May 02, 2011

Voice Actor - Jim Varney

Even though he does not have have a big career as a voice actor, I saw fit to mention this comedic genius. Varney has lent his voice to the character Slinky Dog in the first two entries of Disney's Toy Story film series, and played numerous others, including "Cookie" Farnsworth, from Atlantis: The Lost Empire, released the year after his death, the carny character Cooter in the "Bart Carny" episode of The Simpsons, the character Walt Evergreen in the Duckman episode "You've Come a Wrong Way, Baby".

As a tribute to Varney, comedian Blake Clark succeeded him as the voice of Slinky Dog in Toy Story 3. Pixar originally were going to write the character out of the story but they soon discovered that Clark was a good friend of Varney's and their voices sounded the same, so Slinky Dog returned in the film. In addition, Steve Barr also replaced him for the sequel Atlantis: Milo's Return).

Varney's most popular live-action character performance has to be Ernest P. Worrell. It proved so popular that it was spun off into a TV series, Hey Vern, It's Ernest!, and a series of movies in the 1980s and 1990s. Ernest Goes to Camp brought Varney a nomination for "Worst New Star" at the 1987 Golden Raspberry Awards; however, the movie was a huge hit, grossing $25 million at the box office.

In 1989, Jim Varney won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series for Hey Vern, It's Ernest (1988). Varney, playing Ernest both times, was nominated for a Razzie Award one year (1988) and then won an Emmy Award the next year (1989).
Other Ernest movies include Ernest Saves Christmas, Slam Dunk Ernest, Ernest Goes to Jail, Ernest Goes to Africa, Ernest Rides Again, Ernest Goes to School, Ernest Scared Stupid, and Ernest in the Army.

Varney died on February 10, 2000 of lung cancer.

Credit List:

Annabelle's Wish (1997, Animated Film (Direct-to-Video)) Gus Holder
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001, Animated Film) Cookie Farnsworth
Duckman (1994, Animated Series) Tobacco CEO "You've Come the Wrong Way, Baby"
Hercules (1998, Animated Series) Ephialtes
Simpsons, The (1989, Animated Series) Cooder the Carny
Toy Story (1995, Computer Animated Film) Slinky Dog
Toy Story 2 (1999, Computer Animated Film) Slinky Dog

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