Jim Varney

Acting

Jim Varney

Born — Died

1949-06-15 — 2000-02-10

Place of birth

Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Known for

Acting

Credits

51 titles

James Albert "Jim" Varney Jr. (June 15, 1949 – February 10, 2000) was an American actor, voice artist, and comedian, best known for his role as Ernest P. Worrell. The character was used in numerous television commercial campaigns and movies. Other roles included Jed Clampett in the film adaptation of The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), Slinky Dog in Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999), and "Cookie" Farnsworth in Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001).

Known for

The Simpsons poster
8.0

Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.

The Simpsons

1989

Toy Story 2 poster
7.6

Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggen, owner of Al's Toy Barn kidnaps Woody. Andy's toys mount a daring rescue mission, Buzz Lightyear meets his match and Woody has to decide where he and his heart truly belong.

Toy Story 2

1999

Toy Story poster
8.0

Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.

Toy Story

1995

Alice poster
7.0

Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job working at a roadside diner on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the episodes revolve around events at Mel's Diner.

Alice

1976

Duckman poster
7.3

Together with Cornfed, his portly, porcine partner in crime solving, this defective detective amazingly manages to solve crimes and be a single parent to his hilariously dysfunctional sons at the same time.

Duckman

1994

Atlantis: The Lost Empire poster
7.1

A young linguist named Milo Thatch joins an intrepid group of explorers to find the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

2001

Film credits

2000s · 4 titles

Atlantis: The Lost Empire poster
7.1

A young linguist named Milo Thatch joins an intrepid group of explorers to find the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

2001

Daddy and Them poster
5.3

Ruby and her husband Claude are a working-class couple who live in suburban Arkansas. As crazy as they are for each other, their relationship is far from harmonious. (The lack of money doesn't help matters, either.) In fact, their whole family is fraught with unresolved conflicts. Then Claude's uncle is arrested on a felony charge, and everyone rallies round. Ruby's mother Jewel and flirtatious sister Rose (Claude's ex-girlfriend) even fly in from Tennessee; but, far from being a source of support, Jewel seems only to want to break up Ruby and Claude.

Daddy and Them

2001

Mr. Thornton Goes to Hollywood poster
7.0

A 14-part documentary that explores the life and career of Billy Bob Thornton, chronicling his journey that led him to work on Sling Blade. The piece features plenty of interview snippets with cast, crew, friends, and family; clips from other Thornton films; the origins of the Karl Childers character; how Sling Blade shaped his career; and more.

Mr. Thornton Goes to Hollywood

2005

Time-Life: Country Legends Live, Vol. 3 poster
8.0

Music City News was founded in 1963, by country music singer Faron Young. In 1967, the publication began to confer annual awards; in 1978, it began televising them, with the inclusion of artist performances. These awards were not decided by a secretive committee or by an "association," but by fan nominations. Each installment of the Country Legends Live series highlights performances from particular annual awards shows. Country Legends Live, Vol. 3 offers a "best of" the 1984, 1985 and 1986 Music City News Awards Shows. Featured artists in this installment include The Statler Brothers, Larry Gatlin, Sylvia, the Oak Ridge Boys, Loretta Lynn, Janie Fricke, Lee Greenwood, The Judds, Marie Osmond & Dan Seals, Conway Twitty, Ricky Skaggs, Jim Varney and Reba McEntire.

Time-Life: Country Legends Live, Vol. 3

2005

1990s · 25 titles

Toy Story 2 poster
7.6

Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggen, owner of Al's Toy Barn kidnaps Woody. Andy's toys mount a daring rescue mission, Buzz Lightyear meets his match and Woody has to decide where he and his heart truly belong.

Toy Story 2

1999

Toy Story poster
8.0

Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.

Toy Story

1995

The Beverly Hillbillies poster
6.3

Mild-mannered dirt-poor hill-dweller Jed Clampett strikes it rich when oil is discovered on his property. At cousin Pearl's insistence, he moves his family to Beverly Hills to better enjoy his newfound wealth.

The Beverly Hillbillies

1993

Ernest Goes to School poster
4.1

Jim Varney's recurring dim-bulb character Ernest P. Worrell returns in this film as a school janitor seeking to obtain a high school diploma.

