Jim Varney: Life Before Ernest
Before donning his signature denim vest and baseball cap, famously turning into the caricature of a character Ernest P. Worrell, Jim Varney was just another actor looking for his big break. Well, Varney was just another actor as far as numbers go, but when it came down to natural aptitude for acting, the ability to elicit a laugh or smile out of even the most strait-laced onlooker and the naturally endearing quality essential towards building a relationship with an audience, Varney was anything but “just another.” Taking Ernest across a wide spectrum of places a person could wind up, from camp to school to jail, Varney experienced a meteoric rise in popularity. And to think, the most successful bit of his career began as a mere TV commercial gig, but Varney’s portrayal of Ernest proved to be too iconic for a mere 30-second spot. The unexpected success Varney experienced was only a shock to those who didn’t know the man, as his talents had long been evident to those close to him. (more…)