Bill Byrge was a character actor best known for playing the quirky character Bobby in the “Ernest” series of movies.
- Died: January 9, 2025 (Who else died on January 9?)
- Details of death: Died in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 86.
- We invite you to share condolences for Bill Byrge in our Guest Book.
Bill Byrge’s legacy
Byrge wasn’t a household name, but fans of the popular “Ernest” series of comedies from the 1990s know his face well. In the late 1980s, he worked with comedian Gailard Sartain to create a pair of characters, Chuck and Bobby, quirky twins who looked nothing alike. They grew a small following thanks to being featured in a series of offbeat commercials made by the advertising company Carden and Cherry.
That agency helped create the character Ernest P. Worrell, played by Jim Varney (1949–2000). When Varney landed a television show, “Hey Vern, It’s Ernest!,” Byrge and Sartain were brought in to reprise their roles. As Ernest grew in popularity and was spun off into a series of comedy movies, the pair followed suit. Byrge appeared as Bobby in 1988’s “Ernest Saves Christmas,” as well as the sequels “Ernest Goes to Jail,” “Ernest Scared Stupid,” and “Ernest Goes to School.”
Byrge left acting after the final “Ernest” movie, briefly reprising the role for a 2010 independent film, “Billy and Bobby the Wacky Duo on Vacation,” but otherwise remaining out of the limelight. In his later years, he was a frequent guest at fan conventions.
Acting was never Byrge’s full-time career. Even while appearing in the “Ernest” projects, he worked at a library in Nashville, retiring from the position in 1995 after 27 years.
Tributes to Bill Byrge
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
