Zel
12-10-01, 12:48 PM
"The best comics tend to come from the most dire of backgrounds. Carol Burnett was abandoned by her alcoholic mother and brought up by her grandmother and the movies. Rosie O’Donnell lost her mother to cancer at the age of nine. Why should Jim Carrey's early life be any different?
Born January 17, 1962, in Newmarket Ontario, James Eugene Carrey had little option but to be funny. You would cry over his life if he didn't end up such a successfully funny guy. Jim, the youngest of four, grew up in the cities surrounding Toronto. His father was a musician, who played saxophone and clarinet. It was difficult to make a living and raise a family in that field so he was also an accountant on the side, but resorted to that only when absolutely necessary. Living in Scarborough Ontario, Jim worked in his teens as a janitor in a factory, while the rest of family took various jobs within the factory in exchange for living in a small cottage on the premises. He eventually had to drop out of high school to help his family stay afloat, his father was upset but after giving it some thought told his son "Well, you're 16. You're a man now. You've got to make your own decisions." Jim now had the opportunity to examine what he wanted from his life. He realized that making people laugh made him happy. Lucky for us he didn't enjoy being a janitor.
He began frequenting Yuk Yuk’s a national comedy club at the age of fifteen. The club encourages open mike performances from interested audience members. His early impersonations and physical comedy styles were such a hit that he became a regular at the club. His new found success at Yuk Yuk’s prompted Jim to move to LA to claim his fifteen minutes of fame. He did standup in the clubs there and caught the attention of Rodney Dangerfield and Buddy Hackett. They enjoyed his act so much they hired him as their opening act when they went on tour.
In 1983 Jim was in Introducing Janet, a bit part that didn't lead him to becoming a household name. It was a start though, and provided a proverbial foot in the door in regard to performing on-screen. Jim kept himself visible by doing other small roles in various television and movie productions.
Jim married actress Melissa Womer in 1987. They had a daughter, Jane soon after but divorced in 1993. Jim's career started to gain speed when small roles in larger studio films like Once Bitten (1985), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Pink Cadillac (1989) and Earth Girls Are Easy (1989) came along. These roles prepared Jim for his biggest project yet, In Living Color.
Intended as an alternative to Saturday Night Live, Jim was the only white cast member of the comedy troupe that took late night laughs to a whole other level. Filled mainly with Wayan siblings, In Living Colour took New York street humour and mixed it with some good old fashion rebellion. At the time, in 1990, Saturday Night Live was really the only show of its kind making any kind of noise. People were growing tired of the almost twenty year old show and its style. They were hungry for a little variety and In Living Color provided that and more. Carrey was a breakout star within the show. A risk taker like Jim was in heaven being able to improvise and push the limits of his characters. His Fire Marshall Bill character was a regular feature within the show and became one of its most popular sketches. Carrey stayed with the show until 1992. He also appeared in the small screen's Doing Time on Maple Drive in 1992 before his breakthrough role appeared.
He starred in a small no name flick called The Mask in 1994 with a then unknown Cameron Diaz. Its impact when released was unpredictable. It was insanely popular. Carrey's physical humour mixed with his magnetic charisma was a directors dream. Looking back the part was written with him in mind, but who could have seen the possibility before that. The real hit was only around the corner though.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective brought Jim to a new level of success. He wrote and starred in the comedy of his career in 1994. Back with more rubber faced acting Jim ran away with the audience's approval right from its release. His off center humour and genuinely genius comic timing sent Jim into stardom faster than he could have ever imagined.
Nineteen ninety-four was a pretty mixed up year for Jim. To begin with he met actress Lauren Holly, (and went on to marry her in 1996). Then a role in the 1994 Farrelly brother's film Dumb and Dumber with Jeff Daniels came out. It was about two of the dumbest individuals on the face of the earth and was also a hit. It earned Jim two MTV Movie Awards (MMA), one for best comedic performance and one for best on-screen kiss. On a more somber note, Percy, Jim's father passed away.
At the funeral Jim slipped a $10 million cheque into his father's jacket pocket. Jim had written himself the cheque when he was a struggling actor. Although sorely missed, Jim remembers his father in various ways including incorporating his humour into the films he's working on. An example of this is in Liar Liar, "the Claw" a playful moment Jim performs with his on-screen son, is a Percy Carrey original.
He co-starred in Batman Forever, (1995) as The Riddler, another role that seems to have been made just for him. Although not a huge hit by studio standards, the Batman series maintains a loyal following and garnered Carrey critical praise for his role.
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, in 1995 as the pet detective's sequel, was not as successful as its original but still kept Carrey in the hearts of his public. He won a people's choice award for favourite actor in a comedy and two MMA’s for best comedic performance and best male performance. A certified hit with the kids Carrey was ready to move into another realm of the comedy genre, the villain.
