Most People Don’t Know That Jim Varney’s Gravesite Is Found Right Here In Kentucky

Kentucky has been home to many famous celebrities, many of whom we are exceptionally proud of and some we try to live down. However, many celebrities resting in Kentucky also go almost unsung and don’t get much recognition. One such person was the fun, beloved character actor Jim Varney. Let’s take a closer look at his life.

Jim Varney was best known for his character Ernest P. Worrell and the catchphrase, “Know what I mean, Vern?” This character first popped up in commercials during the 1980s for amusement parks, fast food places, utility companies and many other companies.

James Albert Varney Jr. was born in Lexington on June 15, 1949, and passed due to lung cancer at age 50 on February 10, 2000, in White House, Tennessee. He was laid to rest in his hometown at Lexington Cemetery.

Jim started acting at age 15 when he played Ebeneezer Scrooge at a local theatre. At age 17 he was getting gigs at nightclubs and coffee houses and even studied Shakespeare at the Barter Club in Virginia. He became a regular at age 24 at the Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, Kentucky.

During the 1970’s he had characters on "Johnny Cash & Friends," "Fernwood 2 Night," "Alice," and several other shows as well as performing standup comedy.

Jim rocketed to stardom in the 1980s and into the 1990s with a series of Ernest movies like "Ernest Goes To Camp," "Ernest Saves Christmas," "Ernest Goes To Jail," and others. His children’s show, "Hey Vern, It's Ernest!" was a family favorite nationwide. He became a household name and almost everyone was spouting his catchphrase.

Throughout the 80s and 90s he had parts in numerous B-movies and also voiced Slinky Dog in "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2." A few serious parts showed off his range like that of an abusive father in "100 Proof" for which he was well reviewed.

In 2013, a comprehensive biography was released entitled "The Importance of Being Ernest: The Life of Actor Jim Varney (Stuff that Vern doesn't even know)." Fans still leave mementos on his grave to this day. Kentucky will always be proud of him.

Do you know of other unsung celebrities resting in Kentucky that people should know about? Let us know about them in the comments. While you’re in town, check out some of the other reasons why Lexington is one of the best places to visit.