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Jim Carrey

ACTOR · BORN 1962

Jim Carrey

Born
17 January 1962, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Known for
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Friends (1994), Toy Story (1995), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

70 archived facts 8 topics 2 sources Last reviewed Nov 2026

Jim Carrey (born 17 January 1962) is an actor best known for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Friends and Toy Story.

Jim Carrey over the years

Jim Carrey in 2008 (age 46)
2008 · age 46Noemi Nuñez, CC BY-SA 2.0
Jim Carrey in 2020 (age 58)
2020 · age 58SHOWTIME, CC BY 3.0

70 Interesting Facts About Jim Carrey

Interesting Facts (13)

  1. #001

    Bought a Harley Davidson motorcycle and got a vanity license plate for it which read "NO TAG" as a joke. This resulted in Jim receiving numerous traffic tickets in the mail that were meant for other people. As it turns out, when filling out a ticket, police officers write "no tag" in the license plate number slot on the ticket when the offending vehicle has no license plate. In some cases, this was interpreted as the actual license plate number, as it was in Jim's case, which caused the tickets to be routed to him.

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  2. #002

    Shares the same birthday with Andy Kaufman, who he played in Man on the Moon (1999).

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  3. #003

    To deal with his depression, Carrey took Prozac, eventually deciding to get off medications. He has stated that he no longer takes medications or stimulants of any kind, not even coffee.

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  4. #004

    He appeared at the 20th anniversary special for The Comedy Store wearing nothing but a sock on his penis.

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  5. #005

    A fan of Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969).

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  6. #006

    Along with Jeff Goldblum and Damon Wayans, his voice was dubbed for certain scenes in Earth Girls Are Easy (1988).

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  7. #007

    Played a (fictional) man who is not (yet) aware he is on television on The Truman Show (1998) and a real-life man who believed he was always on television Man on the Moon (1999).

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  8. #008

    All three of the films he made in 1994 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), The Mask (1994) and Dumb and Dumber (1994) were adapted as Saturday morning cartoons in 1995 as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1995), The Mask (1995) and Dumb and Dumber (1995). Of these, only Ace Ventura was able to secure the rights to make the character resemble Carrey.

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  9. #009

    Was considered to voice the role of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (1995), but couldn't due to Pixar's low budget. The role went to Tim Allen.

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  10. #010

    His characters from Dumb and Dumber (1994), The Mask (1994), Batman Forever (1995), Bruce Almighty (2003), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Man on the Moon (1999) and A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)) are losers who want to be recognized and be famous.

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  11. #011

    Was attached to play Shaggy in Scooby-Doo (2002) when the movie was in development since 1996.

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  12. #012

    In 2006, a British man called Simon Curtis chose Jim Carrey's movies as his "specialist subject" on the tough quiz show Mastermind (1972), and only got 1 answer correct out of 18.

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  13. #013

    Possibly out of slapstick to his nationality, his "Dick Harper" character of Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) has been compared by fans to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

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Production Story (15)

  1. #014

    Was considered to voice the role of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (1995), but couldn't due to Pixar's low budget. The role went to Tim Allen.

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  2. #015

    At one time, Carrey was slated to star as the lead in Meet the Parents (2000) and even contributed jokes to the screenplay, such as the main character being named "Focker".

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  3. #016

    He had never heard of Doctor Who (1963) until being offered the role of the Eighth Doctor in Doctor Who: The Movie (1996), which was the key factor into turning down the role, as he felt he would cause outrage amongst Doctor Who fans if the role wasn't played by a Doctor Who fan.

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  4. #017

    He auditioned to be a castmember on Saturday Night Live (1975) in its 1980-81 season, but lost out to Charles Rocket (who he'd later star opposite in Dumb and Dumber (1994)). He auditioned again for the 1985-1986 season, but Carrey saw a man on the ledge of the 30 Rock building threatening to kill himself and was afraid that working on SNL would drive him to suicide. Both seasons are considered among the worst in the show's history.

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  5. #018

    Was considered for the roles of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), both of which eventually went to Johnny Depp.

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  6. #019

    Was originally offered the role of Harry Dunne in Dumb and Dumber (1994), but decided he rather play the role of Lloyd Christmas because he felt the character had better jokes. The role of Harry Dunne was eventually given to Jeff Daniels.

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  7. #020

    Was almost in place to play Zaphod Beeblebrox in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) at the time of author Douglas Adams' death in 2001. It would take another four years to get the project made, with a new script, a new director, and ultimately a new cast. The role of Zaphod Beeblebrox went to Sam Rockwell.

