Jim Varney

Youngest child and only son of James Albert Varney Sr (1910-1985) and Louise Varney (1913-1994). He has three older sisters.

Standup comedy launched his TV career. His first national appearance came at age 25, when he embarked on the talk show circuit, that included The Merv Griffin Show (1962) and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962).

Lived in Lexington, Kentucky while growing up, and graduated from Lafayette Senior High School with the class of 1968. He listed a former teacher, Thelma Beeler, as being one of the main contributing factors in his becoming an actor.

Included in a 1986 home video collection of Ernest commercials is a public service spot with Ernest trying to convince "Vern" to quit smoking, thus avoiding "The Big 'C'-Cancer. Chemotherapy City."

Between 1987 and 1990, Disney released four Ernest movies that generated a total of $100 million. Five more Ernest films were released independently, mainly for the video and television markets.

When he discovered he had lung cancer in August 1998, he reportedly threw away his cigarettes and quit smoking--cold turkey. Unfortunately, it was too late.

Jim Varney died at about 4:45 am February 10, 2000 at his White House, Tennessee home. His sisters and his niece and nephew Justin Lloyd were at his bed side when he died.

Being good friends with actor Blake Clark, Clark took over the role of "Slinky Dog" in Toy Story 3 (2010), after Varney's death.