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m Roman Spinner moved page John R. Cherry III to John Cherry (director): although occasionally referenced by his full name, John R. Cherry III, subject's billing in on-screen credits was simply "John Cherry"; listed as "John Cherry" in the authoritative American Film Institute Catalog
 
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{{short description|American film director}}
{{Short description|American filmmaker (1948–2022)}}


{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2010}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = John R. Cherry III
| name = John Robert Cherry III
| image =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|10|11}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|10|11}}
| birth_place = [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
| birth_place = [[Nashville, Tennessee]], U.S.
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|2022|05|08|1948|10|11}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|05|08|1948|10|11}}
⚫
| occupation = {{hlist|Director|screenwriter|producer|actor}}
| death_place =
| known_for = Creating [[Ernest P. Worrell]]
| nationality = American
| other_names = John Cherry
| known_for = Ernest P. Worrell television commercials and movies
⚫
| occupation = Director, screenwriter, producer, actor
| years_active = 1972–present
}}
}}


'''John R. Cherry III''' is an American film director and screenwriter, most notable for creating the character of [[Ernest P. Worrell]].
'''John Robert Cherry III''' (October 11, 1948 – May 8, 2022) was an American film director and screenwriter, most notable for creating the character of [[Ernest P. Worrell]], played by [[Jim Varney]].


==Career==
==Career==
{{moresources|section|date=May 2022}}
A native of [[Nashville, Tennessee]], Cherry attended the [[Ringling College of Art and Design|Ringling School of Art and Design]] in [[Sarasota, Florida]].
A native of [[Nashville, Tennessee]], Cherry attended the [[Ringling College of Art and Design|Ringling School of Art and Design]] in [[Sarasota, Florida]].


He was the executive vice president and co-namesake of the Nashville-based Carden and Cherry advertising agency, for which the "Ernest" character was developed. He based the character on a man who worked for his father, about whom Cherry has said, that he thought he knew everything but did not know anything.<ref>{{cite news|title= Varney: The Importance of Being Ernest|work= Los Angeles Times|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1993-11-16/entertainment/ca-57570_1_ernest-rides-again|accessdate=October 6, 2010}}</ref> Ernest was portrayed for 15 years by [[Jim Varney]], who at the time of the character's debut was an up-and-coming stand-up comic; after a string of successful commercials and sketches, Cherry directed a television series (''[[Hey Vern, It's Ernest!|Hey, Vern! It's Ernest]]'') and several movies. Cherry made three [[cameo appearance]]s in his own films: in ''[[Slam Dunk Ernest]]'' as a basketball spectator, ''[[Ernest Goes to Africa]]'' as a customer and in ''[[Ernest in the Army]]'' as Sergeant Ben Kovsky. In addition to Varney, Cherry also introduced the comic duo of Chuck and Bobby ([[Gailard Sartain]] and [[Bill Byrge]] respectively), who were integrated into the Ernest films as supporting characters.
He was the executive vice president and co-namesake of the Nashville-based Carden and Cherry advertising agency, for which the "Ernest" character was developed. He based the character on a man who worked for his father, about whom Cherry said, that he thought he knew everything but did not know anything.<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Willman|title= Varney: The Importance of Being Ernest|work= Los Angeles Times|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-16-ca-57570-story.html|access-date=October 6, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021141434/http://articles.latimes.com/1993-11-16/entertainment/ca-57570_1_ernest-rides-again|archive-date=October 21, 2017}}</ref>


Ernest was portrayed for 15 years by [[Jim Varney]], who at the time of the character's debut was an up-and-coming stand-up comic; after a string of successful commercials and sketches, Cherry directed a television series (''[[Hey Vern, It's Ernest!|Hey, Vern! It's Ernest]]'') and several movies. Cherry made three [[cameo appearance]]s in his own films: in ''[[Slam Dunk Ernest]]'' as a basketball spectator, ''[[Ernest Goes to Africa]]'' as a customer, and in ''[[Ernest in the Army]]'' as Sergeant Ben Kovsky. In addition to Varney, Cherry also introduced the comic duo of Chuck and Bobby ([[Gailard Sartain]] and [[Bill Byrge]] respectively), who were integrated into the Ernest films as supporting characters.
⚫
Cherry retired the Ernest character after Varney's declining health made it impossible for him to continue in the role (Varney died in 2000). He directed two other films without Ernest: ''[[The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy in For Love or Mummy|For Love or Mummy]]'', a collaboration with [[Larry Harmon]] that sought to reintroduce the long-deceased [[Laurel and Hardy]] comic team with new actors (with Hardy portrayed by Sartain); and ''[[Pirates of the Plain]]'', for which Cherry had intended to include Varney but could not.