In 1996’s Cable Guy, a role that made headlines for Carrey’s incredible salary, Jim played a darker character who stalks co-star Matthew Broderick. Audiences seemed unwilling to accept Jim as anything other than a lovable funny dufus and the film was a flop, although he did win an MMA for best villain.
Liar Liar in 1997 brought Carrey back as the fun loving trouble maker. An all around fallible hero who, thanks to the birthday wish of his son, cannot tell a lie. Although a comedy, this movie brings out a deeper side of Carrey since he struggles with his conscience and his overall view of his own humanity. During this time his second wife filed for divorce and while briefly reconciling in 1998 they are no longer together.
Carrey’s most serious role to date is 1998’s The Truman Show. A satirical look at the appetite of the general public for anything remotely media related. The Truman Show focused on the contrived life of a man who was born and lived within a controlled environment his entire life and his struggle to become his own person. Carrey was outstanding in this role with early hype whispering an Academy Award nomination. This was not to be although he did receive Best Actor from the Golden Globes.
A smaller role in Simon Birch followed The Truman Show in 1998. Although not credited, Jim also co-wrote A Night at the Roxbury, a Saturday Night Live spin-off film during the same year. He's nominated by Twentieth Century Fox to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the year 2000.
Man on the Moon, the life story of comic legend Andy Kauffman, was released in November 1999, and while some critics had a hard time with the film most liked it and it earned Carrey his second Golden Globe for Best Actor in January of 2000. Often a Golden Globe win is echoed by an Academy Award, but Jim Careey was overlooked.
Carrey's Me, Myself and Irene did not deliver the boffo box office returns in the summer of 2000, but How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which was released in November of 2000 introduced Carrey's unique style to a wider audience to this universal Christmas story.
Carrey’s struggle to make a living is surely a thing of the past, but his quest to be taken seriously is still plaguing his work. As he continues to diversify his roles the idea of Jim Carrey being a well-rounded actor won't seem so incomprehensible."
written by Siobhan Rossiter
Films:
Introducing...Janet (aka Rubberface, 1983) Club Med (1983) All In Good Taste (83) Finders Keepers (84) Once Bitten (85) Peggy Sue Got Married (86) The Dead Pool (88) Pink Cadillac (89) Earth Girls Are Easy (89) Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All (TV,89) The Itsy Bitsy Spider (92) The Mask (94) High Strung (94) Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (94) Dumb and Dumber (94) Batman Forever (95) Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (95) The Cable Guy (96) Liar Liar (97) The Truman Show (98) Simon Birch (98) In My Life (TV-98) Man on the Moon (99) Me, Myself and Irene (2000) How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) The Majestic (2001)
TV Series: The Duck Factory (1984) In Living Color (1990)
Born January 17, 1962, in Newmarket Ontario, James Eugene Carrey had little option but to be funny. You would cry over his life if he didn't end up such a successfully funny guy. Jim, the youngest of four, grew up in the cities surrounding Toronto. His father was a musician, who played saxophone and clarinet. It was difficult to make a living and raise a family in that field so he was also an accountant on the side, but resorted to that only when absolutely necessary. Living in Scarborough Ontario, Jim worked in his teens as a janitor in a factory, while the rest of family took various jobs within the factory in exchange for living in a small cottage on the premises. He eventually had to drop out of high school to help his family stay afloat, his father was upset but after giving it some thought told his son "Well, you're 16. You're a man now. You've got to make your own decisions." Jim now had the opportunity to examine what he wanted from his life. He realized that making people laugh made him happy. Lucky for us he didn't enjoy being a janitor.
He began frequenting Yuk Yuk’s a national comedy club at the age of fifteen. The club encourages open mike performances from interested audience members. His early impersonations and physical comedy styles were such a hit that he became a regular at the club. His new found success at Yuk Yuk’s prompted Jim to move to LA to claim his fifteen minutes of fame. He did standup in the clubs there and caught the attention of Rodney Dangerfield and Buddy Hackett. They enjoyed his act so much they hired him as their opening act when they went on tour.
In 1983 Jim was in Introducing Janet, a bit part that didn't lead him to becoming a household name. It was a start though, and provided a proverbial foot in the door in regard to performing on-screen. Jim kept himself visible by doing other small roles in various television and movie productions.
Jim married actress Melissa Womer in 1987. They had a daughter, Jane soon after but divorced in 1993. Jim's career started to gain speed when small roles in larger studio films like Once Bitten (1985), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Pink Cadillac (1989) and Earth Girls Are Easy (1989) came along. These roles prepared Jim for his biggest project yet, In Living Color.
Intended as an alternative to Saturday Night Live, Jim was the only white cast member of the comedy troupe that took late night laughs to a whole other level. Filled mainly with Wayan siblings, In Living Colour took New York street humour and mixed it with some good old fashion rebellion. At the time, in 1990, Saturday Night Live was really the only show of its kind making any kind of noise. People were growing tired of the almost twenty year old show and its style. They were hungry for a little variety and In Living Color provided that and more. Carrey was a breakout star within the show. A risk taker like Jim was in heaven being able to improvise and push the limits of his characters. His Fire Marshall Bill character was a regular feature within the show and became one of its most popular sketches. Carrey stayed with the show until 1992. He also appeared in the small screen's Doing Time on Maple Drive in 1992 before his breakthrough role appeared.
