The Hidden, Dark Life Of Jim Carrey
In the 1990s and 2000s, Jim Carrey was easily one of the most profitable stars in the world. The actor, known for his "rubber" face and hilarious impersonations, had a string of box office hits, setting records that were unheard of for the comedy genre.
But, behind the laughter and the smiles, Carrey was hiding dark and painful truths that few fans knew about.
Humble Beginnings
Jim Carrey was born on January 17, 1962, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. His parents, Kathleen Carrey (Oram) and Percy Carrey, had four children in total, with Jim being the youngest.
Even as a child, it was clear that Carrey had a natural talent for performing, often doing impressions for his family and classmates. He even sent his resume to The Carol Burnett Show and was delighted when the legendary comedian wrote back.
His ability to make people laugh became one of his greatest strengths as his family endured some tragic moments.
His Family Was Forced To Move
When he was a teenager, Carrey's family was forced to relocate from Newmarket to Scarborough, a larger city just outside of Toronto. The family was facing serious financial difficulties and moved several times throughout Ontario, bouncing between Scarborough, Burlington, and Lincoln.
At one point, the family was homeless and had to live out of their Volkswagen van, with Carrey and his brother sleeping in a tent on the shores of Lake Ontario in Charles Daley Park.
After years of hardship, the family's luck began to turn around, but it would require a huge sacrifice on Carrey's part.
Percy Carrey Finally Found A Job
After years of living in poverty, Percy secured employment at the Titan Wheels tire factory in Scarborough, Ontario. However, there was a catch – Jim and his brother would also have to work an eight-hour night shift after school.
While the jobs gave the family some stability and a roof over their heads, the grueling schedule weighed heavily on a teenage Carrey.
He decided to drop out of school at age 16, but he still hadn't given up on his comedy dreams.
He Began Performing Stand-up In Toronto
Even though his family was going through financial turmoil, a teenage Carrey made his debut at Toronto's Yuk Yuk's comedy club. His first show didn't go over well with the audience, and because of his family's situation, Carrey was forced to put his passion on hold.
A few years later, Carrey returned to the stage. His family had found some stability, and in those years off, Carrey had honed his act. His performances started gaining acclaim and recognition. Soon, Carrey began performing as a regular in various venues around the city.
It seemed like Carrey was ready to take his career to the next level, but show business had other plans.
Auditioning For SNL
Looking to break into sketch comedy, Carrey auditioned for the 1980-81 season of Saturday Night Live. He was not selected for the cast, but didn't let the disappointment overtake him.
He remained focused on his work, continuing to perform in comedy clubs in Toronto, accepting voice-over work, and getting some small, on-screen roles in Canadian film and TV projects. Soon, the media began to pay attention, writing newspaper articles on Carrey.
It seemed that his career was starting to take off, and then a call from one of comedy's biggest stars changed everything.
He Was Selected To Open For Rodney Dangerfield
As Carrey's stand-up career expanded to the United States, comic Rodney Dangerfield took notice. He invited Carrey to open for him on his tour. Carrey and Dangerfield toured throughout North America together, but Carrey already had his sights set on his next goal: performing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Even though Carrey was fairly well-known in Canada by this point and had been given Dangerfield's approval, his audition with Tonight Show producers failed to land the gig.
Knowing he still had work to do, Carrey decided it was time for a big change. He said goodbye to Toronto and packed his bags for L.A.
Move To L.A.
Once he was in L.A., Carrey struggled to establish himself at the local comedy clubs. He kept booking shows, hoping that he would get his chance on The Tonight Show.
In 1983, Carrey was cast as the lead in the NBC sitcom The Duck Factory and while this was a huge achievement, an even bigger one was coming.
The Tonight Show called, and they wanted Carrey to perform.
Lukewarm Tonight Show Performance
Carrey was just 21-years-old when he performed on The Tonight Show. The young comic performed some of his most notable impressions, including the likes of Elvis Presley, Clint Eastwood, and Kermit the Frog.
Even though the set went over well – with Carrey getting an "OK" gesture from Carson – the comic wasn't invited over to sit on the couch, an indicator that the Tonight Show host wasn't blown away.
By 1984, The Duck Factory was canceled, prompting Carrey to return to the stage and make some major changes in his personal life.
He Married Melissa Womer
On March 28, 1987, Carrey married Melissa Womer. Womer was a former actress and a waitress at The Comedy Store. Together, Carrey and Womer had one child together: a daughter named Jane Erin Carrey.
The couple's marriage was strained from its early days. While Carrey did shows to build his career, Womer was often working two jobs to put food on the table.
It seemed like everything would improve once Carrey got his big break, but the pressures of stardom continued to weigh heavily on the couple as Carrey broke into the mainstream.
Carrey Was Cast On The Show, In Living Color
After being rejected by Saturday Night Live two more times, a new sketch comedy show came calling for Carrey.
In Living Color, created by Keenen Ivory Wayans, cast Carrey as one of the series' regulars, where he appeared alongside other up-and-coming actors like Shawn and Marlon Wayans and Jamie Foxx.
