Bill Byrge, an actor recognizable from his work in the Ernest movies, died on Thursday (Jan. 9), TMZ reports. He was 92.
While no cause of death has been disclosed yet, the late actor’s cousin Sharon Chapman announced the news of Byrge’s death on Facebook, noting that he died yesterday at around noon in Nashville.
Chapman also told TMZ that Byrge landed his first on-screen gig, Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam, when he was discovered walking down a sidewalk. Jim Varney, the Emmy award-winning actor and comedian who starred as the titular role of Ernest P. Worrell in the Ernest films, played Dr. Otto.
Byrge, who played Bobby in the Ernest franchise, earned film credits in Ernest Saves Christmas (1988), Ernest Goes To Jail (1990), Ernest Scared Stupid (1991), and Ernest Goes To School (1994). Byrge also appeared in 13 episodes of the TV show Hey, Vern, It’s Ernest! According to People, Byrge’s role was developed and featured in “Me and My Brother Bobby” ads, which he appeared in alongside fellow Ernest movie alum Gailard Sartain.
In her Facebook tribute, Chapman praised Byrge as “a beautiful soul who made people laugh without even trying.”
“I always teased him of being a ‘star’ in our family,” she wrote. “He deserved it as raised poor, but his momma taught him love, respect, and faith which he showed to everyone. Heaven gained a sweet soul today. Love you, Billy. See you soon!”
According to Chapman, the Nashville native worked as a librarian at the Metro Nashville Public Library over the course of his whole career, per People. Describing him as “a little character” and “a jokester at times,” Chapman told People that Byrge “just had this way about him and you obviously noticed him automatically, no matter where he was at.”
“That’s how he got started in movies,” she continued. “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.”