He starred in a small no name flick called The Mask in 1994 with a then unknown Cameron Diaz. Its impact when released was unpredictable. It was insanely popular. Carrey's physical humour mixed with his magnetic charisma was a directors dream. Looking back the part was written with him in mind, but who could have seen the possibility before that. The real hit was only around the corner though.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective brought Jim to a new level of success. He wrote and starred in the comedy of his career in 1994. Back with more rubber faced acting Jim ran away with the audience's approval right from its release. His off center humour and genuinely genius comic timing sent Jim into stardom faster than he could have ever imagined.
Nineteen ninety-four was a pretty mixed up year for Jim. To begin with he met actress Lauren Holly, (and went on to marry her in 1996). Then a role in the 1994 Farrelly brother's film Dumb and Dumber with Jeff Daniels came out. It was about two of the dumbest individuals on the face of the earth and was also a hit. It earned Jim two MTV Movie Awards (MMA), one for best comedic performance and one for best on-screen kiss. On a more somber note, Percy, Jim's father passed away.
At the funeral Jim slipped a $10 million cheque into his father's jacket pocket. Jim had written himself the cheque when he was a struggling actor. Although sorely missed, Jim remembers his father in various ways including incorporating his humour into the films he's working on. An example of this is in Liar Liar, "the Claw" a playful moment Jim performs with his on-screen son, is a Percy Carrey original.
He co-starred in Batman Forever, (1995) as The Riddler, another role that seems to have been made just for him. Although not a huge hit by studio standards, the Batman series maintains a loyal following and garnered Carrey critical praise for his role.
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, in 1995 as the pet detective's sequel, was not as successful as its original but still kept Carrey in the hearts of his public. He won a people's choice award for favourite actor in a comedy and two MMA’s for best comedic performance and best male performance. A certified hit with the kids Carrey was ready to move into another realm of the comedy genre, the villain.
In 1996’s Cable Guy, a role that made headlines for Carrey’s incredible salary, Jim played a darker character who stalks co-star Matthew Broderick. Audiences seemed unwilling to accept Jim as anything other than a lovable funny dufus and the film was a flop, although he did win an MMA for best villain.
Liar Liar in 1997 brought Carrey back as the fun loving trouble maker. An all around fallible hero who, thanks to the birthday wish of his son, cannot tell a lie. Although a comedy, this movie brings out a deeper side of Carrey since he struggles with his conscience and his overall view of his own humanity. During this time his second wife filed for divorce and while briefly reconciling in 1998 they are no longer together.
Carrey’s most serious role to date is 1998’s The Truman Show. A satirical look at the appetite of the general public for anything remotely media related. The Truman Show focused on the contrived life of a man who was born and lived within a controlled environment his entire life and his struggle to become his own person. Carrey was outstanding in this role with early hype whispering an Academy Award nomination. This was not to be although he did receive Best Actor from the Golden Globes.
A smaller role in Simon Birch followed The Truman Show in 1998. Although not credited, Jim also co-wrote A Night at the Roxbury, a Saturday Night Live spin-off film during the same year. He's nominated by Twentieth Century Fox to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the year 2000.
Man on the Moon, the life story of comic legend Andy Kauffman, was released in November 1999, and while some critics had a hard time with the film most liked it and it earned Carrey his second Golden Globe for Best Actor in January of 2000. Often a Golden Globe win is echoed by an Academy Award, but Jim Careey was overlooked.
Carrey's Me, Myself and Irene did not deliver the boffo box office returns in the summer of 2000, but How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which was released in November of 2000 introduced Carrey's unique style to a wider audience to this universal Christmas story.
Carrey’s struggle to make a living is surely a thing of the past, but his quest to be taken seriously is still plaguing his work. As he continues to diversify his roles the idea of Jim Carrey being a well-rounded actor won't seem so incomprehensible."
written by Siobhan Rossiter
Films:
Introducing...Janet (aka Rubberface, 1983) Club Med (1983) All In Good Taste (83) Finders Keepers (84) Once Bitten (85) Peggy Sue Got Married (86) The Dead Pool (88) Pink Cadillac (89) Earth Girls Are Easy (89) Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All (TV,89) The Itsy Bitsy Spider (92) The Mask (94) High Strung (94) Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (94) Dumb and Dumber (94) Batman Forever (95) Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (95) The Cable Guy (96) Liar Liar (97) The Truman Show (98) Simon Birch (98) In My Life (TV-98) Man on the Moon (99) Me, Myself and Irene (2000) How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) The Majestic (2001)
TV Series: The Duck Factory (1984) In Living Color (1990)