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IMDbPro

Tennessee Ernie Ford(1919-1991)

  • Actor
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Tennessee Ernie Ford c. 1960
Tennessee Ernie Fords lifetime: Thursday, February 13th, 1919 to Thursday, October 17th, 1991, was 26,544 days, equaling 3,792 weeks exactly. Composer, singer and author, educated at the Cincinnati Conservatory. He appeared at the London Palladium, and made many records. He also owned a cattle ranch in California. Joining ASCAP in 1958, his popular-song compositions include "Softly and Tenderly" (Christian). Three others, 2 country "Hogtied Over You" and "Kiss Me Big" + 1 rock 'n roll, "Sixteen Tons".
BornFebruary 13, 1919
DiedOctober 17, 1991(72)
BornFebruary 13, 1919
DiedOctober 17, 1991(72)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
    • 5 wins & 13 nominations total

Photos11

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Known for

The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (1956)
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
7.8
TV Series
  • Sir Joseph Porter
  • Koko
  • Narrator
On the Road (2012)
On the Road
6.0
  • Soundtrack("Anticipation Blues")
  • 2012
Chloë Grace Moretz in Carrie (2013)
Carrie
5.8
  • Soundtrack("Let the Lower Lights Be Burning", "His Amazing Grace")
  • 2013
Josh Brolin in W. (2008)
W.
6.3
  • Soundtrack("Shotgun Boogie")
  • 2008

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor



  • Hee Haw (1969)
    Hee Haw
    7.0
    TV Series
    • 1978
  • Leon Ames, Joseph Cotten, Tab Hunter, Cesar Romero, Claude Akins, Eve Brent, and Roosevelt Grier in The Timber Tramps (1973)
    The Timber Tramps
    5.8
    • Man in Timber Association Meeting (uncredited)
    • 1973
  • Dick Martin and Dan Rowan in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)
    Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
    8.0
    TV Series
    • Guest Performer (uncredited)
    • 1969–1970
  • Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Lucie Arnaz in Here's Lucy (1968)
    Here's Lucy
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Ernie Epperson
    • 1969
  • Mouse on the Mayflower (1968)
    Mouse on the Mayflower
    6.8
    TV Movie
    • Narrator (voice)
    • 1968
  • Lucille Ball in The Lucy Show (1962)
    The Lucy Show
    7.2
    TV Series
    • Homer Higgins
    • 1967
  • Tennessee Ernie Ford in The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (1962)
    The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
    TV Series
    • 1962
  • The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (1956)
    The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
    7.8
    TV Series
    • Sir Joseph Porter
    • Koko
    • Narrator
    • 1959–1960
  • Angela Cartwright, Rusty Hamer, Sherry Jackson, Marjorie Lord, and Danny Thomas in The Danny Thomas Show (1953)
    The Danny Thomas Show
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Kentucky Cal
    • 1959
  • Anthony Perkins and Jack Palance in The Lonely Man (1957)
    The Lonely Man
    6.3
    • Singer of Theme Song (voice)
    • 1957
  • Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (1951)
    I Love Lucy
    8.5
    TV Series
    • Cousin Ernie (as Ernie Ford)
    • 1954–1955
  • Corral Cuties
    Short
    • Tennessee Ernie Ford
    • 1954
  • Randolph Scott, Ellen Drew, Joan Leslie, and Richard Rober in Man in the Saddle (1951)
    Man in the Saddle
    6.3
    • Wrangler (uncredited)
    • 1951
  • Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Virginia Mayo, and Teresa Wright in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    The Best Years of Our Lives
    8.1
    • Nightclub
    • Hillbilly Singer (uncredited)
    • 1946

Soundtrack



  • Laid (2024)
    Laid
    6.9
    TV Series
    • performer: "Sixteen Tons" (uncredited)
    • 2024
  • Bill Murray, Naomi Watts, and Bing in The Friend (2024)
    The Friend
    6.4
    • arranger: "Joy to the World"
    • performer: "Joy to the World"
    • 2024
  • Billy Bob Thornton, Colin Hanks, Jason Schwartzman, and Allison Tolman in Fargo (2014)
    Fargo
    8.8
    TV Series
    • performer: "Sixteen Tons"
    • 2023
  • Tom Hanks, Liev Schreiber, Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman, Bryan Cranston, Hope Davis, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Park, Aristou Meehan, Maya Hawke, Rupert Friend, Jake Ryan, Ethan Josh Lee, and Sophia Lillis in Asteroid City (2023)
    Asteroid City
    6.4
    • performer: "Sixteen Tons", "Hey, Mr. Cotton Picker"
    • 2023
  • Ryan Phillippe, Will Forte, and Kristen Wiig in MacGruber (2021)
    MacGruber
    7.1
    TV Series
    • performer: "Joy to the World"
    • 2021
  • Matt Stone and Trey Parker in South Park (1997)
    South Park
    8.7
    TV Series
    • performer: "Sixteen Tons"
    • 2018
  • Princess Margaret: The Rebel Royal (2018)
    Princess Margaret: The Rebel Royal
    7.5
    TV Mini Series
    • performer: "Sixteen Tons"
    • 2018
  • The Subtle Art of Crafting a Believable Story
    Video
    • performer: "Sixteen Tons"
    • 2016
  • Norman Lear and Keaton Nigel Cooke in Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016)
    Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
    7.3
    • performer: "Sixteen Tons"
    • 2016
  • Beaver Trilogy Part IV (2015)
    Beaver Trilogy Part IV
    7.3
    • performer: "The Cry of the Wild Goose"
    • 2015
  • Chloë Grace Moretz in Carrie (2013)
    Carrie
    5.8
    • performer: "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning", "His Amazing Grace"
    • 2013
  • Donald Rumsfeld in The Unknown Known (2013)
    The Unknown Known
    7.0
    • performer: "White Christmas"
    • 2013
  • On the Road (2012)
    On the Road
    6.0
    • performer: "Anticipation Blues"
    • writer: "Anticipation Blues"
    • 2012
  • Zachary Levi and Yvonne Strahovski in Chuck (2007)
    Chuck
    8.2
    TV Series
    • performer: "Sixteen Tons"
    • 2011
  • Eliza Taylor and Tim Ross in The Laundromat (2010)
    The Laundromat
    6.2
    Short
    • performer: "Pennies from Heaven"
    • 2010

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Last.fm
  • Alternative names
    • Tennessee Ernie
  • Height
    • 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
  • Born
    • February 13, 1919
    • Bristol, Tennessee, USA
  • Died
    • October 17, 1991
    • Reston, Virginia, USA(liver disease)
  • Spouses
      Beverly WoodJune 11, 1989 - October 17, 1991 (his death)
  • Other works
    (1970s) Spokesman for the Pontiac Furniture Co. in Pontiac, IL.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Print Biography
    • 1 Article

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    While it never affected his professional work, nor was it ever publicized (for fear of how it would impact his career), Ford battled all his life with a drinking problem, something which ultimately undermined his health. In October, 1991, he collapsed after leaving a White House dinner and died at an area hospital a few days later, exactly one year to the day after being elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
  • Quotes
    Bless your little pea-pickin' hearts.
  • Trademark
      Deep south country accent & slang terminolgist

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