Actor From Beloved ‘Ernest’ Comedy Franchise Dies at 92

Bill Byrge, the actor who portrayed Bobby in the Ernest movies, has died at 92, his cousin shared on social media. Byrge played a supporting role in the schlocky yet beloved comedy franchise, which emerged out of an ad campaign centered around Jim Varney’s now-iconic character, Ernest P. Worrell. In a Facebook post announcing her cousin’s death, Sharon Chapman shared that Byrge died in Nashville on Thursday. “He was a beautiful soul who made people laugh without even trying,” she wrote. “I always teased him of being a ‘star’ in our family. He deserved it as raised poor, but his momma taught him love, respect, and faith which he showed to everyone.” Chapman told TMZ that Byrge landed his role in Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam (1985), the first Ernest movie, after he was discovered walking down a sidewalk. He appeared in seven of the films, but Chapman told TMZ it wasn’t his true calling. He retired from acting after Varney’s death in 2000, returning to his job as a librarian.