Mr. Pop History – Funnyman Jim Varney was diagnosed with cancer back in September of 1998 and passed away February 10, 2000. He was only 50.

He once said of his “Ernest’ character – “Everybody likes Ernest unless they’re too cool. The people who like sports cars and sunglasses are not our audience. They like that action-adventure, tough-guy stuff. From 14 down and 25 up we have a huge audience. Older people aren’t afraid to laugh at him, and kids aren’t self-conscious yet.”