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  8. #021

    He was originally cast as "Dr. Evil" in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), but he had to drop out of the role due to a scheduling conflict with Liar Liar (1997).

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  9. #022

    Insisted the band, Cannibal Corpse, play in the movie Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994).

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  10. #023

    Before Martin Scorsese's The Aviator (2004), he spent years trying to produce and star in a film of Howard Hughes' life as Hughes himself.

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  11. #024

    Was considered for the role of Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin (1992). The role went to Robert Downey Jr.

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  12. #025

    He auditioned to be a castmember on Saturday Night Live (1975) in its 1980-81 season, but lost out to Charles Rocket (who he'd later star opposite in Dumb and Dumber (1994)). He auditioned again for the 1985-1986 season, but Carrey saw a man on the ledge of the 30 Rock building threatening to kill himself and was afraid that working on SNL would drive him to suicide. Both seasons are considered among the worst in the show's history.

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  13. #026

    Was originally offered the role of Harry Dunne in Dumb and Dumber (1994), but decided he rather play the role of Lloyd Christmas because he felt the character had better jokes. The role of Harry Dunne was eventually given to Jeff Daniels.

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  14. #027

    Auditioned for the role of Ted "Farmer Ted" Farmer/The Geek in Sixteen Candles (1984). After watching his audition, John Hughes considered casting him for the role; however, the role was eventually given to Anthony Michael Hall.

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  15. #028

    Auditioned the same night as budding comedian Bill Maher for Mitzi Shore at The Comedy Store in the early 1980s.

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Behind the Scenes (5)

  1. #029

    While filming Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), it took approximately two and a half hours for him and co-stars Jeff Goldblum and Damon Wayans to be suited up as the aliens.

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  2. #030

    He appeared at the 20th anniversary special for The Comedy Store wearing nothing but a sock on his penis.

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  3. #031

    Performed his first stand-up routine (with disastrous results) in a yellow suit and tails (made by his mother) similar to what he would later wear in The Mask (1994).

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  4. #032

    While learning to twirl a cane for his role as the Riddler in Batman Forever he broke a dozen canes and most of the furniture in his trailer.

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  5. #033

    (6/24/99) During the filming of Me, Myself & Irene (2000), he and the production crew attended a private music show Phish at the guitarist/vocalist house in Careystock, Vermont. There he sang two songs with Phish, "Hey You" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive and "Come Together" by The Beatles.

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Characters & Cast (5)

  1. #034

    Has played the two most well known fictional characters who hated Christmas, The Grinch and Ebenezer Scrooge.

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  2. #035

    At one time, Carrey was slated to star as the lead in Meet the Parents (2000) and even contributed jokes to the screenplay, such as the main character being named "Focker".

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  3. #036

    A lifelong fan of the Pink Panther movie series, especially Inspector Clouseau's house servant Cato (as played by Burt Kwouk).

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  4. #037

    Was almost in place to play Zaphod Beeblebrox in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) at the time of author Douglas Adams' death in 2001. It would take another four years to get the project made, with a new script, a new director, and ultimately a new cast. The role of Zaphod Beeblebrox went to Sam Rockwell.

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  5. #038

    Was considered for the role of Cry-Baby in Cry-Baby (1990). The role went to Johnny Depp.

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Easter Eggs & References (3)

  1. #039

    Possibly out of slapstick to his nationality, his "Dick Harper" character of Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) has been compared by fans to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

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  2. #040

    Spoofed the Players' Club TV commercials, made famous by Telly Savalas in the 1980s, on In Living Color (1990).

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  3. #041

    Often his protagonist (or antagonist) roles are associated with the color green. The Mask (1994), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), "The Riddler" in Batman Forever (1995), the alias 'Mr. Red Green' in Fun with Dick and Jane (2005). The Red Green reference in Fun With Dick and Jane might have been a nod to a Canadian comedy, The Red Green Show (1991).

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Deeper Meaning (8)

  1. #042

    Played a (fictional) man who is not (yet) aware he is on television on The Truman Show (1998) and a real-life man who believed he was always on television Man on the Moon (1999).

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  2. #043

    His characters from Dumb and Dumber (1994), The Mask (1994), Batman Forever (1995), Bruce Almighty (2003), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Man on the Moon (1999) and A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)) are losers who want to be recognized and be famous.

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  3. #044

    Often his protagonist (or antagonist) roles are associated with the color green. The Mask (1994), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), "The Riddler" in Batman Forever (1995), the alias 'Mr. Red Green' in Fun with Dick and Jane (2005). The Red Green reference in Fun With Dick and Jane might have been a nod to a Canadian comedy, The Red Green Show (1991).

