[1] In Minneapolis, Varnado worked with the local improvisation troupes ComedySportz, The Bad Mamma Jammas and several regional theater companies, before landing his first role in the Big River Productions film Full Moon Rising, playing a copy clerk.

Soon after, his role in Giraffe Films' Kids Adventures in Oz spurred him on move to New York to pursue an acting career.

Shortly after, he had a role in Harmony Korine's Julien Donkey-Boy (1999) with Ewen Bremner, Werner Herzog and Chloë Sevigny.

[1] He was cast in a supporting role in Eddie Murphy's space-age comic thriller, The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002).

[3] Varnado is a member of Chicago City Limits, New York's longest running comedy improv theater company for which he was a writer and director as well as a regularly performing stand-up comedian.