The Career of Funny Man Jim Carrey
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
He's gone from stand-up comedian to over-the-top actor. Born in Toronto, Canada he traveled to Los Angeles to make a name for himself as a stand-up comic. There he caught the eye of comedian Rodney Dangerfield and was given a regular job at his comedy lounge. Eventually the freshman comedian sought work in television and film and quickly found himself as the star of the Wayans brothers sketch comedy series 'In Living Color', and the most demanded funny man in Hollywood due to his outrageous role as 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.' Join us at http://www.WatchMojo.com as we take a look at the acting career of Jim Carrey.
He made a career out of his insane comedic personality and over the top physical comedy. Welcome to Watchmojo.com and today we’re taking a look at actor Jim Carrey.
Born on January 17, 1962 in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada; early in life he moved with his family to Toronto. There he took odd janitorial jobs due to their financial pressure. As a result, he dropped out of high-school to pursue a career in stand-up comedy, until he could afford to move to Los Angeles.
There he landed a steady gig at a comedy lounge after impressing comedian Rodney Dangerfield with his celebrity impersonations. Yet, the hyperactive comedian soon feared getting comfortable and sought work in television and film.
Carrey’s first film role was in the 1983 made-for TV movie “Introducing Janet”, which was later renamed “Rubberface” as a result of the actor’s breakout success.
In 1984, he landed his first television gig in the role of a young animation producer in “The Duck Factory”. Despite the show’s failure, he had gained the confidence necessary to take on the male lead in the following year’s vampire comedy “Once Bitten” the following year.
However, his career would get a huge boost when noticed by co-star Damon Wayans on the set of “Earth Girls Are Easy”. Soon after Carrey was cast as a regular on Wayans’ comedy sketch show “In Living Color”.
There, Carrey made a name for himself as an outrageous comedian before being cast in the breakout role of “Ace Ventura Pet Detective”. The film was not only a major box office success and spawned a sequel, but made him the most sought after comedian in Hollywood with a salary above the million-dollar mark.
Immediately, Carrey appeared in the oddball superhero hit “The Mask”, and as Lloyd in the hilarious buddy comedy “Dumb & Dumber”.
Next, he replaced Robin Williams as the Riddler in 1995’s “Batman Forever” and saw his salary jump to 20 million dollars in the disturbing black comedy “The Cable Guy”.
Though the film failed commercially and critically, Carrey returned to the public eye in the lighter comedy “Liar Liar.”
In 1998, Carrey accepted a pay cut to land a dramatic part in the critically acclaimed science-fiction film “The Trueman Show”, and in the process earned his first Golden globe. Coincidentally, he received a second award the following year for his iconic portrayal of Andy Kaufman in “Man on The Moon.”
At the turn of the millennium Carrey thrilled audiences in the heartwarming Christmas film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ before starring in the family friendly comedy ‘Bruce Almighty”.
He also earned high praise for his part in 2004’s “Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind.”
Next, he played the villainous count Olaf in “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”, went crazy in “Fun with Dick and Jane”, defied expectations with the psychological thriller “The Number 23”, and starred in the inspirational comedy “Yes Man.”
The performer also found himself in animated roles, such as “Horton Hears a Who” and Robert Zemeckis’ motion capture film “A Christmas Carol”.
In 2010, Carrey starred in the comedy-drama “I love You Philip Morris”, a film based on the real life events of a con artist. He also put on a striped shirt striped shirt to bring children’s book character Waldo to life in “Where’s Waldo?”
Carrey fans can also look forward to him chasing the abnormal as famous American cartoonist and amateur anthropologist Robert Ripley in “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!”
Born on January 17, 1962 in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada; early in life he moved with his family to Toronto. There he took odd janitorial jobs due to their financial pressure. As a result, he dropped out of high-school to pursue a career in stand-up comedy, until he could afford to move to Los Angeles.
There he landed a steady gig at a comedy lounge after impressing comedian Rodney Dangerfield with his celebrity impersonations. Yet, the hyperactive comedian soon feared getting comfortable and sought work in television and film.
Carrey’s first film role was in the 1983 made-for TV movie “Introducing Janet”, which was later renamed “Rubberface” as a result of the actor’s breakout success.
In 1984, he landed his first television gig in the role of a young animation producer in “The Duck Factory”. Despite the show’s failure, he had gained the confidence necessary to take on the male lead in the following year’s vampire comedy “Once Bitten” the following year.
However, his career would get a huge boost when noticed by co-star Damon Wayans on the set of “Earth Girls Are Easy”. Soon after Carrey was cast as a regular on Wayans’ comedy sketch show “In Living Color”.
There, Carrey made a name for himself as an outrageous comedian before being cast in the breakout role of “Ace Ventura Pet Detective”. The film was not only a major box office success and spawned a sequel, but made him the most sought after comedian in Hollywood with a salary above the million-dollar mark.
Immediately, Carrey appeared in the oddball superhero hit “The Mask”, and as Lloyd in the hilarious buddy comedy “Dumb & Dumber”.
Next, he replaced Robin Williams as the Riddler in 1995’s “Batman Forever” and saw his salary jump to 20 million dollars in the disturbing black comedy “The Cable Guy”.
Though the film failed commercially and critically, Carrey returned to the public eye in the lighter comedy “Liar Liar.”
In 1998, Carrey accepted a pay cut to land a dramatic part in the critically acclaimed science-fiction film “The Trueman Show”, and in the process earned his first Golden globe. Coincidentally, he received a second award the following year for his iconic portrayal of Andy Kaufman in “Man on The Moon.”
At the turn of the millennium Carrey thrilled audiences in the heartwarming Christmas film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ before starring in the family friendly comedy ‘Bruce Almighty”.
He also earned high praise for his part in 2004’s “Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind.”
Next, he played the villainous count Olaf in “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”, went crazy in “Fun with Dick and Jane”, defied expectations with the psychological thriller “The Number 23”, and starred in the inspirational comedy “Yes Man.”
The performer also found himself in animated roles, such as “Horton Hears a Who” and Robert Zemeckis’ motion capture film “A Christmas Carol”.
In 2010, Carrey starred in the comedy-drama “I love You Philip Morris”, a film based on the real life events of a con artist. He also put on a striped shirt striped shirt to bring children’s book character Waldo to life in “Where’s Waldo?”
Carrey fans can also look forward to him chasing the abnormal as famous American cartoonist and amateur anthropologist Robert Ripley in “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!”
