campaigns and movies in the following years, giving him fame worldwide. He is best known for his slapstick style and his portrayal of "redneck" stereoty...
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James Albert "Jim" Varney, Jr. (June 15, 1949 – February 10, 2000) was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for his character Ernest P. Worrell, originally created by Nashville advertising agency Carden and Cherry in the 1980s. The character was used in numerous television commercial campaigns and movies in the following years, giving him fame worldwide. He is best known for his slapstick style and his portrayal of "redneck" stereotypes in a friendly, approachable way.
Varney was born the fourth child and only son of Louise Varney (née Howard) (January 14, 1913 - August 22, 1994) and James Albert Varney, Sr. (January 1, 1910 - January 11, 1985), in Lexington, Kentucky, where he grew up. He began his interest in theater as a teenager, winning state titles in drama competitions while a student at Lafayette High School (which he graduated from with the class of 1968) in Lexington. He attended Murray State University at the age of 15, where he portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge in a...
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