Carey starred on the show from 1990-1994, and its popularity opened the door to his first major film role.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Puts Carrey On The Map
Thanks to his trademark bizarre humor, Carrey was cast in the lead role for Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, which was released in 1994. The film was a surprise smash hit, grossing $100 million at the box office.
It seemed that all those years of toiling, working, and rejections had finally paid off for Carrey. He was the star of a hugely successful comedy movie, and more offers were rolling in. But his marriage was in complete shambles by this point.
Carrey and Womer separated in 1993, and their divorce was finalized in 1995. Womer claimed that fame changed Carrey as he became an overnight sensation, putting even more stress on their already strained relationship.
The Mask Becomes A Comedy Hit
After breaking through with Ace Ventura, Carrey's next major role was in The Mask. Starring alongside a young Cameron Diaz, The Mask was another global smash, earning $351 at the worldwide box office. Besides the film's commercial success, Carrey also landed a Golden Globe nomination, securing his place in the Hollywood acting elite.
Offers were rolling in for Carrey to reprise his roles in Ace Ventura and The Mask, accompanied by salaries that were worth millions of dollars.
It looked like nothing could stop Carrey as studios lined up even more big-budget projects for the once-struggling actor.
Dumb and Dumber Leads To A Second Marriage
Carrey's next film, Dumb and Dumber, was another box office hit, earning $270 million worldwide.
While his career was taking off, Carrey made the surprising decision to settle down again. He married his Dumb and Dumber co-star, Lauren Holly, on September 23, 1996.
The whirlwind marriage lasted less than a year, but despite this personal setback, Carrey's career continued at breakneck speed.
Tommy Lee Jones Was Not A Fan Of Carrey
Carrey was a complete king of the box office when he was cast in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever as the Riddler. The high-profile role put Carrey next to the likes of Val Kilmer, Nicole Kidman, and Drew Barrymore, but one co-star couldn't stand Carrey at all.
Tommy Lee Jones, playing the villain Two-Face in the film, reportedly told Carrey that he hated him, and when Carrey pressed for answers, Jones replied, "I cannot sanction your buffoonery!"
Carrey assumed the ill-will stemmed from Dumb and Dumber outperforming Jones' movie The Cobb at the box office.
While Batman Forever was met with mixed reviews, it was another financial success, but Carrey wouldn't be so lucky with his next feature film.
The Cable Guy Was Carrey's First Flop
Following a chain of mega-successful movies, Carrey became the first comedic actor to be paid a salary of $20 million upfront for his next project, The Cable Guy. Directed by Ben Stiller, fans and critics weren't sure what to make of the dark comedy that was a stark departure from Carrey's previous roles.
While the film still managed to gross over $100 million at the box office, many are still divided over the film, which is considered one of Carrey's worst. The middling success of The Cable Guy could have encouraged Carrey to explore new genres.
The Truman Show Gains Critical Acclaim
In 1998, Carrey played the lead role of Truman Burbank in The Truman Show. The dramedy, made before reality television was part of mainstream pop culture, focused on a man who had unknowingly grown up on a TV set, with the entire world watching his life unfold on primetime.
The role was met with critical acclaim, with Carrey winning a Golden Globe award for his performance. Many assumed he would secure an Oscar nomination, but he was snubbed.
There was no time to be disappointed, though, as Carrey was already onto his next project.
Man On The Moon Pushes Carrey To The Extreme
Next, Carrey was cast in the lead role in Man on the Moon, a biographical film about comedian Andy Kaufman. Kaufman, like Carrey, was known for his zany antics. Tragically, Kaufman died from lung cancer at the young age of 35.
At this point in his career, Carrey had been in a number of high-profile projects, but something changed with Man on the Moon. Carrey claimed that Kaufman's spirit possessed him, taking over the performance and causing a number of disturbances on set.
The Set Of Man On The Moon Breaks Out Into Chaos
While those in the production believed that Carrey was following a rigid method acting procedure to get into character, Carrey has openly stated that it was Kaufman himself who was controlling all aspects of his performance and behaviour on set from the spirit world.
While stunts like stuffing his clothes on set with Limburger cheese were characteristic of Kaufman, Carrey (while claiming to be in character) picked a serious fight with professional wrestler Jerry Lawler.
Carrey ended up being hospitalized with four compressed vertebrae as a result of the fight.
Despite his bizarre actions on set, Carrey won his second Golden Globe for his performance in Man on the Moon, while the production went down in Hollywood history as one of the most chaotic for its crew.
Carrey Transforms Into The Grinch
In the early 2000s, Carrey was cast in the lead role for the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss's " How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The feature-length film was set to be directed by Ron Howard, who wanted the world of Whoville to feel as magical and real as possible.
This included having Carrey don a fully prosthetic suit made from spandex and yak hair that was applied directly to his skin. It took hours to get Carrey in the costume, and once he was in it, he felt claustrophobic.
The discomfort quickly turned into a full-blown outburst, with Carrey kicking a hole in a set wall and threatening to quit the movie.
