Jim Carrey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Carrey
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Carrey in February 2020
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James Eugene Carrey
January 17, 1962 Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
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| Years active | 1977–present |
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Works
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Full list |
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| Partner(s) | Jenny McCarthy (2005–2010) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
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James Eugene Carrey (born January 17, 1962) is a Canadian and American actor and comedian. He is famous for his energetic and funny acting style, often using physical comedy called slapstick. Carrey has won two Golden Globe Awards for his work.
He started his career in the 1980s, performing comedy and acting in smaller movie roles. He became famous on the comedy TV show In Living Color from 1990 to 1994. After that, he starred in many hit movies, including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber in 1994.
These movies were so successful that for his next film, The Cable Guy (1996), he became the first comic actor to be paid $20 million before filming even started. He continued to star in popular comedies like Liar Liar (1997), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), and Bruce Almighty (2003). More recently, he played the villain Doctor Eggman in the Sonic the Hedgehog movies.
Even though he is known for comedy, Carrey has also been praised for his serious roles. He won Golden Globe Awards for his performances in The Truman Show (1998) and Man on the Moon (1999). He also starred in the drama Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), which earned him more award nominations.
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Early Life and Family
Jim Carrey was born in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. His mother, Kathleen, was a homemaker, and his father, Percy, was a musician and accountant. He grew up with three older siblings. His family has Irish, Scottish, and French-Canadian roots.
When he was eight, he loved making funny faces in the mirror and discovered he was good at impressions. At age ten, he wrote a letter to Carol Burnett, a famous comedian, saying he was a master of impressions and should be on her show. He was very happy to get a reply, even though it was just a standard letter.
Carrey's family moved several times when he was young. For a while, his family faced hard times and even lived in a Volkswagen van. To help out, Jim and his brother worked as janitors and security guards at a tire factory. He dropped out of high school on his 16th birthday to focus on his comedy career.
Career Beginnings
Starting in Toronto
Carrey first performed stand-up comedy in Toronto in 1977, when he was 15. His father helped him prepare an act. His first show at a comedy club called Yuk Yuk's did not go well, and he felt discouraged.
However, he didn't give up. By 1979, his act was much better, and he started getting paid for his performances. He became a popular comedian in Toronto, known for his amazing impressions. He even auditioned for the famous American TV show Saturday Night Live in 1980 but wasn't chosen.
In 1981, a newspaper review in the Toronto Star called him "a genuine star coming to life." This great review made him even more famous across Canada. He started performing in the United States and was noticed by comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who hired him to open his shows.
Moving to Hollywood
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In 1983, Carrey moved to Hollywood to pursue his dream. He performed at The Comedy Store and appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He also landed a role in a TV sitcom called The Duck Factory, but the show was canceled after one season.
He continued to get small roles in movies. In 1985, he starred in the comedy Once Bitten. He tried out for Saturday Night Live two more times but was never hired. Feeling that his impression act was limiting his career, he started to develop a new style of comedy. From 1990 to 1994, he was a cast member on the hit sketch comedy show In Living Color, which made him a household name.
Rise to Stardom
Breakthrough Movie Roles
In 1994, Carrey became a huge movie star. He starred in three blockbuster hits in one year: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. These films were incredibly successful and made him one of the biggest comedy actors in the world. For The Mask, he earned his first Golden Globe Award nomination.
The next year, he played the villain The Riddler in Batman Forever and starred in the sequel Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. Both films were box office hits. His success led to him being paid $20 million for his role in the dark comedy The Cable Guy (1996). In 1997, he starred in Liar Liar, a comedy that was loved by critics and audiences, earning him another Golden Globe nomination.
Success in Dramatic Roles
Carrey wanted to show he could do more than just comedy. In 1998, he starred in The Truman Show, a film about a man whose entire life is a TV show. His performance was praised by critics, and he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama.
The next year, he played comedian Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon (1999). He won another Golden Globe for this role, proving he was a talented dramatic actor as well as a comedian.
Continued Success
Major Films of the 2000s
In 2000, Carrey starred as the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which became a holiday classic. In 2003, he played a man who gets the powers of God in the hit comedy Bruce Almighty.
In 2004, he starred in the critically acclaimed film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Critics said it was one of his best performances ever. That same year, he played the villainous Count Olaf in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
He continued to star in successful films, including the comedy Yes Man (2008) and voicing the character Horton the Elephant in the animated movie Horton Hears a Who! (2008).
Recent Work and Return to Fame
After taking on fewer roles for a few years, Carrey returned in the sequel Dumb and Dumber To in 2014. He also wrote a children's book called How Roland Rolls.
In 2020, he made a big comeback as the villain Doctor Eggman in the movie Sonic the Hedgehog. His performance was highly praised, and he returned for the sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, in 2022. He reprised the role again for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
From 2020 to 2022, he also appeared on Saturday Night Live portraying U.S. President Joe Biden. In 2022, he was featured as a narrator on the Weeknd's album Dawn FM.
Personal Life
Carrey became a U.S. citizen in 2004 but also remains a citizen of his home country, Canada. He has one daughter, Jane Erin Carrey, from his first marriage to Melissa Womer. He was also married to his Dumb and Dumber co-star Lauren Holly.
Carrey is also a painter and artist. In 2017, he released a short documentary called I Needed Color about his passion for art. He has also shared many of his political cartoons online.
In 2014, Carrey gave a speech at Maharishi University of Management and received an honorary doctorate. He is known for his spiritual views and has spoken about the power of positive thinking.
Acting Credits and Accolades
Discography
Singles
- "Cuban Pete" (1995)
- "Somebody to Love" (1996)
- "Cold Dead Hand" (2013)
Other
- George Martin – "I Am the Walrus" (1998)
- The Weeknd – "Dawn FM", "Out of Time" and "Phantom Regret by Jim" (2022)
See also
In Spanish: Jim Carrey para niños
