Who Is Jim Carrey?
James Eugene Carrey, popularly known as Jim Carrey, is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, film producer, writer, and artist. As a comedian, Carrey is famous for his energetic performances and ability to excel in different comedy genres, including slapstick, satires, physical comedy, observational comedy, surreal humor, and character comedy.
Collectively, Jim Carrey’s comedy and acting skills have earned him more than 40 awards, including:
• A Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama in 1999’s The Truman Show, and
• A Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy in 2000’s Man on the Moon
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | James Eugene Carrey |
| Popular Name: | Jim Carrey |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | January 17, 1962 |
| Age: | 58 years |
| Parents: | Percy Carrey and Kathleen Oram Carrey |
| Siblings: | John Carrey, Patricia Carrey, and Rita Carrey |
| Birth Place: | Newmarket, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality: | Canadian-American |
| Ethnicity: | French-Canadian, Irish, and Scottish |
| Education: | Blessed Trinity Catholic Elementary School, Agincourt Collegiate Institute, and Aldershot High School |
| Marital Status: | Divorced. Previously married to Melissa Womer (from 1987 until their divorce in 1995) and Lauren Holly (from 1996 until their divorce in 1997) |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
| Children: | Jane Erin Carrey (from his first marriage) |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | USD 180 million (as of November 1, 2020) |
| Source of Wealth: | Acting, Comedy, Film Production, Writing, and Other Ventures |
| Height: | 6′ 1.5″ (1.87 m) |
| Weight: | 84 kg; In pounds: 185 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Jim Carrey was born on January 17, 1962, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada to Percy Carrey and Kathleen Oram Carrey. His father was a musician and accountant, whereas his mother was a homemaker.
Carrey started off as a stand-up comedian before eventually venturing into the film industry. However, his comedy career experienced a rather slow start. At some point while performing for Goddo at The Roxy Theatre in Barrie, Carrey was booed offstage. But he remained undeterred. He continued polishing his comic skills and eventually transitioned from open-mic stands to regular paid performances.
Renowned comedian, Rodney Dangerfield, discovered Carrey and signed him to his tour performances. The duo traveled to Las Vegas and Carrey decided to move to Hollywood where he could pursue his comic dreams in earnest.
In 1982, Jim Carrey made his first televised stand-up performance in the U.S by appearing on a show known as An Evening at the Improv. The following year, he made his debut appearance on The Tonight Show.
Banking on his success as a comedian, Larry decided to shift his attention to the television and film industries. His first notable film and television roles include being cast in the sitcom The Duck Factory in 1984 and starring in the horror-comedy movie Once Bitten in 1985.
From 1990 to 1994, Jim Carrey became a regular cast in the sketch comedy TV series, In Living Color. In 1994, he landed his first leading role in the motion pictures Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. The following year, Carrey received two more leading roles, one in the motion picture Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and the other in the film Batman Forever.
Jim Carrey has since starred in scores of other famous movies, including:
• The Cable Guy (1996)
• The Truman Show (1998)
• Man on the Moon (1999)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
• Bruce Almighty (2003)
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
• Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)
• Yes Man (2008)
• A Christmas Carol (2009)
• Mr. Popper’s Penguins (2011)
• Kick-Ass 2 (2013)
• Dumb and Dumber To (2014)
• Dark Crimes (2016)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Outside of the film industry, Jim Carrey is also a renowned author. He has since published two books, namely How Roland Rolls (2013) and Memoirs and Misinformation (which he co-authored with Dana Vachon in 2020). How Roland Rolls received the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award in 2013.
Jim Carrey’s Net Worth
As of November 1, 2020, Jim Carrey had a net worth of $180 million. He has earned his wealth from his successful career as an actor and comedian.
From the mid-90s to the early 2000s, Carrey was one of the highest-paid Hollywood celebrities. Between 1994 and 2008, he earned over $200 million in movie salaries and bonuses alone. He earned another $100 million over the next decade.
Carrey is also credited for becoming the first actor in history to earn $20 million from one movie. He achieved that feat in 1996, thanks to his role in The Cable Guy.
The following are Jim Carrey’s notable salaries over the years:
• In Living Color – Earned $25,000 per episode, totaling to approximately $3.2 million from the series’ 127 episodes, or about $6 million after adjusting for inflation today
• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) – Earned $350,000 and $15 million in the movie’s sequel
• The Mask – Earned $540,000
• Dumb & Dumber – Earned $7 million
• The Cable Guy – Earned $20 million
• Batman Forever – Earned $20 million
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Earned $20 million
• Liar Liar – Earned $20 million
• Me, Myself, & Irene – Earned $20 million
• Yes Man – Earned $20 million (plus an additional 36.2% of the movies profits, which brought his total earnings from the movie to $35 million)
Besides movies and comedy, Jim Carrey also earns from various other ventures, including book sales and investments in real estate.
Lessons from Jim Carrey
1. The road to success is paved with numerous disappointments
Jim Carrey may be one of the most celebrated actors and comedians today, but his career didn’t take off immediately. He was once booed off stage for failing to meet his audience’s expectations.
2. Challenges are the stuff that life is made of
Jim Carrey suffered numerous financial challenges while starting out. At some point, his family became homeless and had to live together in a Volkswagen van. Carrey took these challenges positively and kept on working on his dreams.
3. Keep trying until you find what works for you
Carrey began as a stand-up comedian before shifting his attention to acting. Over time, he learnt that he could actually combine his acting and comedy skills, and has since starred in scores of critically acclaimed films.
Famous Quotes by Jim Carrey
“Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.”
“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
“If you aren’t in the moment, you are either looking forward to uncertainty, or back to pain and regret.”
“If you’ve got a talent, protect it.”
“It is better to risk starving to death than surrender. If you give up on your dreams, what’s left?”
Final Word
Jim Carrey is one of the finest actors the world has ever known. He is also a talented comedian who can bring humor to any movie, regardless of the film’s underlying theme.