---
name: "Jim Varney"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jim-varney"
fi1m_id: "jim-varney"
imdb_id: "nm0001815"
tmdb_id: 12899
wikidata_id: "Q276181"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "15 June 1949"
died: "10 February 2000"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 90
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-17T17:51:36.131417+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Jim Varney

## Identity

Jim Varney

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jim-varney
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jim-varney
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001815
- **TMDB ID:** 12899
- **Wikidata ID:** Q276181
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Varney, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q276181, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001815/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12899

Actor. Born 15 June 1949 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Died 10 February 2000.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 15 June 1949, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- **Died:** 10 February 2000
- **Active:** 1989–1999
- **Also known as:** James Varney, James Albert Varney, James Albert Varney Jr., Jim Varnie, 吉姆·瓦尼
- **Frequently works with:** [Andrew Stanton](https://film.one/person/andrew-stanton.md), [Don Rickles](https://film.one/person/don-rickles.md), [John Lasseter](https://film.one/person/john-lasseter.md), [Tim Allen](https://film.one/person/tim-allen.md), [Tom Hanks](https://film.one/person/tom-hanks.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 90, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 88 (1), 1990s 90 (2)
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Animation 3, Comedy 3, Family 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,460m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Varney, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q276181, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001815/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12899

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Toy Story*](https://film.one/film/toy-story.md) (92), [*Toy Story 2*](https://film.one/film/toy-story-2.md) (89)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Jim Varney

> Jim Varney’s rubber-faced Ernest can be exhausting, though the optimism matters. We prefer him as Slinky Dog in the first two *Toy Story* films, where his Southern-accented voice makes loyalty sound ordinary and reassuring.

Jim Varney’s Ernest P. Worrell speaks straight to the camera, as though familiarity were reason enough to keep talking. The rubber-faced mugging can wear us down, but the character’s optimism gives us a reason to stay with him. Ernest is bumbling and well intentioned, and Varney commits to the physical comedy without seeming embarrassed by its breadth. The effort is considerable; the trouble comes when another pulled face is all the joke has left.

Ernest came out of regional commercials from 1980, reaching features with *Ernest Goes to Camp* (1987). Varney’s collaborations with director, writer and producer John R. Cherry III ran to nine films, while *Ernest Goes to Jail* (1990) let him play both hero and villain. *The Beverly Hillbillies* (1993) gave him Jed Clampett, a leading role outside the Ernest persona. The more useful change came with voice work, which let him be funny without having to supply so much to look at.

In *Toy Story* (1995), his Southern-accented voice gives Slinky Dog a warmth that suits John Lasseter’s comedy. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen supply the quarrelling; Varney’s loyal dog is someone we are glad to have nearby. His contribution is modest, and it benefits from a tightly made film that makes awkward characters worth caring about. Randy Newman’s music sometimes presses the feeling too hard; Varney sounds reassuring without asking for much attention.

We were moved by *Toy Story 2* (1999), because the toys’ fear of being forgotten makes their companionship feel necessary. Slinky’s loyalty matters in that setting, and Varney’s reassuring delivery helps without making the character solemn. A few action passages feel dutiful, though they do not diminish the pleasure of returning to this company. The contrast with Ernest is useful: we can hear the warmth without having to watch another face being pulled. Start with these two films, and approach Ernest only if broad physical comedy is already part of the attraction.

## Biography

Jim Varney was an American actor and comedian. He voiced Slinky Dog in the animated films *Toy Story* (1995) and *Toy Story 2* (1999).

Varney was best known for creating and playing the character Ernest P. Worrell in a series of television commercials and films, including *Ernest Goes to Camp* (1987), *Ernest Saves Christmas* (1988) and *Ernest Scared Stupid* (1991). He also appeared as Jed Clampett in the 1993 film adaptation of *The Beverly Hillbillies*.

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Varney began performing in theatre as a teenager. He died in 2000.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, pixar.fandom.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Toy Story 2* (1999), Fi1m 89, as Slinky Dog (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/toy-story-2.md)
- *Toy Story* (1995), Fi1m 92, as Slinky Dog (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/toy-story.md)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), Fi1m 88, as Cooder (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)

## Complete filmography (43)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Seen* (2021), Thanks
- *Daddy and Them* (2001), as Hazel Montgomery
- *Atlantis: The Lost Empire* (2001), as Cookie (voice) · In Memory Of
- *Toy Story 2* (1999), as Slinky Dog (voice) — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/toy-story-2.md)
- *Treehouse Hostage* (1999), as Carl Banks
- *Existo* (1999), as Marcel Horowitz
- *3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain* (1998), as Lothar Zogg
- *Ernest in the Army* (1998), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Annabelle's Wish* (1997), as Mr. Gus Holder (voice)
- *100 Proof* (1997), as Rae's Father
- *Snowboard Academy* (1997), as Rudy James
- *Ernest Goes to Africa* (1997), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Blood, Friends and Money* (1997), as The Old Mariner
- *Toy Story* (1995), as Slinky Dog (voice) — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/toy-story.md)
- *The Expert* (1995), as Snake
- *Slam Dunk Ernest* (1995), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Ernest Goes to School* (1994), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Duckman* (1994), series, as Walt Evergreen (voice)
- *Your World as I See It* (1994), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Ernest Rides Again* (1993), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *The Beverly Hillbillies* (1993), as Jed Clampett
- *Wilder Napalm* (1993), as Rex
- *Ernest's Greatest Hits Volume 2* (1992), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Ernest Scared Stupid* (1991), as Ernest
- *Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration* (1990), as Ernest
- *Ernest Goes to Jail* (1990), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Cooder (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain* (1989), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Fast Food* (1989), as Wrangler Bob
- *Ernest Saves Christmas* (1988), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Roseanne* (1988), series, as Prince Carlos — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md)
- *Hey Vern, It's Ernest!* (1988), series, as Ernest
- *Ernest Goes to Camp* (1987), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Hey Vern, Win $10,000...Or Just Count On Having Fun!* (1987), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *The Ernest Film Festival* (1986), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Ernest's Greatest Hits Volume 1* (1986), as Ernest P. Worrell
- *Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam* (1985), as Dr. Otto VonSchnick / Rudd Hardtact / Laughin' Jack / Guy Dandy / Auntie Nelda / Ernest P. Worrell
- *The Rousters* (1983), series, as Evan Earp
- *Hey Vern, It's My Family Album* (1983), as Ernest P. Worrell · Writer
- *Spittin' Image* (1982), Actor
- *America 2-Night* (1978), series, as Virgil Simms
- *Operation Petticoat* (1977), series, as Seaman Broom
- *Alice* (1976), series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Jim Varney](https://film.one/media/person/86008/gallery-c9cc6952de51.jpg) Jim Varney — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Jim_Varney_%28handprints_in_cement%29.jpg/1280px-Jim_Varney_%28handprints_in_cement%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jim Varney](https://film.one/media/person/86008/gallery-cbe0342bcd4e.jpg) Jim Varney — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- Emmy Award 1989: Emmy Award (won)
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star 1988: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star (nominated), for *Ernest Goes to Camp*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jim-varney