⚫
Cherry retired the Ernest character after Varney's declining health from his battle with [[lung cancer]] made it impossible for him to continue in the role (Varney died of the cancer in 2000). He directed two other films without Ernest: ''[[The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy in For Love or Mummy|For Love or Mummy]]'', a collaboration with [[Larry Harmon]] that sought to reintroduce the long-deceased [[Laurel and Hardy]] comic team with new actors (with Hardy portrayed by Sartain); and ''[[Pirates of the Plain]]'', for which Cherry had intended to include Varney but could not.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
⚫
Cherry had three children from two marriages.{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}} His son Josh appeared in ''Ernest in the Army'' as Corporal Davis.
He has 3 children: Josh and Emilie from a previous marriage and his son Chapman from his current marriage with Ruthie Cherry, with whom he resides in Nashville.{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}}

Cherry was a [[Christians|Christian]]. <ref>{{Cite web |title=John Cherry Obituary - Nashville, TN |url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn/john-cherry-10745505 |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Dignity Memorial |language=en-us}}</ref>


==Death==
⚫
Cherry's son Josh appeared in ''Ernest in the Army'' as Corporal Davis.
Cherry died from [[Parkinson's disease]] on May 8, 2022, aged 73.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://movieweb.com/john-cherry-ernest-creator-dead/|title = John Cherry, Creator of Jim Varney's Ernest, Dies at 73|work = [[MovieWeb]]|date = May 8, 2022|accessdate = May 8, 2022|last = Dick|first = Jeremy}}</ref>


==Director==
==Director==
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* 2009 ''Stake Out'' (video short)
* 2009 ''Stake Out'' (video short)
* 2009 ''Denton Wants His Mummy'' (video short)
* 2009 ''Denton Wants His Mummy'' (video short)
* 2009 ''Denton Rose Paranormal Levitation Trick (video short)
* 2009 ''Denton Rose Paranormal Levitation Trick'' (video short)
* 2011 ''Denton Rose's Short's (video)
* 2011 ''Denton Rose's Shorts'' (video)


==Actor==
==Actor==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cherry, John R., III}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cherry, John R., III}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Film producers from Tennessee]]
[[Category:20th-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease]]
[[Category:Film directors from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Film producers from Tennessee]]
[[Category:People from Franklin, Tennessee]]
[[Category:People from Franklin, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Film directors from Tennessee]]
[[Category:American Christians]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Writers from Nashville, Tennessee]]

[[Category:2022 deaths]]

{{US-film-director-1940s-stub}}

Latest revision as of 05:32, 24 December 2024

John Robert Cherry III
Born(1948-10-11)October 11, 1948
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedMay 8, 2022(2022-05-08) (aged 73)
Occupations
  • Director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • actor
Known forCreating Ernest P. Worrell

John Robert Cherry III (October 11, 1948 – May 8, 2022) was an American film director and screenwriter, most notable for creating the character of Ernest P. Worrell, played by Jim Varney.

Career

[edit]

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Cherry attended the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.

He was the executive vice president and co-namesake of the Nashville-based Carden and Cherry advertising agency, for which the "Ernest" character was developed. He based the character on a man who worked for his father, about whom Cherry said, that he thought he knew everything but did not know anything.[1]

Ernest was portrayed for 15 years by Jim Varney, who at the time of the character's debut was an up-and-coming stand-up comic; after a string of successful commercials and sketches, Cherry directed a television series (Hey, Vern! It's Ernest) and several movies. Cherry made three cameo appearances in his own films: in Slam Dunk Ernest as a basketball spectator, Ernest Goes to Africa as a customer, and in Ernest in the Army as Sergeant Ben Kovsky. In addition to Varney, Cherry also introduced the comic duo of Chuck and Bobby (Gailard Sartain and Bill Byrge respectively), who were integrated into the Ernest films as supporting characters.

Cherry retired the Ernest character after Varney's declining health from his battle with lung cancer made it impossible for him to continue in the role (Varney died of the cancer in 2000). He directed two other films without Ernest: For Love or Mummy, a collaboration with Larry Harmon that sought to reintroduce the long-deceased Laurel and Hardy comic team with new actors (with Hardy portrayed by Sartain); and Pirates of the Plain, for which Cherry had intended to include Varney but could not.

Personal life

[edit]

Cherry had three children from two marriages.[citation needed] His son Josh appeared in Ernest in the Army as Corporal Davis.

Cherry was a Christian. [2]

Death

[edit]

Cherry died from Parkinson's disease on May 8, 2022, aged 73.[3]

Director

[edit]

Actor

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Willman, Chris. "Varney: The Importance of Being Ernest". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  2. ^ "John Cherry Obituary - Nashville, TN". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  3. ^ Dick, Jeremy (May 8, 2022). "John Cherry, Creator of Jim Varney's Ernest, Dies at 73". MovieWeb. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
[edit]
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