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  4. #045

    Many of his characters have a job or interest in TV (The Mask (1994), Batman Forever (1995), The Cable Guy (1996), The Truman Show (1998), Man on the Moon (1999), Bruce Almighty (2003)).

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  5. #046

    There is some sort of a bathroom scene and car scene in almost every one of his movies.

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  6. #047

    Many of his characters are ordinary men whose lives are changed by supernatural or otherwise unseen forces. As in The Mask (1994) (" (Ipkiss happens to find the mask), The Majestic (2001) (Appleton is unlucky and suffers amnesia), Liar Liar (1997) (His son's birthday wish comes true), Bruce Almighty (2003) (Divine intervention), The Truman Show (1998) (He finds his life is a TV show), and so on.

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  7. #048

    In several films he has played an extraordinary character for whom television plays an vital role. In Batman Forever (1995) he played The Riddler who devises a master plan to hypnotize and absorb knowledge from the population using television. In The Cable Guy (1996) he played a cable TV technician with a lifelong unhealthy obsession with television. In The Truman Show (1998) he played a man who discovers that his entire life was a hugely successful reality TV show. In Man on the Moon (1999) he played the TV comedy star Andy Kaufman who pushed the boundaries of his medium. And in Bruce Almighty (2003) he played a TV reporter who was suddenly granted the powers of God.

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  8. #049

    He has said that Joel, his painfully shy, lovelorn character in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), is closer to what he's like when he's not "on," and that making the film led him to reflect on his past relationships and why they didn't work out.

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Career & Awards (10)

  1. #050

    First actor to reach 20 million dollar salary mark (for The Cable Guy (1996)) in 1996. The first actress to do so was Julia Roberts, four years later, who was paid the same amount for her role in Erin Brockovich (2000) in 2000.

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  2. #051

    Turned down the offer to induct Jerry Lawler into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2007, for he believed the people in the audience would have come to the ceremony to see him, not the legends being honored that night.

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  3. #052

    All three of the films he made in 1994 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), The Mask (1994) and Dumb and Dumber (1994) were adapted as Saturday morning cartoons in 1995 as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1995), The Mask (1995) and Dumb and Dumber (1995). Of these, only Ace Ventura was able to secure the rights to make the character resemble Carrey.

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  4. #053

    Auditioned the same night as budding comedian Bill Maher for Mitzi Shore at The Comedy Store in the early 1980s.

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  5. #054

    Performed "Rocket Man" on stage with Elton John at one of John's concerts.

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  6. #055

    Ranked #54 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

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  7. #056

    Appeared on the final episode of Late Show with David Letterman (1993), wearing a personally made shirt saying "Spank You Kindly David Letterman".

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  8. #057

    With the exception of his "Ace Ventura" character, Carrey has a reputation of not repeating the same character twice in a sequel (Batman & Robin (1997)) or prequel (Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003)).

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  9. #058

    Has said that his least favorite movie is The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969).

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  10. #059

    While filming Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), it took approximately two and a half hours for him and co-stars Jeff Goldblum and Damon Wayans to be suited up as the aliens.

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Life & Family (11)

  1. #060

    Wrote letters to Tupac Shakur when Tupac was in prison to help him laugh and smile. Tupac said that Carrey was his favorite actor.

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  2. #061

    Received U.S. citizenship in October 2004 and maintains a dual citizen of both the United States and his native Canada.

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  3. #062

    According to Biography, Jim wrote himself a check for $10 million dollars in 1983, post-dated 10 years, hoping to be able to cash it by then. The episode also featured a clip from a 1999 interview where Jim stated he put the check in his father's pocket after he passed away on September 13, 1994. [October 13, 2010].

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  4. #063

    Owns his own $25-million plane.

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  5. #064

    Has a pet Iguana Lizard.

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  6. #065

    He donated a signed head-shot to Rocky Stone to be auctioned off to raise money to buy more toys for less fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign 2004.

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  7. #066

    His father's family changed their surname away from the original, Carré, to Carrey; this is a sort of opposite with British author John le Carré, who was born David John Moore Cornwell, and changed his name to John le Carré.

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  8. #067

    His dad Percy Carrey died September 1994, three weeks after the release of The Mask (1994).

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  9. #068

    At age 10, he sent his resume to Carol Burnett.

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  10. #069

    As a child, he used to wear his tap shoes to bed just in case his parents needed cheering up in the middle of the night.

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  11. #070

    Started as a stand up comedian in Canadian clubs when 15.

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Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • Wikipedia English Wikipedia article
  • IMDb IMDb name page (biography and trivia)

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