When one thinks of iconic commercial mascots, a few names always pop up. Ronald McDonald, Tony the Tiger, and Domino's Pizza's The Noid are some of the best known. There is one, however, that surpasses all of them in success. He is the only one to make the jump from advertising to feature film. Ronald may have had some animated straight-to-video adventures, but he never made it to the big screen. This character is none other than Ernest P. Worrell. Ernest was a pop culture juggernaut in the '80s and '90s. Getting his start in commercials, Ernest went on to star in five theatrical films, four straight-to-video films, several straight-to-video specials, and an Emmy-winning children's show.

How did this happen? Why did Ernest enjoy success of this nature when others couldn't? There are many factors for this, but the main one is the man behind the vest. Jim Varney portrayed the Ernest character and is the reason he became so beloved. Here is how Jim went from advertising clown to pop culture icon.

Jim Varney Pre-Ernest

Jim Varney

A native of Kentucky, Varney became enamored with the theater from an early age. He had a knack for it, as he was performing professionally as early as 17. While Varney's most famous stereotype is a bumbling fool with a heart of gold, Varney is a Shakespearean-trained actor. Jim had a talent for performing and an even bigger talent for making others laugh.

Varney was known as a human cartoon. He was able to contort his face and alter his voice in a way that was guaranteed to make his peers laugh. Varney began to make a name for himself on the theater circuit. He was a mainstay at a local theater in Kentucky, and he eventually made the jump to the small screen. Most of his early television appearances were minor characters in shows such as Operation Petticoat. While his roles were small, he left an impact on audiences. These early works allowed Jim to stretch his acting chops, being dramatic and empathetic one moment and putting audiences in stitches from laughing the next.

Related: Ernest P. Worrell Tribute Video Celebrates Jim Varney as the Original Viral Superstar

Varney was also a successful stand-up comic. His trademark in his act were his various characters. As stated before, he was able to transform into a different person right before the audience's eyes, and that is what he became known for. Audiences loved to see Varney's various characters, each with their own backstory. Many of these characters would be reworked into characters in his various Ernest projects.

Varney made a small dent in the entertainment world, but he wasn't reaching the success he had hoped for, at least until he met John Cherry, an advertising exec from Tennessee. Varney's first character for Cherry's company was named Sgt. Glory, a no-nonsense drill instructor used to promote Purity Dairy products. These commercials proved to be successful for both Varney and the Carden and Cherry advertising company. Eventually, Carden and Cherry were tasked with creating an advertisement promoting the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders appearing at an amusement park in Kentucky. Sgt. Glory wasn't right for the spot, so another character needed to be created. This was the birth of Ernest P. Worrell, and history was soon made.

The Ernest Years

Ernest Goes to Camp
Buena Vista Pictures

At first, Ernest was used to promote local products in Nashville and surrounding areas. Before long, companies were approaching Carden and Cherry to use Ernest to promote their products. Ernest was seen on television in states such as Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio, Maine, and North Carolina. He promoted various goods and services such as restaurant chains, television stations, heating companies, and food items. Basically, if it could be promoted, Ernest likely promoted it.

All the Ernest ads followed the same formulaL Ernest would talk with his easily agitated and silent neighbor, Vern. The audience played the part of Vern, as Varney would talk directly into the camera when talking to him. Ernest would promote whatever product was the center of the ad, and the annoyed Vern would usually dispatch Ernest in some humorous, Tex Avery-esque way such as shutting a window on his fingers or pushing him off a ladder. The character would soon receive nationwide attention when the Coca-Cola company contracted him to promote their products all over the country. At the height of his popularity, Carden and Cherry decided to take a gamble on the character. In 1987, Ernest went to the movies.

Related: Jim Varney Doc The Importance of Being Ernest is Fully Funded After Successful Kickstarter

Ernest Goes to Camp brought the character to the big screen. The film was a success, and the Ernest train was full steam ahead. From here, a Saturday morning children's series was greenlit. Hey Vern, It's Ernest! ran for one season in 1988. The series was presented as a sketch show, with each sketch revolving around a single subject such as pets, magic, or scary things. While short-lived, the series earned Jim Varney an Emmy and propelled the character even further. As the years went on, more movies were made. Ernest Saves Christmas and Ernest Scared Stupid (which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year) are both still widely watched today around the Christmas and Halloween seasons.

The films began to gradually decline in terms of success, and the fifth film, Ernest Rides Again, was the last to be released theatrically. This didn't stop the character, as he enjoyed four more films on the straight-to-video market. He also had some success in non-Ernest roles during this time. Most notably as Jed in the big screen adaptation of the classic show The Beverly Hillbillies. The final Ernest film, Ernest in the Army was the last one. The film was released in 1998, and Jim Varney sadly passed away in 2000. Before his death, Varney wanted to take on more dramatic roles, and he managed to do several. Despite his longing to do more serious roles, he loved Ernest, and it is unlikely he would have ever fully retired from him.

The Worrell Legacy

Varney with fan

Today, the Ernest character isn't as well known as he once was. However, if one asked a group of ten people, at least one of them would likely know of the character. As stated before, some of his movies are still seen today around the Holidays. Many fans grew up with the character that passed on that love to their kids, who will then pass it to their children. Even those who have never heard of Ernest have been entertained by Varney without even knowing it.

Other than Ernest, one of his most famous roles is as the voice of Slinky-Dog in the first two Toy Story films. He was also the voice of Cookie in Atlantis: The Lost Empire released a year after his passing. There is an upcoming documentary based on the life of Varney coming soon. The project was successfully funded via Kickstarter, showing love for Jim is still strong. For those who are unfamiliar with the work of Varney, they owe it to themselves to check out some of his work. A new fan may even come from it, Knowhutimean?