Bill Byrge, actor who played Bobby in “Ernest” movies, dies

Bill Byrge, best known for playing Ernest's neighbor Bobby in several of the Ernest comedy films, died on Thursday.

Byrge’s cousin, Sharon Chapman, shared news of his death in a Facebook post shared on Thursday. "My cousin, Bill Byrge, passed away in the Nashville area today at 12pm," Chapman wrote alongside a picture of the actor sitting on a porch swing. "He was a beautiful soul who made people laugh without even trying. He was the 'Bobby' character in several Ernest movies with Jim Varney. I always teased him of being a 'star' in our family. He deserved it as raised poor, but his momma taught him love, respect, and faith which he showed to everyone."

Chapman continued, "Heaven gained a sweet soul today. Love you, Billy. See you soon!"

Byrge’s age at the time of his death is unclear as his IMDb page lists his date of birth as July 16, 1932, which would make him 92, while some other outlets are reporting that he died at 86.

Related: Ernest's transition from TV to film

Byrge's first onscreen credit came in 1985 as the gas station attendant in sci-fi comedy Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam, which also starred Jim Varney. So began a long partnership between the two, which included the 1988 film Ernest Saves Christmas and TV show, Hey, Vern, It’s Ernest!, 1990’s Ernest Goes to Jail, 1991’s Ernest Scared Stupid and 1994’s Ernest Goes to School.

Byrge also reprised the character and produced 2010's Billy & Bobby the Whacky Duo on Vacation!, which was released 10 years after Varney died in 2000 of lung cancer at age 50. Byrge had an additional uncredited role in the 1988 short Harry the Dirty Dog.

Throughout his life, Byrge also worked as a librarian in Nashville, Chapman told PEOPLE. "If you saw Billy in person, I mean, he was a little character. He was a jokester at times. Anyways, Billy just had this way about him and you obviously noticed him automatically, no matter where he was at," Chapman told the outlet. "That's how he got started in movies. 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."

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"The other thing was he didn't want to talk in the movies. He just didn't. And the producer says, with his looks and his little quirkiness and everything, he didn't have to speak," she added. "That's what was funny about it. He had this way of making faces."

Per the report, Byrge never married and didn't have any children. A memorial service for the actor will be held in Nashville in the coming days.

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