The CIA Steps In To Help Carrey
Ron Howard and the film's producers were able to calm Carrey down. They brought in CIA specialists who helped Carrey through the excruciating makeup and filming process by teaching him torture-resistance techniques.
Even though production wasn't exactly smooth sailing, the end result was worth it. How the Grinch Stole Christmas became the second-highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time, and Carrey earned another Golden Globe nomination.
It had been a decade since Carrey broke through to Hollywood, and his career showed no signs of slowing down.
Dating Jenny McCarthy And Controversial Comments
The early 2000s saw Carrey appear in more notable films, including The Majestic and Bruce Almighty. In his personal life, he began a relationship with Jenny McCarthy, and the two were together for about five years.
During this time, McCarthy became an outspoken critic of childhood vaccines, wrongly claiming that they could cause autism in children. McCarthy's son was diagnosed with autism as a child, and she became one of the most vocal anti-vaccine influencers at the time.
Carrey was heavily criticized for publishing an article in The Huffington Post that questioned the merits of vaccines and for leading a "Green Our Vaccines" march in Washington, D.C.
Even after separating from McCarthy, Carrey's controversial stance on vaccines prevailed.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Brings The Focus Back To Carrey's Career
While the media attention on his personal life and political views could be controversial, Carrey's artistry continued to receive praise. His role as Joel Barish in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind saw him take on a quieter and more introspective character. Acting opposite Kate Winslet in the surreal, romantic drama, many expected Carrey to finally snag an Oscar nomination, but only Winslet was nominated.
From the outside, it looked like Carrey's career was completely under control as he continued to star in a number of steady and modest hits. The zaniness of his early career was fading away to some degree, but many praised the performative risks he was taking.
However, little did he know that his life was about to unravel with tragic consequences.
He Began A Relationship With Cathriona White
In 2012, Carrey began dating Irish makeup artist Cathriona White, and the two had a tumultuous, on-and-off relationship for three years. At one point, White married cameraman Mark Burton in 2013, but the two separated while White continued to date Carrey.
Not much was known about Carrey and White's relationship as the two decided to keep things out of the spotlight. That all changed with some devastating news.
Cathriona White's Tragic Death
In 2015, White was found dead of a suspected prescription drug overdose. The makeup artist was only 30 years old at the time of her death.
Shocked by her sudden passing, a visibly upset Carrey attended her funeral and was one of her pallbearers.
Just when things couldn't get any worse, White's family lashed out at Carrey, triggering a public battle that would hurt the beloved actor's reputation.
The Aftermath Of Cathriona White's Death
White's estranged husband and her family filed a wrongful death suit against Carrey, claiming that the actor provided White with the drugs that led to her demise.
During the media storm, a note written by White to Carrey was released that alleged that Carrey gave her multiple STIs and abused her emotionally.
Ultimately, the suit was dismissed by a judge, but the damage to Carrey's reputation had already been done.
Kick-Ass 2 Controversy
In the aftermath of White's death, Carrey kept a lower profile, and for the first time, his career slowed down. When it was announced that Carrey would appear in Kick-Ass 2, a bloody, dark take on the superhero genre, he shocked everyone by publicly denouncing the film.
After the tragic incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Carrey refused to promote the film due to its graphic violence.
That would mark the end of Carrey's high-profile roles for a while, and his star status continued to diminish in a changed entertainment landscape.
Retreat From The Public And Painting
While Carrey was still acting and doing smaller roles, it was nowhere near the success of his early career. The actor decided to take up another artistic pursuit and began painting.
His work has been exhibited in numerous art galleries and was also featured in a short documentary called I Needed Color.
Carrey's work is often abstract and politically motivated. Some of his political cartoons depicting well-known world leaders received backlash online. In 2021, Carrey announced that he would step away from provocative, political art.
Appearance On SNL As Joe Biden
Decades after he was rejected from the famous live sketch show, Carrey made several cameo appearances on SNL as Joe Biden during the 2020 election. While fans were excited to see the comedian return to his roots, his performance wasn't well-received overall, and Carrey exited the role after six weeks, claiming that was the length of his contract.
It was looking like the acclaimed comic's career was coming to an end until an unexpected franchise took over.
Sonic The Hedgehog Is A Huge Hit
In 2020, Carrey appeared as the main antagonist, Dr. Robotnik, in the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie. Based on the popular video game, the film sparked a franchise with two sequels and another film currently in development. It also introduced Carrey to a new, younger audience just as it looked like his career was starting to fizzle out.
What's Next For The Future?
Besides the upcoming Sonic movies, it's hard to say what's next for Carrey's career. The actor has achieved the impossible, overcoming extreme poverty, divorces, public criticism, and tragic losses to become the star that he is today.
Carrey himself has joked about retiring, saying he would return to acting if "...angels bring some sort of script that's written in gold ink that says to me that it's going to be really important for people to see."
Will he ever reclaim the status he once had in the '90s and 2000s? If one thing is for sure, it's that Carrey has always managed to surprise us, so we'll just have to wait and see.
Emily McWilliams
