John Cherry, the writer and filmmaker whom he can accurately refer to as a comedy legend as the creator of Ernest P. Worrell, has sadly passed away. In the early 1980s, Cherry had created the Ernest character to use for an ad campaign with Jim Varney landing the role. With Varney’s unique performance, Ernest became a smash hit that took the world by storm and the kooky character remains a pop culture icon to this day.
Along with creating the original Hey, Vern! It’s Ernest TV series, Cherry co-wrote and directed 1987’s Ernest Goes to Camp to kick off the character’s movie series. Several sequels would follow over the next decade, and Cherry would come back to directly nearly all of them. He sat out 1994’s Ernest Goes to School but returned to helm the final films, culminating with 1998’s Ernest in the Army.
Cherry had also directed two films without Varney, both of which were released in 1999. He co-directed the comedy The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy in ‘For Love or Mummy.’ Cherry also helmed the family adventure film Pirates of the Plain with Tim Curry.
Horror Geek Life offers condolences to the family at this time. You can read the announcement of Cherry’s passing below, which was posted to the official Ernest page on Facebook.
Unfortunately, I have some devastating news to share with you all. Our beloved John Cherry passed away this morning after a long and well-fought battle with Parkinson’s disease.
“Buster”, as his friends lovingly knew him by, was probably the most brilliant man I’ve ever met. Even as Parkinson’s began to rob him of some things, that creative mind of his was always going full-force to the best of its ability. He was kind, amazingly funny, generous and had a heart of gold. In addition to being a brilliant writer, he was also an amazing artist, a skilled fisherman, and an all-around amazing human being.I want you all to know how much he loved hearing from you and seeing your love of Ernest. Those of you who came out to meet him at Ernest Day, often bringing your children with you and telling him how you introduced your kids to Ernest and how they now love the movies too…it truly made his day. I will never forget the joy in his eyes after that first Ernest Day. You truly have no idea how much hearing those stories and seeing the love you still all have for his creations meant to him.Thank you so much for loving Ernest and bringing Buster so much joy over the years, especially in these last several years that have been so difficult for him. You truly brought him insurmountable joy in some of his darkest moments.I will keep you updated on arrangements as I receive that information. I’m not sure if it will be open to the public or not, but I will definitely keep you posted.Please keep his kids Josh, Emilie and Chapman in your prayers, as well as all of us who knew and loved him. The world is definitely a little darker today without his light.
Love to all,Melissa