Ernest Goes to School

1994

3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain poster
4.9

Three young boys, Rocky, Colt and Tum Tum together with their neighbor girl, computer whiz Amanda are visiting Mega Mountain amusement park when it is invaded by an army of ninjas led by evil Medusa, who wants to take over the park and hold the owners for ransom. Kids and retired TV star Dave Dragon, who made his farewell appearance at the park at the time the ninjas appeared, have to break Medusa's vicious plans.

3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain

1998

The Expert poster
5.5

It was a brutal murder that sent deranged psychopath Martin Kagan to prison. It was a naive deputy warden that granted him a stay of execution. Now, the police department's tactical defence instructor, John Lomax, wants revenge for his beloved sister's death.

The Expert

1995

Ernest Rides Again poster
4.4

Buffoonish Ernest and his dimwitted pal Abner unearth a huge cannon reputed to contain the crown jewels of England.

Ernest Rides Again

1993

Ernest Scared Stupid poster
5.4

Well-intentioned, eternally bumbling Ernest P. Worrell accidentally releases an evil demon from its sacred tomb. As the demon flexes its power and goes on a ruinous rampage, good-guy Ernest tries to step in to save the town from mass destruction. Trouble is, a 200-year-old curse has scared Ernest stupid, and that means hilarity all around! So, kick back and let the laugh-ridden adventures begin.

Ernest Scared Stupid

1991

Annabelle's Wish poster
6.6

Annabelle - a calf who has a special wish for Christmas - wants to be a reindeer and help Santa Claus drive his sleigh as he delivers his presents! Annabelle's friends tell her not to get her hopes up, but to everyone's surprise, Santa does indeed meet up with Annabelle, and the calf gets to help Santa make the holiday special for one young boy.

Annabelle's Wish

1997

Slam Dunk Ernest poster
4.4

Ernest P. Worrell becomes a basketball star after an angel bearing an uncanny resemblance to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gives him a pair of magic sneakers.

Slam Dunk Ernest

1995

Ernest Goes to Jail poster
5.1

Bumbling bank janitor Ernest P. Worrell is assigned to jury duty, and soon finds himself in trouble when he is covertly switched with a look-a-like crime boss. Ernest must escape from jail to expose the mix-up.

Ernest Goes to Jail

1990

The Story Behind 'Toy Story' poster
7.5

The documentary short of Toy Story of why and how the feature length blockbuster sleeper movie became a success and helps to boost Pixar's popularity of making one of the few animation movie production companies in the world today, especially in North America.

The Story Behind 'Toy Story'

1996

Ernest Goes to Africa poster
4.2

The title says it all. There's a mix up involving stolen diamonds which Ernest has (naturally) made into a yo-yo and given to his would be girlfriend, Rene. But Rene wants a man of action, and doesn't think that Ernest fits the bill. After the bad guys come looking for the stolen diamonds and kidnap Rene, all of her fantasies come true as Ernest has to go to Africa to rescue her.

Ernest Goes to Africa

1997

Wilder Napalm poster
5.6

Wilder and Wallace are brothers and pyrokinetics. Ever since childhood they've been able to start fires with their minds but following a tragedy in which they accidentally killed a man, the brothers have grown up very differently. Wilder has become a regular 9-5 workaday joe but Wallace performs his feats with a traveling circus. When the circus comes to Wilder's home town Wallace starts coming on strong to Wilder's wife, Vida who, ironically, is a slight pyromaniac.

Wilder Napalm

1993

Treehouse Hostage poster
4.2

Timmy Taylor and his two friends, Stevie and Buddy capture escaped convict Carl Banks (Jim Varney) and hold him hostage in their treehouse over the weekend so that Timmy can use Carl as his current event project at school on Monday. The boys then find that Carl is mixed up in a counterfeiting ring that could spell trouble for them too.

Treehouse Hostage

1999

Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration poster
6.0

This special celebration of Disneyland's 35th anniversary, bursting at the seams with celebrity cameos, focuses on the changes Disneyland has undergone over the years, as the featured stars reminisce about their favorite attractions.

Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration

1990

Ernest in the Army poster
3.9

Ernest P. Worrell is now in the military as a soldier. Once he begins, him and his team investigates a dictator who was responsible for the wars in the nearly village. Suddenly, Ernest finds a lost boy and has to keep him safe until his father recovers.

