Who did Bill Byrge play in Ernest? Comedian and actor passes away

Character actor and comedian Bill Byrge, best known for his role as Ernest's neighbor Bobby in Ernest films, has passed away at the age of 92. The news of his demise was announced by his cousin, Sharon Chapman, in an emotional Facebook post. Chapman revealed that he died on Thursday, January 9, 2025, in Nashville. As of now, there has been no official word on the cause of his death.

The post included a picture of Byrge sitting on a porch swing, along with the message:

"He was a beautiful soul who made people laugh without even trying," adding, "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 concluded:

"Heaven gained a sweet soul today. Love you, Billy. See you soon!"

According to IMDb, Byrge was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 16, 1932.

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Bill Byrge worked as a librarian in Nashville alongside appearing in movies

Bill Byrge was born and raised in Nashville. Before pursuing a career in acting in the 1980s, he worked as a librarian. According to People, Byrge's first acting role was in the 1985 comedy sci-fi film Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam. As reported by People, his cousin, Sharon Chapman, shared that a producer discovered him while he was walking down a sidewalk and cast him in the film alongside Jim Varney.

"If you saw Billy in person, I mean, he was a little character. He was a jokester at times. Anyways, Billy just had this way about him and you obviously noticed him automatically, no matter where he was at," Chapman told People.

Sharon explained that Bill Byrge never wanted to "talk in the movies." This forte lay in his "looks" and "quirkiness," noting his particular way of making faces.

Dr. Otto was the first film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell (played by Varney). According to an April 1990 article by Entertainment Weekly, Ernest was originally created by the advertising agency Carden & Cherry and first appeared in TV advertisements starting in 1972 before transitioning into films.

According to People, Byrge's character was similarly developed as part of a series of similar commercials known as "Me and My Brother Bobby."

Dr. Otto marked the beginning of a partnership between Bill Byrge (Bobby) and Jim Varney. This included starring in films like Ernest Saves Christmas (1988), Ernest Goes to Jail (1990), and Ernest Goes to School (1994), as well as a children's TV show, Hey, Vern, It's Ernest! (1988).

Following Varney's death in 2000, Bill Byrge stepped away from working in films. He reprised his role as Bobby in the 2010 film Billy & Bobby the Whacky Duo on Vacation! During a 2022 interview with WuchinaTwinsFilms, Byrge reflected on his co-star, stating:

"Nobody will ever be as good as he was and what he did."

According to Sharon, Bill Byrge continued to work as a librarian in Nashville, telling the publication:

"That's how he got started in movies. And he was reluctant. He didn't want to leave his day job. He said the only way is if he could keep his day job, he would do it."

According to People magazine, Chapman explained Bill Byrge never married and had no children. A memorial service would be held in the coming days.