Jim Varney, aka `Ernest,' dies of lung cancer at 50

NASHVILLE - Friends recall Jim Varney as a gifted comic actor often overshadowed by his success at playing a doofus in the popular series of "Ernest" movies and hundreds of commercials.

The rubbery face of Mr. Varney, who died yesterday at 50, portrayed Ernest P. Worrell - a slapstick character who peddled cars, milk, pizza and many other products in television pitches.

"I don't know how many times I have heard a writer say about a script, `This isn't funny,' " said John Cherry of Carden & Cherry, the advertising firm that produced the Ernest ads. "I'd always respond, `Don't worry, Varney will make it funny.' He could stand up there and really do it."

Mr. Varney died of lung cancer at his home in White House, Tenn., north of Nashville, said Hoot Gibson, his attorney.

Mr. Varney, who was a heavy smoker, left a message for others: "Tell all those kids, `Don't smoke.' "

He was diagnosed with cancer in 1998 and had parts of his right lung removed, but he kept working into last year, including a role in "Daddy and Them," directed by Billy Bob Thornton.

"Any of us who knew Jim well know that the world will never exactly know what a great talent and extraordinary human being we have lost," Thornton said in a statement. "I loved him dearly."

In commercials, Ernest got his fingers slammed in a house window, fell off a ladder and was shocked fooling with a broken television set. He always wore blue jeans, a T-shirt, a denim vest and a baseball cap.

Ernest was hapless and harmless as he endlessly pestered his unseen neighbor, Vern. His catch phrases: "Hey, Vern!" and "Know what I mean?"

Mr. Varney made nine movies as Ernest, character with a penchant for pratfalls. But he had a long list of other credits, including a 1993 starring role as Jed Clampett in the movie version of the television series "The Beverly Hillbillies."

His voice was featured in cartoons including "The Simpsons" and "Duckman," and he voiced Slinky Dog in "Toy Story" and its 1999 sequel. He also had a recurring role on the series "Roseanne."

Born in Lexington, Ky., Mr. Varney began acting in local theater at 8. By 16, he was playing Shakespeare in a professional theater.

Mr. Varney did his first commercial as Ernest in 1972, and the character soon became his specialty. Between 1987 and 1990, he was in four Ernest movies for Disney. Five other Ernest films were released independently, mainly for the video market.