Jim Carrey in “Yes Man”
Jim Carrey is unquestionably one of the funniest and most talented comedians in the industry today, and as a result, he’s very successful. Success, however, was something entirely new to the aspiring funny man during his early years, whose own family fought poverty for most of his childhood. Born in a small town within Ontario, Canada, Jim first discovered his gift for making others laugh while impersonating family members and entertaining fellow classmates. When his father was laid off work, though, Jim decided to drop out of high school and try his luck on the comedy circuit. Just seventeen-years-old when he finally moved out to LA, Jim got a huge break from Rodney Dangerfield when the veteran comic got him a job at the Comedy Store and an appearance on “Letterman.”
Soon after, Jim made numerous television appearances (in a handful of short-lived TV series) and even had a few film roles (in movies people never saw), but in 1990, Jim spent a year as part of the cast of “In Living Color” where he gained enough prestige to land the leading role in “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.” After the sudden and very unexpected success of the over-the-top comedy, Jim became one of the hottest comics to hit Hollywood and began making some of the best comedies of the 90’s, including “Dumb and Dumber” and “The Cable Guy.” He then moved on to the serious stuff (like “The Truman Show” and “Man on the Moon”) for which most moviegoers weren’t too keen on, but they did bring in loads of critical recognition and a few award nominations. Since his entry into A-list stardom, Jim’s career has been about as consistent as Ben Stiller’s, except Jim doesn’t make enough movies to be that unpredictable. Some flops (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) became critical darlings, while box office hits (“Bruce Almighty”) weren’t nearly as good as they should have been.
Jim on the Screen
Ignoring the actor’s more embarrassing first steps in his attempts to become a TV/film star, Jim Carrey finally struck gold with the underdog comedy “Ace Venture: Pet Detective.” The success of that film then led to many other comedies (“The Mask,” “Dumb & Dumber”), as well as the coveted role of The Riddler in “Batman Forever.” Then, after a turn in the dark comedy “The Cable Guy,” something happened – Jim wanted to prove to his fans that he could act. This next step in his career included great films like “The Truman Show,” “Man on the Moon,” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” but the comic actor will always been remembered for his comedy, first, and his acting second.
Jim Says
On Hell:
“Maybe there is no actual place called hell. Maybe hell is just having to listen to our grandparents breathe through their noses when they’re eating sandwiches.”
On Hollywood:
“I’m the first to admit this whole salary thing is getting out of control. In the final analysis, it’s still about the work.”