Bill Byrge, the librarian turned actor was a regular in the Ernest movies, died Jan. 9 in Nashville, TN. He was 92.
News of his death was confirmed by his cousin Sharon Chapman on Facebook.
“My cousin, Bill Byrge, passed away,” she wrote. “He was a beautiful soul who made people laugh without even trying. He was the ‘Bobby’ character in several Ernest movies with Jim Varney. 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.”
The Tennessee-born actor worked for the Metro Nashville Public Library in Nashville but left it in the mid-90s to focus full-time on acting.
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His first role opposite Varney was on 1985’s Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam. He played a gas station attendant. He went on to recur as the character Bobby in Ernest Saves Christmas, Ernest Goes to Jail, Ernest Scared Stupid and Ernest Goes to School.
Byrge also participated in Varney’s Saturday morning show Hey Vern, It’s Ernest in the late ’80s.
After Varney died in 2000, Byrge returned to work at a library, his cousin Chapman told TMZ.
The post Bill Byrge Dies; Actor From ‘Ernest’ Movies Was 92 appeared first on Deadline.
