James Eugene Carrey (born January 17, 1962) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, producer, screenwriter, painter, and sculptor. He gained fame in 1994 with the success of films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. Carrey is known for his energetic slapstick performances and has also received acclaim for his dramatic roles.
Early Life
Jim Carrey was born in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, to Percy Carrey, a jazz musician and accountant, and Kathleen Carrey, a homemaker. He is the youngest of four children. Carrey’s family faced financial difficulties, and he began performing stand-up comedy at a young age to help support them.
Career
Carrey’s first experience as a comedian was not successful, but he persevered and eventually became a headliner at Yuk Yuk’s, a comedy club in Toronto. He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s and began performing at The Comedy Store. Carrey’s big break came when he was cast in the sketch comedy show In Living Color (1990–1994), where he gained a following for his comedic talents.
In 1994, Carrey starred in three successful films: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. These films established him as a leading comedic actor. He continued to star in successful comedies such as Liar Liar (1997) and Bruce Almighty (2003).
Carrey also took on dramatic roles, earning critical acclaim for his performances in The Truman Show (1998), Man on the Moon (1999), and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). He has received multiple Golden Globe nominations and won the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for The Truman Show and Man on the Moon.
In recent years, Carrey has appeared in films such as Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) and its sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), where he played the villain Dr. Robotnik. He also starred in the television series Kidding (2018–2020).
Personal Life
Carrey became a U.S. citizen in 2004 while retaining his Canadian citizenship. He has been involved in various philanthropic efforts and is known for his advocacy work. Carrey is also an accomplished painter and sculptor, often sharing his artwork on social media.
Filmography
- Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) as Ace Ventura
- The Mask (1994) as Stanley Ipkiss / The Mask
- Dumb and Dumber (1994) as Lloyd Christmas
- Liar Liar (1997) as Fletcher Reede
- The Truman Show (1998) as Truman Burbank
- Man on the Moon (1999) as Andy Kaufman
- Bruce Almighty (2003) as Bruce Nolan
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) as Joel Barish
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) as Dr. Robotnik
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) as Dr. Robotnik
Awards and Nominations
Carrey has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career, including Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. He has also been nominated for several other prestigious awards for his performances in both comedic and dramatic roles.