Ernest in the Army

1998

XXX's & OOO's poster
7.0

Four ex-wives become friends bonding through their shared experiences as ex-wives of country music singers.

XXX's & OOO's

1994

Ernest's Greatest Hits Volume 2 poster
5.1

Hey Vern! Your ol' buddy Ernest is back in a new video that features Commercials, Bloopers, Behind-the-Scenes looks, and special surprises! Ernest sells things like ice cream, soft drinks, dairy products, even beer! He also has public service announcements on drunk driving and more. It also shows how Ernest commercials are made, and with the bloopers, how they're attempted to be made. It also features many of Ernest's long lived routines: the window slamming on his hands, falling off a ladder, trying to fix the TV and getting electrocuted, him propping the window with an Acme window stop, removing it and the window falls on him again, Ernest starting to fall off the ladder but tosses an anchor onto the roof, Vern cuts the rope and Ernest goes sailing to the ground.

Ernest's Greatest Hits Volume 2

1992

Your World as I See It poster
5.1

As seen through the eyes of Ernest's over-educated alter-ego, Astor Clement will attempt to unlock the sociological mysteries of our times. Astor will describe a unique event or ritual that lies at the very heart of the common man's existence. Then Ernest, with the help of his family members, also played by Jim Varney, will bring that ritual to life with non-stop, slap-stick comedy action.

Your World as I See It

1994

Snowboard Academy poster
3.6

A wacky free-for-all comedy about the riotous rivalry between snobby skiers and knuckle-dragging snowboarders.

Snowboard Academy

1997

Blood, Friends and Money poster
6.5

Friends reunite in a cabin in the woods. What could go wrong?

Blood, Friends and Money

1997

No artwork available
NR

Elvira and Beetlejuice host a second all-star Halloween-themed concert.

Halloween Jam II at Universal Studios

1995

Existo poster
4.0

In this dystopian-musical-comedy, corporations and self-appointed guardians of "decency" and "morality" have society in a fascist choke-hold. It's up to a rag-tag group of actors, artists, and musicians to save the world the only way they know how - through the power of - wait for it - Performance Art! Led by the legendary Existo, his faithful sidekick Maxine, provocateur Marcel, and Vigo, this troupe of subversive insurgents have the Religio-Capitalist Complex in their cross-hairs. But the powers-that-be know Existo's weak spot - his ravenous libido - and seek to exploit it to derail the Revolution with a secret weapon - a curly-haired corporate-pop singer named Penelope.

Existo

1999

100 Proof poster
5.0

About the Lexington killing spree by LaFonda Fay Foster and Tina Hickey Powell, 100 Proof is a disturbingly authentic drama that portrays what kind of environment and events might lead up to such horrifying, seemingly random violence. Barely able to support their drug and alcohol habits, two women in a small, impoverished southern town turn to hustling and prostitution to get by. When the more forceful of the pair runs into her alcoholic and sexually abusive father.

100 Proof

1997

1980s · 11 titles

Ernest Goes to Camp poster
5.3

Ernest, a lovable loser who works as a summer camp handyman and dreams of becoming a guidance counselor, must find a way to inspire a group of juvenile delinquents while stopping a shady strip mining company from closing the camp as well.

Ernest Goes to Camp

1987

Ernest Saves Christmas poster
5.4

When Santa Claus decides to retire and pass on his magic bag of Christmas surprises to a new Saint Nick, he enlists the aid of a hilarious assortment of characters. A perky teen runaway and hapless taxi driver Ernest P. Worrell must convince a skeptical kiddie-show host to take over the post of Father Christmas.

Ernest Saves Christmas

1988

Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus poster
7.7

The Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus originally aired November 27, 1987. Join Mickey Mouse, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet, Tony Randall, Kim Fields, Tim Conway, and Jim “Earnest” Varney along with 500 Clowns, lions and elephants for this once in a lifetime event. EPCOT Centers World Showcase plays host for the breathtaking performances.

Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus

1987

Fast Food poster
5.2

Auggie and his pals are living it up as perpetual college students. When the dean decides teh only way to stop their schemes and antics is to graduate them, they have to go out and find real work. Auggie hears that Samantha is planning on selling her father's garage to fast food king Wrangler Bob, and comes up with one final scheme; a risky bank loan to turn the garage into stiff competition for Bob. When it looks like Bob will win after all, they develop a very special sauce that keeps the crowds coming because it has the effect of being an aphrodisiac. Bob doesn't like to lose, so he sends his "spy" Dixie Love to infiltrate the restaurant and find out their secret. The ensuing FDA investigation culminates into a hilarious case of disorder in the court!

Fast Food

1989

Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain poster
5.1

An exciting mock documentary produced for the opening of the Splash Mountain attraction at Disneyland. Ernest Goes To Splash Mountain chronicles the adventures of Ernest P. Worrell who trains as America's first "Splashtranaut" destined to become the very first person to conquer the mountain. Ralph Story, veteran news anchor and his team are determined to cover the momentous event by every angle possible.

Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain

1989

The Ernest Film Festival poster
5.4

Before he went to camp, before he went to jail, before he saved Christmas, before he was scared stupid, before he went to Africa and before he was in the army, Ernest P. Worrell hosted a variety of commercials, and a lot of them are here on this video. He even makes public service announcements. It also features many of his bloopers.

The Ernest Film Festival

1986

Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam poster
5.2

Evil baddie Dr. Otto Von-Schnick-ick-ick tries to take over the planet by first destroying all of our financial systems, collapsing the world's economy and sending populations across the globe into mass panic! Only one goody-goody can stop him.. or can he? The oblivious Lance Sterling is on the case!

Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam

1985

Hey Vern, It's My Family Album poster
5.6

Ernest finds his old family album in the attic and discusses his family members from the album to his neighbor, Vern.

Hey Vern, It's My Family Album

1983

Spittin' Image poster
9.0

A twin falls off a wagon and meets a mountain man who teaches her to spit tobacco for a living.

Spittin' Image

1982

Hey Vern, Win $10,000...Or Just Count On Having Fun! poster
6.0

A compilation of Ernest commercials, the VHS included a sweepstakes in which viewers who correctly counted the total mentions of the words "Vern" and "Knowhutimean?" in the video and submitted their answer before April 1, 1988 would be entered into a random drawing to win a $10,000 prize.

Hey Vern, Win $10,000...Or Just Count On Having Fun!

1987

Ernest's Greatest Hits Volume 1 poster
4.8

Before he went to camp, before he went to jail, before he saved Christmas, before he was scared stupid, before he went to Africa and before he was in the army, Ernest P. Worrell hosted a variety of commercials and public service announcements featured here.

Ernest's Greatest Hits Volume 1

1986

Undated · 1 titles

Series credits

The Simpsons poster
8.0

Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.

The Simpsons

1989

Alice poster
7.0

Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job working at a roadside diner on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the episodes revolve around events at Mel's Diner.

Alice

1976

Duckman poster
7.3

Together with Cornfed, his portly, porcine partner in crime solving, this defective detective amazingly manages to solve crimes and be a single parent to his hilariously dysfunctional sons at the same time.

Duckman

1994

Roseanne poster
6.8

A working-class family struggles to get by on a limited income in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois.

Roseanne

1988

America 2-Night poster
8.3

America 2-Night is the continuation of the talk-show parody series Fernwood 2 Night. It ran from April to July 1978. As in Fernwood, Barth Gimble was the host and Jerry Hubbard was his co-host. Happy Kyne and the Mirth-Makers was the band.

America 2-Night

1978

Operation Petticoat poster
6.9

Based on the 1959 WWII comedy of the same name; during the Second World War, a Navy officer commands a pink sub with a crew of five rescued Army nurses and a combat-phobic supply officer.

Operation Petticoat

1977

The Rousters poster
4.3

A group of modern-day bounty hunters are descendants of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp.

The Rousters

1983

Hey Vern, It's Ernest! poster
5.6

Hey Vern, It's Ernest! is a short lived American children's television program. It aired on Saturday mornings on CBS for one season in 1988. Each episode involved short sketches based around a certain theme or scenario, featuring the popular fictional character Ernest P. Worrell, his unseen friend Vern, and various others. The series was a production of Ernest creator John Cherry's production company, The Emshell Producers' Group, in association with CBS, and was distributed by DIC Entertainment. The series was later rerun on The Family Channel in the early 1990s.

Hey Vern, It's Ernest!

1988

Behind the camera